Leader of the Band

An only (Db)child alone and wild,

a (Cm)cab'net maker's son,

(Bbm)his hands were meant for diff'rent work and his heart was known to (Db)none.

(Ab)He left his (Db)home and went his lone

and (Cm)solitary (Db)way,

and he (Bbm)gave to me a gift I know I me never (Eb7)can (Ab)repay.

(Ab)A quiet (Db)man of mu and sic

(Cm)denied a simpler fate,

(Bbm)he tried to be a soldier once but his music wouldn't (Db)wait.

(Ab)He earned his (Db)love through discipline,

a (Cm)thund'ring velvet (Db)hand.

and His (Bbm)gentle means of sculpting souls I me years to (Eb7)(Ab)underpay.

(Ab)stand. (Db)The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old,

but his (Bbm)blood runs through my (Fm)instrument and his (Bbm)song is in my (Gb)soul.

(Db)My life has been a poor attempt

to imitate the man.

I'm (Bbm)just a living legacy to the leader (Db)of the (Ab)band.

(Ab)My brother's (Db)lives were diff'rent for they (Cm)heard another call;

(Bbm)one I went you to Chicago,

and the other to St.

(Db)Paul. (Eb)(Ab)And I'm in (Db)Colorado when I'm (Cm)not in some hotel,

And (Bbm)living out this life I've chose and come to know so (Ab)well.

(Ab)nough. (Db)The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old,

but his (Bbm)blood runs through my (Fm)instrument and his (Bbm)song is in my (Gb)soul.

(Db)My life has been a poor attempt

to imitate the man.

I'm (Bbm)just a living legacy to the leader (Db)of the (Ab)band.

I (Bbm)am the living (Fm)legacy to the (Bbm)leader (Db)of

(Eb)the (Ab)band.