Finding Netherlands
An Interpretation of Dan Fogelberg’s Icon Introspective Journey into Ourselves.
By Jim Hendrickson, Co-Founder of The Music Research Institute.
Author’s Note
The title of the song on Dan Fogelberg’s 1977 Album, Netherlands is a song that demands consideration and understanding. The author found this to be true upon its first hearing and analyzed and considered the meaning of this song for decades throughout his life. When asked about it in an interview in 1977, Fogelberg hinted that the song was much more to him than a simple writing. “This may sound pompous, but I don’t want to be a rock star. I don’t want to be Peter Frampton. I’ve lived on food stamps before, and I can live on them again. All I want is respect.”
It is that thought that lingers. The Netherlands appears a distant place filled with awe and wonder and beckoning to those who will find respect in their lives in their own eyes above all. This is the story of Greg who found he too was called to the Netherlands, or the greatest reaches of life.
The Call of the Netherlands
In the quiet moments of life, when the world seems to fall away, music has a unique way of filling the space with meaning. Dan Fogelberg’s Netherlands is one such piece of music—a deeply introspective anthem that feels both personal and universal. Its lyrics and melodies seem to reach into the soul, capturing the journey of longing, discovery, and transcendence. It speaks not just of the physical Netherlands but of a metaphorical place, where life’s complexities dissolve into simplicity, and one finds clarity amid the chaos.
For those who connect with its call, Netherlands becomes more than a song—it becomes a map. Its poetic imagery and emotional depth chart the path to self-awareness, balance, and fulfillment. The journey begins with the struggle to understand one’s place in a world often defined by noise and distraction. Along the way, there is the yearning for connection—friends, love, and community—juxtaposed with the solitude required for deep introspection. Through this process, the listener ascends their own mountain, finding a perch from which to see their life anew.
This story is not just about a song or a person but about a universal truth: that music can be both a companion and a guide. It can teach us to embrace life’s unpredictable forces and navigate the struggle for meaning in an increasingly fast-paced, disconnected world. At its heart, this is the story of finding one’s own “Netherlands,” a place of peace and understanding born through the pursuit of personal truth and the transformative power of music.
A World in Transition
The world is always in motion, and for those living through the upheaval of change, it often feels as if the ground beneath them is shifting. This was the reality for Greg, a boy growing up in the rural Midwest during a time of profound transformation—political, cultural, and personal. In the quiet farming communities of Illinois, where fields stretched endlessly and the seasons dictated the rhythm of life, Greg’s early years were shaped by both the stability of tradition and the stirrings of a changing world.
Greg’s family lived in a modest house in the city of Peoria, a place known for its role in agriculture and industry. Growing up, Greg’s family moved frequently, often uprooting to find better opportunities. These constant transitions left Greg feeling awkward and out of place in new schools and among unfamiliar people. Despite the challenges, music became a way for Greg to find himself and his voice, offering a sense of continuity and belonging amid the uncertainty of change.
Greg was the third of four siblings and the oldest boy, a shy but observant boy with an uncanny knack for remembering songs. Music seemed to live in him, flowing as naturally as the creeks that crisscrossed the farmland. At just seven years old, he could already sing entire songs from memory, his voice carrying the tunes of Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Harry Chapin. To Greg, these weren’t just songs—they were stories, each one capturing a piece of life’s puzzle. His older sister, noticing his talent, once said with an air of wonder, “Greg, how do you know all these songs by heart?” Those words planted a seed in him, hinting at a connection to something deeper.
But life in Peoria wasn’t without its challenges. By the time Greg turned twelve, his family had faced their share of struggles. Racial tensions in the city were rising, and desegregation efforts brought unease to the community. When riots erupted at the local high school, Greg’s parents made a difficult decision: to move the family to a quieter community surrounded by sprawling fields of corn and beans. Though only twenty miles away, it felt to Greg like moving to another world. Gone were the familiar streets of his home turf, replaced by a quieter, more insular farming town.
