Leader Of The Band lyrics by Dan Fogelberg
An only child alone and wild,a cabinet maker's son
His hands were meant for different work
and his heart was known to none
He left his home and went
his lone and solitary way
He gave to me a gift I know
I never can repay
A quiet man of music,
denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once,
but his music wouldn't wait
He earned his love through discipline,
a thund'ring velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
took me years to understand
The leader of the band is tired
and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs thru my instrument
and his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt
to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
to the leader of the band
My brother's lives were different,
for they heard another call
One just went to Chicago,
and another to Saint Paul
And I'm in Colorado
when I'm not in some motel
Living out this life I chose
and have come to know so well
I thank you for the music
and your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom
when it came my time to go
I thank you for the kindness
and the times when you got tough
And, Papa, I don't think I've said
"I love you" near enough
The leader of the band is tired
and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs thru my instrument
and his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt
to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
to the leader of the band
I'm just a living legacy
to the leader of the band
