I always think of dad during the years he battled early Parkinson’s.
His love for music kept him going until he could no more.
He always had sad eyes but towards the end they were also tired and weary.
He was never the one to display affection but I knew he was extremely proud of me and my brother.
Gave my brother and I the greatest gifts of them all. Education, Music and a deep love for books.
Somedays I simply cannot listen to the song. It is way too painful for me.
Very sorry about your father, OP! To answer your question, no, that’s not a song I associate with my dad in particular. It’s a touching song although I always found the line “his blood runs through my instrument” kind of gruesome. I know it’s a metaphor but I always hear it literally and, eww.
As for the OP, the song does the same for my wife. And her father is alive. My wife played the clarinet, and her dad played music too (although he was an engineer), and the line that Kimstu quoted has a different interpretation — that his musical blood is in her, and when she plays, well in a way it’s his fingers that play the clarinet.
It is a beautiful song, one of our favorites.
Not in the least. He had no truck with music other than Hank Williams (Sr.).
No, my dad wasn’t into music like yours was. But it absolutely reminded me and still does remind me of my actual band director from 5th to 8th grade. He looked like Santa Claus and gleefully played the angry old man but everyone “got it” and knew he was just a teddy bear. He was an amazing educator and led several generations of kids in my district to be very good musicians. We had stellar band programs from elementary to high school, and student teachers clamored to work with him. His influence had far reach in the midwest school band scene. I am eternally grateful for having been brought up under him.
It sounds like your dad had a similar vibe and you are very lucky to have had his influence.
I enjoy the song and think it’s a nice sentiment but it has no connection or relation to me and my own father.
I get warm fuzzy feelings when I listen to Fogelberg singing about his dad, and I get warm fuzzy feelings thinking about my dad. There are few parallels between their lives and ours, but the song does remind me.
Nope. My father pretty much likes classical and world music. No taste for pop/rock/jazz/blues/country etc. of any type. Also I’ve never particularly cared for that song. Which is not the same as hating it, as I don’t. But although I like some sentimental music, that one misses the mark for me. If I hear a few bars on the radio I usually change the station.
I was totally unfamiliar with this song, and couldn’t understand the lyrics from his odd singing dialect, so had to look them up.
I have absolutely ZERO warm and fuzzy memories of my father, but I did inherit some wonderful things from him, especially his love of classical music.
I never said “I love you” to him, but he did say it to me exactly once, when he had Alzheimer’s. I don’t think he knew what he was saying or to whom he was saying it. For all I know, he thought he was saying it to Fay Wray.
Yes, it reminds me of my dad. It’s not the musical part so much, though he did pass down his love of classical music to me. But the line “I am the living legacy to the leader of the band” resonates strongly with me. Of 4 siblings, I’m the one who’s most like my father in personality and life achievements, even though I’m a woman. At one point I taught at a respected college where he had taught and had to leave for personal reasons, and he felt like it was a return for him and his legacy.
A grad school roommate was a Fogelberg fan and introduced me to his nostalgic “Souvenirs”: “When faced with the past, the strongest man cries”
(full lyrics appear when you click on “Show More”)
Yes. My father has been a musician (church organist and choir director) since he was in high school, and even though he is now retired he still has a church job. I think he’ll have church jobs until he can’t play anymore. And, I’m a musician: my brother and I both had piano lessons as kids, but I went on to also take voice lessons and am currently a jazz musician (albeit one with a day job). And, similar to gkster, I’ve always been more like my father depsite being the daughter; my brother is more like our mom was. Dad even did “[try] to be a soldier once,” but he left the Army after just a few years because Vietnam ended — not because “his music wouldn’t wait.” 
Of course, I don’t connect with every part of the song. He’s a difficult person, and wasn’t particulary suited to fatherhood. But enough of the song applies that I can’t help but think of him whenever I hear it. The line “he gave to me a gift I know I never can repay” particularly resonates. I’ve even toyed with the idea of performing this song — maybe just one or two of the verses — at his eventual funeral.
No, polka music makes me think of both of my parents.