His community was a close-knit place where everyone knew each other’s business. For a city kid like Greg, the adjustment was similar to moving to a foreign country initially. The kids there weren’t like his old friends, they were more resourceful in some areas and yet backward in others. He was close enough to the city but yet so far away. He wasn't well accepted by his peers initially and being naturally introverted, he often kept to himself.
The Gift of a Guitar
But amidst the discomfort of starting over, Greg found an unexpected source of comfort: a guitar. One of his few friends loved music like he did. He kept on him to get a career so they could start their own band. His father, a notable athlete in the area, didn't initially think the idea of learning an instrument was important. But noticing Greg’s persistence, he finally acquiesced and bought a used, and almost useless, three-quarter-size guitar he’d bought from a garage sale. It wasn’t much to look at—its strings sat high above the frets, making it a struggle to play—but to Greg, it was a treasure. Holding the guitar in his hands, he felt something stiring inside of him he couldn't explain as though this modest instrument could unlock something profound within him.
Greg threw himself into learning the guitar with the same determination that others in his town brought to basketball, football, or the annual harvest. Each note, each chord, became a building block in this new world.
He practiced for hours, his fingers aching and callousing but his spirit soaring. The guitar became his refuge, a way to bridge the gap between the world he didn't understand and the world he longed to have. It gave him a voice in a place where he often felt voiceless.
Through the lens of Netherlands, this period of Greg’s life marked the base of his metaphorical mountain. It was a time of transition, not just for him but for the world around him. As he wrestled with the challenges of change—new friends, new surroundings, and the uncertainties of adolescence—music provided him with a compass, a way to navigate the unpredictable forces of life. In those early years, Greg began to see the contours of his own journey, the first steps toward a place of clarity, understanding, and peace.
Navigating Life’s Forks
Life is a series of choices, and for Greg, those choices often felt overwhelming. Moving to a new town meant he was constantly at a crossroads, unsure of how to find his place in a world that seemed so unfamiliar. The uncertainty of these moments mirrored the lyrics of Netherlands, with its imagery of standing at a fork in the road, caught between the simplicity of acceptance and the allure of peace through deliberate choice. For Greg, these moments of decision shaped not only his understanding of the world but also his identity.
When Greg first arrived in his new community, he felt lost in the unfamiliar rhythms of rural life. The friendships he had built in Peoria were already distant memories in a 1970's world without social media and long-distance calls charged by the minute. The prospect of forming new relationships seemed daunting. He often found himself standing alone on the edges of the schoolyard, watching as others played and talked, wondering where he might fit in. It was during these quiet moments that music became his solace. The guitar, still rough and imperfect, offered him a place to focus his energy and emotions. When he played, the uncertainties of his surroundings faded away, replaced by the clarity of the notes and chords he created. He could imagine the chords dancing in sequence as thought about the rhythm and worlds of his then favorite songs.
One person had noticed him, however. His music teacher, an early-30's father of two who did lessons to supplement his career had become his guide to the instrument. He was the first to see the accelerated pace of learning, along with the blood-stained fingers from playing on such a low-quality instrument. After a few months, his teacher called his home one afternoon and spoke with his father. He explained to Greg's father that his son had a rare talent that he might see once or twice in his life and he felt that he should be encouraged to develop it. His father, understanding the risk his teacher was taking by being so bold and yet advocating so well, asked but one question: "If it was you, what would you buy him". The answer came in the form of the guitar the teacher had been letting Greg play when he was in a lesson. It was an above average quality replica of a famous Gibson Guitar, "The Dove", made by Alverez corporation and carried a fraction of the original’s price. The guitar, featuring a beautiful dove on the pickguard, was a well machined guitar that would be more than sufficient for the task. His father told him he'd send a check with Greg to the next lesson.
