Leader Of The Band

Dan Fogelberg

Tom: G

Intro: G7 C Am Em D G (C/G) G (C/G) G (C/G) G 
Verse: 
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 
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 
 .    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 soul 
 .    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 lea--der of-- the band  
  .(C/G)  G  (C/G)  G  (C/G)  G 
    
   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, 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 
   .        G7 C Am Em D7   G (C/G) G (C/G) G (C/G) G 
   (no lyrics)  
   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 followed by ending: ) 
   .               Am              Em           Am     C  D       G   
   .             I am the living  legacy to the leader of    the band 
   .                            (C/G)  G  (C/G)  G  (C/G)  G  G7 C Am Em D7 G 
   .