Leader Of The Band
Dan Fogelberg
[Verse 1]
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
And he gave to me a gift I know I never can repay
[Verse 2]
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 thundering velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand
[Chorus]
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through 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
[Verse 3]
My brother's lives were different for they heard another call
One went to Chicago and the other to St Paul
And I'm in Colorado when I'm not in some hotel
Living out this life I've chose and come to know so well
[Verse 4]
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 said I love you near enough
[Chorus]
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through 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 am a living legacy to the leader of the band
[Intro]
G7 G7 C
e|---------------0-|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-3---------3-----|---3---1---0-----|-1---------1-----|
G|-------0---------|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D|-----3-------3---|-----3-------0---|-----2-------2---|
A|-2---------------|-2-------0-------|-3---------------|
E|---------3-------|-----------------|---------3-------|
C Am Em
e|---0-------------|-------0---------|-----------------|
B|-3---3-1---0-----|-0h1-------1-----|-0h1-0-----0-----|
G|---------------2-|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D|-------------0-2-|-----2-------2---|-------------2---|
A|-3---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
E|--------3--------|---------0-------|-0-------0-------|
D G C/G G C/G
e|-2-----------------|-----------3-----|-----------3-----|
B|-------3-----------|-----0h1---------|-----0h1---------|
G|-----2---0h2p0---0-|---------------0-|---------------0-|
D|-0-------------4---|-----0h2-----2---|-----0h2-----2---|
A|-------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-------------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
G C/G G (Instrumental ends on)
e|-----------3-----|-----------------| |-----------------|
B|-----0h1-----1---|-0---------0-----| |-0---------------|
G|-----------------|-------0-------0-| |-----------------|
D|-----0h2-----2---|-----0-------0---| |-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------| |-3---------------|
[Verse 1]
G C/G G Bm C
An only child alone and wild, a cabinet maker's son
Am Em Am C D
His hands were meant for different work and his heart was known to none
G C/G G Bm C
He left his home and went his lone and solitary way
Am Em Am D7 G C/G G C/G G C/G G
And he gave to me a gift I know I never can repay
[Verse 2]
G C/G G Bm C
A quiet man of music, denied a simpler fate
Am Em Am C D
He tried to be a soldier once but his music wouldn't wait
G C/G G Bm C
He earned his love through discipline, a thund'ring velvet hand
Am Em Am D7 G
His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand
[Chorus]
C Bm C G
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
Am Em Am F D
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my so-oul
C Bm C G
My life has been a poor attempt, to imitate the man
Am Em Am C G C/G G C/G G C/G G
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band
[Verse 3]
G C/G G Bm C
My brothers' lives were different for they heard another call
Am Em Am C D
One went to Chicago, and the other to St. Paul
G C/G G Bm C
And I'm in Colorado when I'm not in some hotel
Am Em Am D7 G C/G G
Living out this life I chose and come to know so well
[Instrumental] (repeat intro part with orchestra)
| G7 | G7 | C | C |
| Am | Em | D | G C/G |
| G C/G | G C/G | G |
[Verse 4]
G C/G G Bm C
I thank you for the music and your stories of the road
Am Em Am C D
I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go
G C/G G Bm C
I thank you for the kindness and the times when you got tough
Am Em Am D7 G
And Papa, I don't think I said "I love you" near enough
[Chorus]
C Bm C G
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
Am Em Am F D
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my so-oul
C Bm C G
My life has been a poor attempt, to imitate the man
Am Em Am C G
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band
Am Em Am C D G C/G G C/G G C/G G
I am the living legacy to the leader of the band
[Outro]
| G7 | G7 | C | C |
| Am | Em | D | G