After a three-year battle with advanced prostate cancer, singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg died early Sunday.

When most folks think of James Taylor as the great singer-songwriter of the 1970s, I thought of Fogelberg. Not that I don't revere the original J.T. However, there was always a country, folkish sound to Dan's music that made it earthy and accessible to fans across numerous genres.

Most people loved "Longer" and "Leader of the Band," but those were my least favorite Dan Fogelberg songs. Not sure why. Perhaps "Longer" was just too sappy, and "Leader of the Band" -- musically -- just didn't do that much for me.

I preferred his earliest work. "Heart Hotels," "Run for the Roses," "Part of the Plan" and especially "Hard to Say." What a great, great song, one for which I was unable to find a YouTube video.

Dan's work in the 1980s wasn't as good, but it was still really solid, especially the 1982 pop tune, "Missing You." Again, I couldn't find a video for it.

But my two favorite Dan Fogelberg songs, by a million miles, were the 1983 adult contemporary hit, "Make Love Stay," and the early 1980s anthem, "Same Old Lang Syne." The former was a work of pure art musically, with perfect instrumentation and arrangement.

The latter was a masterpiece lyrically. Masterpiece.

Met my old lover in the grocery store

The snow was falling christmas eve

I stole behind her in the frozen foods

And I touched her on the sleeve



She didnt recognize the face at first

But then her eyes flew open wide

She went to hug me and she spilled her purse

And we laughed until we cried.



We took her groceries to the checkout stand

The food was totalled up and bagged

We stood there lost in our embarrassment

As the conversation dragged.



We went to have ourselves a drink or two

But couldnt find an open bar

We bought a six-pack at the liquor store

And we drank it in her car.



We drank a toast to innocence

We drank a toast to now

And tried to reach beyond the emptiness

But neither one knew how.



She said shed married her an architect

Who kept her warm and safe and dry

She would have liked to say she loved the man

But she didnt like to lie.



I said the years had been a friend to her

And that her eyes were still as blue

But in those eyes I wasnt sure if I saw

Doubt or gratitude.



She said she saw me in the record stores

And that I must be doing well

I said the audience was heavenly

But the traveling was hell.



We drank a toast to innocence

We drank a toast to now

And tried to reach beyond the emptiness

But neither one knew how.



We drank a toast to innocence

We drank a toast to time

Reliving in our eloquence

Another auld lang syne...



The beer was empty and our tongues were tired

And running out of things to say

She gave a kiss to me as I got out

And I watched her drive away.



Just for a moment I was back at school

And felt that old familiar pain

And as I turned to make my way back home

The snow turned into rain --

And, luckily, I found a couple of videos with his music on them on YouTube, for "Make Love Stay" and "Same Old Lang Syne." They're not the actual videos, as you'll quickly figure out.

I think most of us who consider ourselves fans of Dan Fogelberg knew that he wasn't in good shape. He simply got his PSA test done well after the cancer had spread, which should serve as a warning to every man over 40 or 50.

Alas, another of the greats has gone. Enjoy the vids.

Make Love Stay ...

Same Old Lang Syne ...