When Greg returned home that afternoon, his father told him about the discussion. As a coach and athlete, Greg's father understood the importance of the right equipment for the right level of talent. He acted off that belief seeing his son in a slightly different light than he had previously.
At the next lesson, Greg got to keep the treasure he thought was unreachable. His learning accelerated and within his first year, he completed the basic and advanced courses in guitar. His teacher now began helping him develop his style and approach to playing guitar in both folk and rock styles.
Then the fields of corn and beans began to be an asset rather than a hinderance. Thanks to the need for seasonal workers, every summer from his twelfth to his fifteenth year included six to eight weeks either pulling tassels off of corn plants or taking out the weeds between rows in soybean fields. The pay was barely $2.00 per hour, but it added up and yield electric guitars, amplifiers, and microphones.
By his second year of High School, he found himself in "Black Marble" with Max, Steve, and John. The foursome manufactured pleasing cover songs for school dances, rotary dances, and park gatherings throughout the year. Songs from Doobie Brothers, Eagles, Led Zeplin, and more filled the afternoon and evenings from practices in the garage to performances. Life had challenges, and his mind would wonder to the idea of professional versus amateur musician.
It was also time of growth in his personal faith, knowledge, and understanding of himself. The hardest time came a year after Black Marble was formed when he was informed that he and the family were moving three hours away from all they knew due to his father's success and a new promotion. Moving to a large suburb of St. Louis was difficult. Moving in January, when school was already started, was even worse. He ate in a crowded lunchroom every day choking his food down as quickly as he could so he could escape the lonely silence of eating by himself. He would walk through the halls alone until it was time to go back to class. Music still had its expression, and he had been put into all the advanced choirs at school, but the experience shook him. He had been an able follower and now, with no friends, and no outlet for his music, he had to learn to be something new. His mother noticed an ad in the paper that would result in him find that outlet through "The Saints", a private music and dance group in the area. He auditioned and made the group as a singer, dancer, and guitar player. He would get a chance to go to Hawaii during the summer of that year, his sixteenth, and perform in venues throughout Waikiki with the small group of ten. It gave him the confidence to stand on his own see he could be more than just someone who followed.
Through these experiences, Greg began to understand that the forks in the road were not obstacles but opportunities. Each choice, whether big or small, was a chance to grow and learn. The lyrics of Netherlands echoed in his mind: “One road was simple acceptance of life, the other road offered sweet peace.” For Greg, peace came not from avoiding challenges but from embracing them. Music was his constant companion, guiding him through the uncertainty and helping him find his voice.
As Greg continued to navigate life’s forks, he realized that the path he chose was not always the one he expected. Some roads led to disappointment, others to unexpected joys. What mattered most was the willingness to keep moving forward, to keep choosing. The guitar became a symbol of this journey, its strings vibrating with the echoes of his decisions, both the triumphs and the mistakes. In time, Greg found that the act of choosing, of navigating these forks, was what brought him closer to his own "Netherlands"—a place of clarity, understanding, and peace. When he finished High School, it led him to Nashville Tennessee and country music.
Climbing the Mountain
For Greg, music had always been more than just notes and lyrics—it was a path forward, a way of understanding himself and the world around him. As he graduated from high school and pursued higher education, that path led him to Nashville, Tennessee, the heart of the country music industry. In the early 1980s, Nashville’s music scene was still an accessible place, filled with opportunities for those willing to knock on doors.
Greg enrolled at Belmont College; a school renowned for its music business program. During his first semester, a professor told him, “As a Belmont student, you can open all kinds of doors—you just have to ask.” Inspired by this encouragement, Greg began exploring the industry with the determination and curiosity that had always defined him.
One of his first chances came when he was hired as a tour guide at the Country Music Foundation and Hall of Fame Museum. Walking through the hallowed halls of country music history, he gained a deeper appreciation for the craft and the stories behind the songs, as well as worked on his country ‘drawl.’ He had opportunities to mingle with Country Music's elite by serving at the organization's events. He was exposed to the Who's Who of Country Music and found it enjoyable meeting stars. but little more would come of these encounters.
