The Leader Of The Band

I guess you could say it's pretty crazy, the way that life and the world work. Sometimes it takes losing someone to really open your eyes to how important each day really is. Sometimes we take days for granted. We live life with assumption that tommorrow is going to come and that everyone will be there with us. To be totally honest, it's how things work out most of the time. But the one time that it doesn't happen that way is the time that you stop and look back at the last time you saw that person and what you said.

I lost my grandfather today and I know when the last time was that I talked to him because it didn't happen often. I know what I said because we didn't say much. Nonetheless, every opportunity that I had to talk to him was important to me. Without him, I would not be here. For this, I am thankful. Never forget that each day is a gift and that each person in your life is a gift as well.


An only child
Alone and wild
A cabinet makers 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 wouldnt 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
Im just a living legacy
To the leader of the band.

My brothers lives were
DifferentFor they heard another call
One went to chicago
And the other to st. paul
And Im in colorado
When Im not in some hotel
Living out this life
Ive 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, pap, I dont 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
Im just a living legacy
To the leader of the band
I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band.