Intro: G5 C5 A5 E5 D5 G5 ( C5 ) G5 ( C5 ) G5 ( C5 ) G5 Verse: G5 ( C5 ) G5 B5 C5 An only child alone and wild, a cabinet maker's son A5 E5 A5 C5 D5 His hands were meant for different work and his heart was known to none. G5 ( C5 ) G5 B5 C5 He left his home and went his lone and solitary way / A5 E5 A5 D5 G5 ( C5 ) G5 ( C5 ) G5 ( C5 ) G5 And he gave to me a gift I know I never can repay G5 ( C5 ) G5 B5 C5 A quiet man of music, denied a simpler fate A5 E5 A5 C5 D5 He tried to be a soldier once but his music wouldn't wait G5 ( C5 ) G5 B5 C5 He earned his love through discipline, a thund'ring velvet hand / A5 E5 A5 D5 G5 His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand / C5 B5 C5 G5 . The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old / A5 E5 A5 F5 D5 . But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul / C5 B5 C5 G5 . My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man / A5 E5 A5 C5 G5 . I'm just a living legacy to the lea--der of-- the band /( C5 ) G5 ( C5 ) G5 ( C5 ) G5 G5 ( C5 ) G5 B5 C5 My brothers' lives were different for they heard another call A5 E5 A5 C5 D5 One went to Chicago, the other to St. Paul G5 ( C5 ) G5 B5 C5 And I'm in Colorado when I'm not in some hotel A5 E5 A5 D5 G5 ( C5 ) G5 Living out this life I chose and come to know so well / G5 C5 A5 E5 D5 G5 ( C5 ) G5 ( C5 ) G5 ( C5 ) G5 (no lyrics) G5 ( C5 ) G5 B5 C5 I thank you for the music and your stories of the road A5 E5 A5 C5 D5 I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go G5 ( C5 ) G5 B5 C5 I thank you for the kindness and the times when you got tough A5 E5 A5 D5 G5 And papa I don't think I said "I love you" near enough. / (Chorus followed by ending: ) / A5 E5 A5 C5 D5 G5 . I am the living legacy to the leader of the band / ( C5 ) G5 ( C5 ) G5 ( C5 ) G5 G5 C5 A5 E5 D5 G5 .