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

A strange new sound you never heard before/
A strange new sound that makes boys explore.

Elton had so many hits.  John’s “The Greatest Discovery” was not one of his hits, it is a hidden gem that never got much attention. What is the greatest discovery? The song is about a young boy who hears strange new sounds in his home and goes exploring to see what they are. He notices an extra bed in his house…what is this? It turns out he has a new baby brother. Getting to know this strange looking new creature is a bizarre and exciting new discovery for the boy.

What makes “The Greatest Discovery” unique is that it is unusual territory for a song—and that is exciting. The song is tender, and imagines the wonder of being a boy and meeting your new brother for the first time. Taupin’s lyrics help provide that feeling of wonder and foreignness that someone new coming into your house must feel like for a child. John’s melody is on point- it is sounds like a journey through the kids’ point of view and he sings it delicately.

The Greatest Discovery Lyrics

Peering out of tiny eyes
The grubby hands that gripped the rail
Wiped the window clean of frost
As the morning air laid on the latch

A whistle awakened someone there
Next door to the nursery, just down the hall
A strange new sound you never heard before
A strange new sound that makes boys explore

Tread neat so small those little feet
Amid the morning his small heart beats
So much excitement yesterday
That must be rewarded, must be displayed

Large hands lift him through the air
Excited eyes contain him there
The eyes of those he loves and knows
But what’s this extra bed just here

His puzzled head tipped to one side
Amazement swims in those bright green eyes
Glancing down upon this thing
That make strange sounds, strange sounds that sing

In those silent happy seconds
That surround the sound of this event
A parent smile is made in moments
They have made for you a friend

And all you ever learned from them
Until you grew much older
Did not compare with when they said
This is your brand new brother
This is your brand new brother
This is your brand new brother

Songwriters: Bernie Taupin / Elton John

Life used to be so hard/
Now everything is easy ’cause of you.

CSNYs “Our House” suffers a bit in the reputation department due to it being featured prominently in insurance company ads for awhile. It is not that I am against artists monetizing their work, but sometimes the ads work and they play them over and over again. Also, there is a difference between a one hit wonder monetizing their song vs a band like CSNY. CSNY is set for life.

Anyways, one of the nice things about “Our House” is the simple description of happiness that Nash describes. He just wants to be with his woman in their house—together. A yard with room for some cats would be great. Oh, and if you didn’t know—this song is about his house with Joni Mitchell. Tragically, I heard a recent interview where he called her the “love of his life”. It was weird listening to a man say that about someone who is alive who he is in no longer with. Quite shocking really.

Nash is to CSNY as Lindsay Buckingham is to Fleetwood Mac, or Brian Wilson to The Beach Boys. Not only was he a prominent songwriter and lead singer, he was the most influential part of creating the band’s sound. He is also one of the few two-time inductees to the rock n roll hall of fame: he also got in with The Hollies. Like all Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young songs, the harmonies really stand out. The four of them really sound amazing together. This is one of their few songs that feature the piano.

Our House Lyrics

I’ll light the fire.
You put the flowers in the vase
that you bought today.

Staring at the fire for hours and hours
while I listen to you
Play your love songs all night long for me-
Only for me.

Come to me now,
And rest your head for just five minutes,
Everything is good.
Such a cozy room,
The windows are illuminated,
By the evening sunshine through them,
Fiery gems for you-
Only for you.

Our house is a very, very, very fine house,
With two cats in the yard.
Life used to be so hard.
Now everything is easy ’cause of you.
And our la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.

Our house is a very, very, very fine house,
With two cats in the yard.
Life used to be so hard.
Now everything is easy ’cause of you.
And our…

I’ll light the fire,
While you place the flowers in the vase
That you bought today.

Written by: Graham Nash