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 once
But his music
wouldn't wait
He earned his love
Through discipline
A thundering
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 St. Paul
And I'm in Colorado
When I'm not
in some hotel
Living out this
life I've chose
And come to
know so well
I thank you
for the music
And your stories
of the road
I thank you
for the freedom
When it came
my time to g-o
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
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 a living
legacy to the
leader of the band