The 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 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 brother's 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 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
 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