Folk & Traditional Song Lyrics www.traditionalmusic.co.uk Leader of the Band 
Leader of the Band (Dan Fogelberg) 
An only child alone and wild, a cabinet maker's son His hands were meant for different work
 and 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, but his music wouldn't wait He learned his love through discipline, a thundering velvet hand His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand. 
CHORUS 
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 the 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 And Papa I don't think I said I love you near enough. 
DT