Dan Fogelberg: Leader of the Band Meaning

Song Released: 1981

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...

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   #1 top rated interpretation:
   astorian

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   Mar 14th 2012 !⃝

   Dan Fogelberg finds it both amusing and exasperating that many people think this is a song about Jesus (perhaps because Jesus was the son of a carpenter named Joseph, and the lyrics refer to "a cabinet maker's son").
   
   In reality, the song is a tribute to Dan's father, Lawrence Fogelberg, who was a music teacher and band director (hence, he was literally "leader of the band") at an Illinois high school. Lawrence Fogelberg had tried to make a living as a musician and composer, before settling down to raise a family... but he taught Dan to play several instruments, and inspired Dan to try to become a professional musician himself.
2. anonymous

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   Mar 8th 2018 !⃝

   It's my Dad...always wanted to give it to him, but time got away. Played it at his wake for him, at his mass funeral, the church took it upon themselves to play it as my dad's coffin was brought in and at the exit to the cemetery. My dad Will always be the Leader of the Band
3. anonymous

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   Dec 26th 2017 !⃝

   This song refers to all of us: sons (and daughters) of the carpenter, Jesus Christ, who is “Leader of the Band,” even an heavenly as head of the marching saints when they go “marching home.”
4. anonymous

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   Feb 27th 2017 !⃝

   The of leader of the band is like a one leader who've been done his work and he instill to his company the legacy of his worth remembering memories.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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