A quiet man of music denied a simpler fate/
He tried to be a soldier once, but his music wouldn’t wait.

“Leader of the Band” is a beautiful tribute song to Fogelburg’s father, who he dubs “The leader of the band”. We learn much about both Fogelburg and his father (and his family) in just this short song. We learn that his father was also a guitarist, and we can tell how much Fogelburg looked up to him both as a man and as a guitar player.

In many ways, it seems like Fogelburg is living his life as a tribute to his old man’s life on the road. He loved his old man’s stories of the road and now here he is out living the same life. He is grateful and he is hoping this song makes his father proud—just as he is proud of his father.

The simple finger-picking of the acoustic guitar sounds great. The pattern sounds relatively unique: that is hard to do. It is hard to find a unique pattern: there are only so many. I also like Fogelburg’s voice. It is in the higher range for the male voice and it excels in these delicate, soft-rock songs. Interestingly, Fogelburg chooses a trumpet to perform the solo in the song. It is a bit of a surprise but it works perfectly for the song.

Leader of the Band Lyrics

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.

Songwriters: Dan Fogelberg