|Capo 1 Intro: >G7/B C, Am Em D >G C/G (3x) G Verse 1: >G C/G G An only child alone and wild, > Bm C A cabinet maker's son >Am Em His hands were meant for different work > Am C D And his heart was known to none >G C/G G He left his home and went his lone > Bm C And solitary way > Am Em And he gave to me a gift I know > Am D7 (Int.) I never can repay Interlude: >G C/G (3x) G Verse 2: >G C/G G A quiet man of music, > Bm C Denied a simpler fate >Am Em He tried to be a soldier once > Am C D But his music wouldn't wait >G C/G G He earned his love through discipline, > Bm C A thund'ring velvet hand > Am Em His gentle means of sculpting souls > Am D7 G ( Am7 Bm7 ) Took me years to understand Chorus: >C Bm The leader of the band is tired > C G ( Am7 Bm7 ) And his eyes are growing old > Am Em But his blood runs through my instrument > Am F D And his song is in my soul >C Bm My life has been a poor attempt, >C G ( Am7 Bm7 ) To imitate the man > Am Em I'm just a living legacy > Am C (Int.) To the leader of the band Interlude: >G C/G (3x) G Verse 3: >G C/G G My brothers' lives were different > Bm C For they heard another call > Am Em Am C D One went to Chicago, and the other to St. Paul >G C/G G Bm C And I'm in Colorado when I'm not in some hotel > Am Em Living out this life I chose > Am D7 G C/G G And come to know so well Solo: >G7/B C, Am Em D, >G C/G (3x) G Verse 4: >G C/G G I thank you for the music > Bm C And your stories of the road >Am Em I thank you for the freedom > Am C D When it came my time to go >G C/G G I thank you for the kindness > Bm C And the times when you got tough > Am Em And Papa, I don't think I said > Am D7 G ( Am7 Bm7 ) "I love you" near enough Chorus: >C Bm The leader of the band is tired > C G ( Am7 Bm7 ) And his eyes are growing old > Am Em But his blood runs through my instrument > Am F D And his song is in my soul >C Bm My life has been a poor attempt, >C G ( Am7 Bm7 ) To imitate the man > Am Em I'm just a living legacy > Am C G ( Am7 Bm7 ) To the leader of the band Outro: > Am Em I am a living legacy > Am C G C/G (3x) G To the leader of the band >G7/B C, Am Em D G