Leader of the Band

[00:13.30] An only child alone and wild, a cabinet maker's son

[00:27.44] His hands were meant for different work

[00:30.63] And his heart was known to none

[00:35.13] He left his home and went his lone and solitary way

[00:42.05] And he gave to me a gift I know I never can repay

[00:55.35] A quiet man of music denied a simpler fate

[01:02.25] He tried to be a soldier once, but his music wouldn't wait

[01:09.42] He earned his love through discipline, a thundering velvet hand

[01:16.61] His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand

[01:24.04] The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old

[01:30.93] But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul

[01:38.64] My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man

[01:45.29] I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band

[01:58.84] My brother's lives were different for they heard another call

[02:06.00] One went to Chicago and the other to St Paul

[02:13.17] And I'm in Colorado when I'm not in some hotel

[02:20.34] Living out this life I've chose and come to know so well

[02:49.83] I thank you for the music and your stories of the road

[02:56.74] I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go

[03:04.18] I thank you for the kindness and the times when you got tough

[03:11.08] And papa, I don't think I said I love you near enough

[03:18.51] The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old

[03:27.02] But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul

[03:32.86] My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man

[03:39.77] I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band

[03:49.07] I am a living legacy to the leader of the band