But Greg didn’t stop there. He spent his afternoons and evenings walking up and down Music Row, introducing himself to companies and seeking out opportunities. His persistence paid off with multiple internships and roles. These experiences gave him invaluable insight into the publishing side of the music business and introduced him to the complexities of managing intellectual property.
Greg’s journey didn’t stop at publishing. He ventured into music promotion, where he learned the art of marketing and building relationships within the industry. He also witnessed groundbreaking moments, such as the rise of Contemporary Christian Music and the advent of digital recording technology at the famous Bullet Studios in Nashville. These experiences were transformative, offering Greg a front-row seat to the evolution of music and technology.
Amid these industry roles, Greg found time to pursue songwriting, collaborating with others and working with music publishers and even occasionally pitching to artists. He poured his creativity into his work, but the demands of balancing full-time jobs, coursework, and internships took a toll. The strain of putting himself through college while chasing his dreams began to weigh on him. Often, the ‘game’ didn’t make sense to a farm kid from the Midwest.
One night, while talking with a co-writing friend, Greg casually asked, “What would you do if you decided on another direction?” The response was immediate and passionate: “There’s nothing else I could ever do but music.” As Greg listened, he couldn’t help but think, “But aren’t we already doing music?” The more he thought about it, the more he questioned whether being commercially successful was truly his goal.
The realization began to take shape—he loved music not because of the promise of fame or success but because it was a tool for growth, connection, and understanding. It was the soundtrack to his life, not the endgame.
Eventually, Greg found himself at a critical juncture—a Y in the road, as he called it. He could either quit school and go all in as a songwriter, risking everything for a chance at commercial success, or he could step back and reassess his path.
In that moment of decision, Greg realized that music had been more than a dream—it had been his catalyst for growth, a tool for exploring and interpreting the world. While he loved creating and performing, he saw that his true calling lay beyond the confines of commercial success. He chose to stay in school, embracing a broader vision of what his life could be. Music would remain a vital part of his journey, but not as his sole purpose. Instead, it became a lens through which he could understand and contribute to the world in deeper ways.
Giving up what he had long believed to be his dream wasn’t easy, but it was liberating. Greg found peace in the decision, knowing that his passion for music would never fade. By climbing this metaphorical mountain, he discovered that the summit wasn’t about reaching a singular goal. It was about the journey itself—the growth, the choices, and the insights gained along the way. Music, in all its beauty and complexity, remained his companion, guiding him toward a life of clarity, understanding, and fulfillment.
Finding His Muse
Life after college brought Greg into a new chapter, one that combined the exploration of adulthood with a deepening relationship to music. The demands of finishing his degree and transitioning into a professional world were significant, but music remained his constant companion. It was during this period that Greg truly began to understand music’s ability to weave through all aspects of life—from love and family to work and community.
Greg’s muse came into focus during his final year at Belmont College. He had just spent time as a missionary in a small African country, and when he returned, he attended a student retreat in the mountains of North Carolina. It was here, with the notes of a soft melody drifting through the air, that he met the woman who would change his life. His playing had woken her and a friend who had recently arrived at the retreat, prompting them to explore who was creating the beautiful sound. As she walked up, their eyes met, and Greg’s life changed in an instant. For him, it was a “love at first sight” moment—he had found his muse. Music became the foundation of their relationship, a shared language through which they expressed their emotions, dreams, and faith.
After graduating, Greg pursued an adventurous career, using his creativity in mainstream industries to create and implement software that would be used by millions of people. Music guided his thoughts and built his wisdom on how people and teams worked and interacted. He found the connection between music, science, and software, blending his passions in ways that made him both effective and innovative.
