Leader Of The Band

[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


[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
I'm just a living  legacy to the lea  der of   the band
        
        
[Instrumental]

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


[Instrumental]

G7 C Am Em D7   G  C/G  G  C/G  G  C/G  G


[Verse] 

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 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

    
[Outro] 

  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