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Leader of the Band

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


   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.

                 Am              Em           Am     C  D       G  
               I am the living  legacy to the leader of    the band