Icarus Ascending

This song is on Dan Fogelberg's "Full Circle" album released in 2003-I have this CD
Dan Fogelberg - all guitars (electric, acoustic, lead, rhythm, and otherwise), mandolin, bass, piano, keyboards, percussion, lead and background vocals
The "session players" were his little joke
Roland Laboite - drums, percussion-the drum machine Dan used was made by Roland Corporation. La boite is French for “the box”
Donny Trout/bass: Trout. Bass
Sven Birkebeiner - keyboards - Skiers call their skis "boards"
As a Nordic skier himself, Dan especially liked the story of the Birkebeiner soldiers who skied young Prince Haakon from Lillehammer to Østerdalen during the winter of 1206
Helping to end many years of civil war. Sven-Åke Lundbäck and Sven Utterström were two great Swedish Nordic racers
Lee Mealone - congas, percussion - a reference to Dan’s reputation for being a recluse: Leave me alone
Kenny Passarelli - background vocals
Jean Fogelberg - background vocals
Produced by Dan Fogelberg for Morning Sky Productions
Recorded by Dan Fogelberg at Mountain Bird Studios, Colorado
Mixed by Elliot Scheiner at Presence Studios, Westport, CT
Mastered by Darcy Proper at Sony Mastering, New York, NY
Assistant engineers: Joe Peccerillo, Jean Fogelberg and David Reynolds
Front cover photograph by Henry Diltz
Booklet photography by Jean Fogelberg


Soaring alone upon a threatening wind
Just fix your eyes on the horizon
Cut off from everything
you’ve known or have been
I shouldn’t think it’s so surprisin’

Spiraling upward on a freshening lift
Reaching the realms of fleet Apollo
You have been given the most sacred of gifts
You must be fearless now and follow

Don’t look down
Though your heart may be weary
Don’t look down
Though your wings are on fire
Don’t look down
Though the night may seem endless
There’s a reason you’re flying
this fast and this far
Let your faith be your strength
And your love be your guiding star

Venturing further than
the length of your sight
Out past the reach of your beginnings
There is a gamble in each
proud act of flight
But the losses pale before the winnings

Circling and diving with this
freedom you’ve found
Illusion blows apart and scatters
There is no darkness in this place
that we're bound
Love is the only thing that matters

Don’t look down
Though your heart may be weary
Don’t look down
Though your wings are on fire
Don’t look down
Though the night may seem endless
There’s a reason you’re flying
this fast and this far
Let your faith be your strength
And your love be your guiding star

Up.....up.....up.....up.....

~ Dan Fogelberg ~

Background Image
"Icarus"
Courtesy Of
The Maurice Heerdink Art Gallery