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Dan Fogelberg — Nexus
Album: The Innocent Age
Avg rating:
5.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 61








Released: 1981
Length: 5:58
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Across the vein of night
There cuts a path of searing light
Burning like a beacon
On the edges of our sight
At the point of total darkness
And the lights divine divide
A soul can let its shadow stretch
And land on either side --
either side.

And balanced on the precipice
The moment must reveal
Naked in the face of time
Our race within the wheel
As we hang beneath the heavens
And we hover over hell
Our hearts become the instruments
We learn to play so well.

Wealthy the spirit that knows its
own flight
Stealthy the hunter who slays
his own fright
Blessed the traveler who journeys
the length of the light.

Outside the pull of gravity
Beyond the spectral veil
Within our careful reasoning
We search to no avail
For the constant in the chaos
For the fulcrum in the void
Following a destiny
Our steps cannot avoid.

Across the vein of night
There cuts a path of searing light
Burning like a beacon
On the edges of our sight
At the point of total darkness
And the lights divine divide
A soul can let its shadow
Stretch and land on either side.

Wealthy the spirit that knows its
own flight
Stealthy the hunter who slays
his own fright
Blessed the traveler who journeys
the length of the light.

In a spiral never-ending
Are we drawn towards the source
Spinning at the mercy of an
unrelenting force
So we stare into the emptiness
and fall beneath the weight
Circling the Nexus in a
fevered dance with fate --

Wealthy the spirit that knows its
own flight
Stealthy the hunter who slays
his own fright
Blessed the traveler who journeys
the length of the light.
Comments (25)add comment
Given the state of humanity, this song should be rated on more than its own merits.  It packs more weight of thought than some blues dude rueing the lady who walked out the door.  So I'm bumping it to an 8.  
 PeeBee wrote:
I think the only label that fits your comment is "bad"

 
daveesh wrote:
i think the only label that fits this is "bad."
 

 
Always appreciated Mr. Fogelberg. I saw him in a small venue in Cambridge MA in 1976. I had a great and magical time, as did the lovely lady I was with, and thereafter always had a special space in my heart for his positive and questing music. 
I think the only label that fits your comment is "bad"

 
daveesh wrote:
i think the only label that fits this is "bad."
 


i think the only label that fits this is "bad."
Absolutely agree.  Prolific artist with a stong appreciation for nature. We need more of this type of artist.
 
GeneP59 wrote:
Another lost talent taken before his time. {#Yes}
 


Music to knit yoghurt by.
Can't agree more! This is Dan Fogelberg at his best, not only this song, but the entire album is just so good.
Some people might find it soft en smooth though...

 
Cynaera wrote:
I'm here!!!!!!  OMG - I think I might faint... This is one of my favorite Fogelberg songs... Such a journey.  Eternal thanks to whoever uploaded this - and thanks to Bill and Rebecca for playing it. I miss Danny so much sometimes, but hearing his music played here makes the pain less.

To you who don't "get" the late Dan Fogelberg, I'm sorry. To quote Anne Shirley, "Oh, how MUCH you miss..."

Gotta listen now. {#Sunny} Here are lyrics:
Across the vein of night
There cuts a path of searing light
Burning like a beacon
On the edges of our sight
At the point of total darkness
And the lights divine divide
A soul can let its shadow stretch
And land on either side —
either side.
And balanced on the precipice
The moment must reveal
Naked in the face of time
Our race within the wheel
As we hang beneath the heavens
And we hover over hell
Our hearts become the instruments
We learn to play so well.
Wealthy the spirit that knows its
own flight
Stealthy the hunter who slays
his own fright
Blessed the traveler who journeys
the length of the light.
Outside the pull of gravity
Beyond the spectral veil
Within our careful reasoning
We search to no avail
For the constant in the chaos
For the fulcrum in the void
Following a destiny
Our steps cannot avoid.
Across the vein of night
There cuts a path of searing light
Burning like a beacon
On the edges of our sight
At the point of total darkness
And the lights divine divide
A soul can let its shadow
Stretch and land on either side.
Wealthy the spirit that knows its
own flight
Stealthy the hunter who slays
his own fright
Blessed the traveler who journeys
the length of the light.
In a spiral never-ending
Are we drawn towards the source
Spinning at the mercy of an
unrelenting force
So we stare into the emptiness
and fall beneath the weight
Circling the Nexus in a
fevered dance with fate —
Wealthy the spirit that knows its
own flight
Stealthy the hunter who slays
his own fright
Blessed the traveler who journeys
the length of the light.
 


 xtalman wrote:

New age ?.....This was recorded in 1981 long before new age became vogue.

