The Power of Gold

The Power of Gold
by Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg
from the album Twin Sons of Different Mothers
1978

Fall, 1978, and on the Album Oriented Rock station in my hometown, 'The Power of Gold' by Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg is getting airplay.

'Power' was the single from the duo's album Twin Sons of Different Mothers, released in August of that year. Don Henley of the Eagles contributed backing vocals. Fogelberg's political and environmental activism made him a member of the circle of 70s rock stars that the Eagles moved in, and other members of the band also served as contributors to his songs; for example, Glen Frey does backing vocals on Hard to Say (1981).

posing with Jerry Brown in 1976, left to right: Don Henley, Don Felder, Linda Ronstadt, Glenn Frey, Brown, Randy Meisner, Dan Fogelberg, Joe Walsh, and Jackson Browne

'Power' is a great example of 70s guitar-driven rock. I picked up the album back in November of '78 based on the strength of that single, but in fact the remainder of the tracks on the album are primarily instrumentals  - prefiguring in many ways what nowadays is called 'chill' music.

Fogelberg and Weisberg teamed up again in 1995 to release the album No Resemblance Whatsoever. 

Fogelberg died from prostate cancer at age 56 in December 2007.


The story is told of the power of gold
And its lure on the unsuspecting
It glitters and shines, it badgers and blinds
And constantly needs protecting

Balance the cost of the soul you lost
With the dreams you lightly sold
Are you under the power of gold?

The letters and calls got you climbing the walls
And everyone wants a favor
They beg to remind you of times left behind you
But you know the past is a loser

The face you're wearing is different now
And the days run hot and cold
Are you under the power of gold?
The power of gold

You're a creature of habit, run like a rabbit
Scared of a fear you can't name
You own paranoia is looming before you
But nobody thinks that it's a game

Balance the cost of the soul you lost
With the dreams you lightly sold
Then tell me that you're free of the power of gold

The power of gold

The women are lovely, the wine is superb
But there's something about the song that disturbs you