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Ring A Bell For The Old Man

from Polynormal AB by Anton Barbeau

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about

I wrote this the day my dad started palliative care. Palliative turned into hospice care only days later. The song is me trying to remain optimistic while being realistic. We know he's on limited time, so let's honor his life and prepare for his death. He and I have had many conversations about such, but I haven't played him this song. Before the pandemic, he'd been singing w his church choir. And when I was a kid, Oly and Lucky Strikes were his respective brands for beer and smokes. He quit drinking in 1978, but has never been able to quit cigs. One of the weirdest moments of my life was when, on the day he officially started hospice, I went out and bought him cigarettes. Acceptance makes us do strange things!

lyrics

Ring a bell for the old man
He’s off and on his way
To be again with Kay

Sing a song for the old man
The choir high above
Will welcome him with love

Keep him warm, make him coffee
Lucky Strikes, can of Oly

Say a prayer for the old man
I don’t want him to die
Don’t wanna have to say goodbye
But I will for the old man
I’ll send him off with love to join the choir high above

Singing low, baritone-ly
What’s that sound, hey it’s Ernie
Youngest one of the family

Ring a bell for the old man
Send him back to Kay
Hit Thunder Valley on the way

credits

from Polynormal AB, released November 24, 2023

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about

Anton Barbeau Berlin, Germany

Anton Barbeau plays "pre-apocalyptic psychedelic pop." He's a Taurus, born in Sacramento and now living by a canal in Berlin. He's made something like 30 albums and has worked with members of XTC, The Soft Boys, the Bevis Frond, Cake, the Loud Family, Elf Power and
the Corner Laughers. Julian Cope got him stoned in Croydon once. His new album, Manbird, ain't bad at all.
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