In one instance, Greg reorganized his entire team’s seating arrangements based on their various creative musical talents. The resulting camaraderie and productivity exceeded anything his company had ever seen. He continued to write and perform, joining local songwriter nights where he shared his original pieces and connected with others who shared his passion. These gatherings, often held in community centers or small cafes, reminded Greg of the power of storytelling and the intimacy of music as a means of connection. He wasn’t pursuing fame or commercial success but was instead finding fulfillment in sharing his art with those around him.
Greg’s relationship with music also evolved as he became a father. Teaching his children to appreciate and create music was one of his greatest joys. He would sit with them, guitar in hand, and show them how to form chords, listen for melodies, and express themselves through sound. These moments became cherished family rituals, bonding them together and passing on the love of music as a shared heritage.
In addition to his personal pursuits, Greg’s talents found a place in his broader community. He became a music and worship leader in his local community, using his abilities to inspire and guide others in their faith journeys. Whether leading a congregation in song or helping students develop their musical gifts, Greg found that music was not just a personal passion but a tool for building relationships and fostering collaboration.
As Greg’s career outside of music took shape, he discovered that his creative background had unexpected benefits in the corporate world. Music, with its emphasis on rhythm, harmony, and storytelling, became a metaphor for teamwork and leadership. He often used his musical experiences to relate to colleagues and build stronger, more cohesive teams. Whether crafting a presentation, resolving a conflict, or brainstorming solutions, Greg drew on the lessons he’d learned as a songwriter and performer to connect with others and inspire creativity.
Through all these roles—as a husband, father, performer, teacher, and professional—music remained the thread that tied Greg’s life together. It was no longer just an outlet or a dream but a way of being, a lens through which he experienced and contributed to the world. Music helped him interpret life’s complexities, celebrate its joys, and navigate its challenges. It had become his muse, not in the sense of a fleeting inspiration, but as a lifelong partner in creativity and meaning.
Finding the Netherlands
Greg’s journey through life, guided by music, brought him to a place of profound understanding—his own “Netherlands.” This metaphorical destination, inspired by the song that had shaped much of his thinking, represented a state of peace, balance, and fulfillment. Finding the Netherlands was not about reaching a single milestone but about arriving at a deeper clarity and harmony within himself and the world around him.
As Greg grew older, the tempo of his life shifted. The ambitious pace of his younger years gave way to a more reflective rhythm, one shaped by the wisdom gained through decades of experiences. The trials and triumphs of his journey—from his days at Belmont to his career and family life—all contributed to a tapestry of growth. Music, which had always been a compass for Greg, continued to guide him. Yet now, it did so in quieter, subtler ways.
One of the most significant lessons Greg learned was the importance of embracing life’s unpredictable forces. Just as the lyrics of Netherlands spoke of navigating the wind, snow, and sky, Greg came to see the beauty in the unexpected. The challenges he faced—the crossroads, the setbacks, and the moments of doubt—were not detours but essential parts of the journey. They taught him resilience, patience, and the value of introspection.
Greg’s “Netherlands” was not a destination he arrived at alone. It was enriched by the relationships he built along the way. His wife, who had been his muse and partner, continued to share in the harmony of their life together. Their shared love of music created a soundtrack for their family, filling their home with melodies that spoke of love, faith, and connection. His children, now grown, carried forward the musical legacy he had nurtured, finding their own ways to express themselves and interpret the world through song.
In his professional life, Greg found that the principles he had learned through music—balance, rhythm, and collaboration—were equally applicable to leadership and teamwork. He became a mentor to others, sharing not only his technical expertise but also the wisdom that music had imparted to him. His ability to relate to others, to listen and adapt, made him a trusted guide in both creative and corporate settings.
Yet, the true essence of finding the Netherlands lay in Greg’s ability to let go of the need for control and embrace the simplicity of being. He came to understand that peace wasn’t something to be achieved or earned; it was something to be lived. The lyrics of Netherlands resonated with him now more than ever: “One road was simple acceptance of life, the other road offered sweet peace.” For Greg, finding peace meant choosing to accept life for what it was—a series of moments, each with its own beauty and meaning.
