[Paultergeist]

Jeff and Erithon,

Thank you both very much. I read through both of your responses several times each, learning what I can. I also did a little internet searching on "borrowed chords" (modal mixtures) and "parallel keys" to help me follow along better. I really appreciate you folks sharing your knowledge and insights.

For the present, I am inclined to look at the intro to the song thusly:

I vi I V vi bVII I

/ D / Bm / D / A / Bm / C / D /


In that sense, I guess I am looking at the progression as being in D Major, with the bVII [C chord] being "borrowed" from D Mixolydian. I might go so far as to suggest that the bVII is serving the function of the V chord (leading back to the I)?