yesterday, 5/4, it immediately reminded me of folk rocker Dan Fogelberg's monster hit song "Run For The Roses", which peaked on the radio charts twenty years ago this month. The song was originally about the Kentucky derby horses of 1980. I originally knew nothing about the Kentucky Derby itself, but after hearing this song was about it I started becoming interested. It was from an album "The Innocent Age" released around Labor Day of 1981. The album was Fogelberg's critical (best) creative and commercial peak. The song and 3 others from it ("Leader Of The Band", "Hard To Say" and "Same Old Lang Syne") were massive chart successes and stayed on the charts for as long as 62 weeks. "Run For The Roses" is a beautiful tune with a definite country air. It is not something that would remind one of urban life. "Born in The valley and raised in the trees, of western Kentucky on wobbly knees, with mama beside you to help you along, you'll still be-a growing up strong On long lazy mornings in pastures of green, the sun in your withers the wind in your mane, they never prepare you for what lies ahead, they run for the roses so red And it's run for the roses as fast as you can, your fate is delivered your moment's at hand, it's a chance in a lifetime in a lifetime of chance and it's high time they joined in the dance, it's high time they joined in the dance From sire to sire it's born in the blood, the fire of a mare and the strength of it's stud, it's training and it's breeding and it's something unknown, that drives you and carries you home And it's run for the roses as fast as you can your fate is delivered your moment's at hand, it's a chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance and it's high time they joined in the dance, it's hightime they joined in the dance" Fogelberg was an influence on later artists such as Clint Black and Garth Brooks. |
don frogelberg, my flaming man torch. my neck is swolled. i may sleep in the floor tonight. |
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