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Leader Of The Band

· by Dan Fogelberg

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Lyrics

An on ly (Db)child a lone and wild, a (Cm)cab ’net mak er’s son,

his hands were meant for dif f’rent work and his (Bbm)heart was known to (Db)none.

He left his (Db)home and went his lone and (Cm)sol i tar y (Db)way,

and he (Bbm)gave to me a gift I know I me (Bbm)nev er (Eb7)can re (Ab)pay.

A qui et (Db)man of mu and sic de (Cm)nied a sim pler fate,

he tried to be a sol dier once but his (Bbm)mu sic would n’t (Db)wait.

He earned his (Db)love through dis ci pline, a (Cm)thun d’ring vel vet (Db)hand.

and His (Bbm)gen tle means of sculpt ing souls I me (Bbm)years to (Eb7)un der (Ab)pay.

(Ab)stand.

The lead er of the band is tired and his (Db)eyes are grow ing old,

but his (Bbm)blood runs through my (Fm)in stru ment and his (Bbm)song is in my (Gb)soul.

My life has been a poor at tempt

to im i tate the man.

I’m (Bbm)just a liv ing leg a cy to the (Bbm)lead er (Db)of the (Ab)band.

My broth er’s (Db)lives were dif f’rent for they (Cm)heard an oth er call;

(Bbm)one I went you to Chi ca go,

and the (Bbm)oth er to St.

(Db)Paul.

And I’m in (Db)Col o ra do when I’m (Cm)not in some ho tel,

And (Bbm)liv ing out this life I’ve chose and (Bbm)come to know so (Ab)well.

(Ab)nough.

The lead er of the band is tired and his (Db)eyes are grow ing old,

but his (Bbm)blood runs through my (Fm)in stru ment and his (Bbm)song is in my (Gb)soul.

My life has been a poor at tempt

to im i tate the man.

I’m (Bbm)just a liv ing leg a cy to the (Bbm)lead er (Db)of the (Ab)band.

I (Bbm)am the liv ing (Fm)leg a cy to the (Bbm)lead er (Db)of

the (Ab)band.

Leader Of The Band by Dan Fogelberg — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Leader Of The Band” by Dan Fogelberg in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of Db at 110 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Leader Of The Band" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Leader Of The Band"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "Leader Of The Band" use?: Just 9 chords: Ab, Ab7, Bbm, Cm, Db, Eb, Eb7, Fm, +1 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Dan Fogelberg songs work for kids?: Try "RHYTHM OF THE RAIN", "SAME OLD LANG SYNE", "LONGER". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.