Dan Fogelberg (1977) Lessons Learned - LOST 70s GEMS

Nestled between the old swing-around-the-maypole folk of Dancing Shoes with it's delicately plucked mandolin plus finger maracas and the deadening waltz of Loose Ends' bluesy hard rock dirge is a return to the simple country rock genre with the five minute track, Lessons Learned.
 If each song on the towering Nether lands album plays our like a dance then Lessons Learned is a safe, laidback number full of floral electric piano textures and rootsy acoustic timings.

Mixing a country ballad with an upbeat romantic vibe as Dan warns of the dangers of repeating mistakes and burning bridges. The jazzy verses give way to great lines sung with a pressing urgency grabbing  your attention such as; 'well aware of the consequences, should the dream fall through' or 'wanting to try something new. These insights and the whole song actually act as a warning.

The songs' soft rose tinted feel reminds me of a ranch romance, though the lyrics are intelligent rather than the schmaltz or increasing reliance on the word 'love' as would occur later on in his work; 'is the knowledge gained worth the price of the pain; are the spoils worth the cost of the hunt?!'. 

A delightfully restrained change of pace from the grand orchestral arrangements, frenetic folk rock and glistening pop rock of the astonishing musical statement that is the Nether Lands..