G   Em   Am  G  Em  C  D7 G C  G  C  D    G

[Verse 1]
                                Bm              Em
An only child alone and wild, a cabinet maker's son
    Am                   G/B                    C                  D     G
His hands were meant for different work and his heart was known to none
                                       Bm       Em
He left his home and went his lone and solitary way
   Am           G/B        C        D     G
He gave to me a gift I know I never can repay


[Verse 2]
                        Bm             Em
A quiet man of music, denied a simpler fate
   Am            G/B                   C              D     G
He tried to be a soldier once, but his music wouldn't wait
                                         Bm                Em
He earned his love through discipline, a thundering velvet hand
        Am              G/B                     C        D    G      C
And his gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand


[Chorus]
                  Bm                    Am               G
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
    C                     Em              C             D     C
His blood runs through my instrument, his song is in my soul
                   Bm              Am          G
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
    Am            Em            C             G
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band


[Instrumental]
   (Celtic Reel)


[Verse 3]
                        Bm                               Em
My brothers' lives were different for they heard another call
Am             G/B          C            D
One went to Chicago and the other to St. Paul
    G                        Bm          Em
Now I'm in Colorado when I'm not in some motel
Am              G/B              C            D       G
Living out this life I chose and have come to know so well


[Verse 4]
                                    Bm            Em
I thank you for the music and your stories of the road
  Am                G/B             C               D
I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go
  G                                  Bm                  Em
I thank you for the kindness and the times when you were tough
Am                G/B             C         D     G       C
Sometimes I don't think I said "I love you" near enough


[Chorus]
                  Bm                    Am               G
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
    C                     Em              C             D     C
His blood runs through my instrument, his song is in my soul
                   Bm          Am              G
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
    Am            Em            C             G
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band