Longer – Dan Fogelberg | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#2) and Adult Contemporary (#1); 1980
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
In a story right out of a 1940’s MGM musical, Dan Fogelberg grew up in Peoria, Illinois; son of a bandleader father and opera loving mother. In his early teens, Dan started writing his own songs, and formed his first band, The Clan.
While at the University of Illinois, he performed at the local coffeehouses. His first right-time/right-place moment came when Dan met UofI alum and REO Speedwagon manager Irving Azoff, who brought him to Columbia Records’ president, Clive Davis.
Dan’s second album for Davis yielded his first hit, Part Of The Plan. (#31; 1975). Although his next three LPs racked up gold (later platinum) sales, only one single – The Power Of Gold with Tim Weisberg – charted.
Dan needed another “right moment” and he got it in 1979. While on vacation in Maui, just laying in a hammock and looking at the stars, a new song came to him. To Dan, Longer wasn’t his best song, yet, lovers everywhere disagreed.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Dan Fogelberg
- Norbert Putnam
- Morty Lewis
Lyrics Written by:
- Dan Fogelberg
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).