Don't understand the hate, Fogelberg was pretty good both in the studio and gave an excellent live show.


The term "new age" has been around since the early 1800's (ironically), but became widely-used in the mid-1970's.  With the publication of the New Age Journal in the middle part of that decade, "new age" bookstores starting popping up all over the place.  The lyrics of this tune (and many of his others) have the elements of mythology and esotericism which are equated with "new age" interests.

I haven't heard this cut in decades! I loved it then. I don't love it now — but I still like it. Nice track. As always, Fogelberg was a good hybrid of country rock and spiritual anthems.  Hippie self-help crossbred with Poco. 
 RideMaine wrote:
Oh please. Spare me this new age drivel.
 
NOT gonna engage. NOT gonna engage. {#Stop}
 RideMaine wrote:
Oh please. Spare me this new age drivel.
 

New age ?.....This was recorded in 1981 long before new age became vogue.

Don't understand the hate, Fogelberg was pretty good both in the studio and gave an excellent live show.


Not a fan.
Oh please. Spare me this new age drivel.
 jagdriver wrote:
Mute
 

Yes. So earnest and twee
I'm here!!!!!!  OMG - I think I might faint... This is one of my favorite Fogelberg songs... Such a journey.  Eternal thanks to whoever uploaded this - and thanks to Bill and Rebecca for playing it. I miss Danny so much sometimes, but hearing his music played here makes the pain less.

To you who don't "get" the late Dan Fogelberg, I'm sorry. To quote Anne Shirley, "Oh, how MUCH you miss..."

Gotta listen now. {#Sunny} Here are lyrics:
Across the vein of night
There cuts a path of searing light
Burning like a beacon
On the edges of our sight
At the point of total darkness
And the lights divine divide
A soul can let its shadow stretch
And land on either side —
either side.
And balanced on the precipice
The moment must reveal
Naked in the face of time
Our race within the wheel
As we hang beneath the heavens
And we hover over hell
Our hearts become the instruments
We learn to play so well.
Wealthy the spirit that knows its
own flight
Stealthy the hunter who slays
his own fright
Blessed the traveler who journeys
the length of the light.
Outside the pull of gravity
Beyond the spectral veil
Within our careful reasoning
We search to no avail
For the constant in the chaos
For the fulcrum in the void
Following a destiny
Our steps cannot avoid.
Across the vein of night
There cuts a path of searing light
Burning like a beacon
On the edges of our sight
At the point of total darkness
And the lights divine divide
A soul can let its shadow
Stretch and land on either side.
Wealthy the spirit that knows its
own flight
Stealthy the hunter who slays
his own fright
Blessed the traveler who journeys
the length of the light.
In a spiral never-ending
Are we drawn towards the source
Spinning at the mercy of an
unrelenting force
So we stare into the emptiness
and fall beneath the weight
Circling the Nexus in a
fevered dance with fate —
Wealthy the spirit that knows its
own flight
Stealthy the hunter who slays
his own fright
Blessed the traveler who journeys
the length of the light.


Cynaera where are you? They're playing Fogelberg!!
 smackiepipe wrote:
Been a while since this one got some air time.
 
Not long enough.  This song needs an extra 3 inches of dust on it.

Oh, dear God, make it stop...
Another lost talent taken before his time. {#Yes}
how do i put this...somebody should have been a friend and pulled the plug on this song long before it reached my ears.
Don't believe I have ever heard you play Fogelberg before Bill.  Thank you, thank you, thank you{#Smile}
Mute
Been a while since this one got some air time.
This is one of my favorite Fogelberg songs. it really showcases his guitar playing talents as well as his songwriting abilities.