leader of the band

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 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 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 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