Leader Of The Band
Words & Music:
Dan Fogelberg
This is transcribed in the
July 2008 issue of Acoustic Guitar.
INTRO:
G7 C
Am Em D | G (C/G) G (C/G) G (C/G) | G
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.
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 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 soul.
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 lea--der of-- the band.
My brothers' lives were
different for they heard another call
One went to Chicago, the other
to St. Paul
And I'm in Colorado when I'm
not in some hotel
Living out this life I chose
and come to know so well
INTRO REPRISE:
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:
OUTRO:
Am
Em
Am C D G C/G G C/G G C/G G G7 C Am Em D7 G
I am the living legacy to the
leader of--- the band.