Leader Of The Band
Dan Fogelberg
Intro: G-C-Am-Em-D-G
G C/G G Bm C
A lonely child, alone and wild, a cab'net-maker's son
Am Em
His hands were meant for diff'rent work
Am C D
And his heart was known to none
G C/G G
He left his home and went his lone
Bm C
and solitary way
Am Em
And he gave to me a gift I know
Am D G C/G (3X) G
I never can repay
G C/G G Bm C
A quiet man of music denied a simpler fate
Am Em
He tried to be a soldier once
Am C D
but his music wouldn't wait
G C/G G
He earned his love through discipline
Bm C
a thund'ring velvet hand
Am Em
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Am D G
took me years to understand
CHORUS
C Bm
The leader of the band is tired
C G
and his eyes are growing old
Am Em
But his blood runs thru my instrument
Am F D
and his song is in my soul
C Bm7
My life has been a poor attempt
C G
to imitate the man
Am Em
I'm just a living legacy
Am C G C/G (3X) G
to the leader of the band
G C/G G
My brother's lives were diff'rent
Bm C
for they heard another call
Am Em
One went to Chicago
Am C D
and the other to St. Paul
G C/G G
And I'm in Colorado
Bm C
when I'm not in some hotel
Am Em
Living out this life I chose
Am D G C/G G
and come to know so well
Adlib
G/B C/G C Am Em D
G C/G (3X) G
G C/G G
I thank you for the music
Bm C
and your stories of the road
Am Em
I thank you for the freedom
Am C D
when it came my time to go
G C/G G
I thank you for the kindness
Bm C
and the times when you got tough
Am Em
And, Papa, I don't think I've said
Am D G
"I love you" near enough
*repeat chorus