Greg often reflected on his journey and the role music had played in shaping it. Sitting with his guitar, he would sometimes revisit the songs that had accompanied him through different chapters of his life. These moments of quiet reflection were his way of honoring the path he had walked, the people he had loved, and the lessons he had learned. It was in these moments that he felt closest to his “Netherlands”—a place of clarity, understanding, and gratitude.
Finding the Netherlands wasn’t about reaching an end; it was about finding harmony in the journey itself. Greg’s life was a testament to the power of music to illuminate, inspire, and guide. Through its rhythms and melodies, he had found a way to navigate life’s complexities and uncover its deepest joys. The Netherlands, for Greg, wasn’t just a dream or a destination. It was a state of being, one he carried with him, wherever the journey led.
Netherlands – Learnings from the Road
As Greg reflected on his life, one truth became abundantly clear: music had been more than a companion on his journey. It had been a teacher, a guide, and a mirror. Through its rhythms and melodies, music had shaped how he understood the world and himself. It had been there in times of joy and sorrow, in moments of clarity and confusion, offering a context that grounded him and a perspective that elevated him. The lessons Greg learned from music were not just about notes and lyrics—they were lessons about life itself.
Music, Greg realized, has a unique power to illuminate the complexities of modern life. In a world that often feels overwhelming and disconnected, music offers a thread of connection, binding us to our emotions, our memories, and one another. For Greg, it became a language through which he could process the chaos of the world and transform it into something meaningful. The themes of harmony, rhythm, and balance were not confined to the songs he played; they were principles that guided how he approached challenges, relationships, and aspirations.
One of the greatest gifts music offered Greg was perspective. It reminded him that life, like a symphony, is made up of contrasting movements. There are moments of intense crescendo, where everything feels urgent and alive, and moments of quiet reflection, where stillness allows understanding to emerge. Through music, Greg learned to navigate these shifts, embracing both the highs and lows as essential parts of the whole.
Music also taught Greg the importance of listening—not just to the melodies, but to the world around him. Whether in his role as a husband, father, teacher, or professional, listening became his superpower. It allowed him to understand others deeply, to collaborate effectively, and to find solutions that resonated with harmony. In a fast-paced, noisy world, Greg found that the act of truly listening—to a colleague, to a child, to a piece of music—could create space for connection and creativity.
But perhaps the most profound lesson Greg learned was about the power of interpretation. Music, like life, is open to interpretation, and it’s through this lens that we find meaning. For Greg, interpreting music was not about following a set path or adhering to a rigid structure. It was about finding his own way, drawing from his experiences, and shaping something uniquely his. This philosophy extended to how he lived his life, giving him the freedom to adapt, grow, and create a life that was authentically his own.
Greg’s journey—from a boy in the Midwest discovering his first guitar to a man who found his “Netherlands”—was shaped by the enduring presence of music. It was his constant companion, helping him interpret the world, connect with others, and achieve his best self. Music didn’t just accompany him; it gave him the tools to understand the complexities of life and the courage to navigate them with grace and creativity.
As Greg sat with his guitar, reflecting on the road he had traveled, he felt a profound sense of gratitude. Music had been more than a theme in his life; it had been the light that guided his way. It had helped him build relationships, find clarity, and embrace the beauty of imperfection. In the end, Greg’s story was not just about his journey—it was about the universal truth that music has the power to transform, to heal, and to inspire.
For those who listen, who allow music to weave its way into their lives, there is an opportunity to discover their own “Netherlands.” It is not a destination but a state of being—a place where one can find peace, purpose, and understanding. Greg’s life serves as a reminder that the road may be long and winding, but with music as our guide, we can navigate it with heart and harmony, becoming the best versions of ourselves along the way.
