Leader of the band

	  		

Intro: G7 C Am Em D G (C/G) G (C/G) G (C/G) G   

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.  
   
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 leader 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've chosen, 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 a living  legacy to the leader of   the band   
   .                            (C/G)  G  (C/G)  G  (C/G)  G  G7 C Am Em D7 G   
   .