Leader of the Band

This is one of my favourite songs in the whole world And I dedicate this tonight to my dad An only child, alone and wild, a cabinet maker's son His hands were meant for different work But his heart was known to none He left his home and went his lone and solitary way 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 His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band My brothers' lives were different, for they heard another call. One went to Chicago and the other to Saint Paul And I'm in Colorado, when I'm not in some hotel Living out this life I've chosen, come to know so well The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band I thank you for your 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 Papa, I don't think I said "I love you" near enough The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band I am the living legacy to the leader of the band