Goodbye to My Dad Lyrics

The old guy got sick, faded real quick
My sister and I took two planes to Chicago
Some hospital room on a Tuesday at noon
A fearful and frail eighty four year old man

Who once was so proud, always barking out loud
Now I'm helping him go to the bathroom
His place in the world once secured by a snarl
Now reduced to reluctant dependence

Two-door red sedan, that's what he drove
Now I'm out on Lake Shore, and I roll down his window
I was always amazed how an angry old man
Could make another grown man feel seven years old

"Are you making a living?" he'd snap out at me
"You're not getting much younger," that's all he would say
It was fear that was talking, and that's where he hid
And the Wizard of Oz passed it on to his kids

It was different for him, he did not have the tools
And now here his two children with the luxury to choose
We've chosen families and he moved away
On the day I got married, that's where he stayed

The last time we talked he was getting so weak
I was holding his hand, it was all he could do just to speak
Brought my mouth to his ear
I sang him two songs in a whisper

Then I kissed him goodbye, and we left him alone
About four in the morning we all heard the phone
He died how he lived, by himself, in his sleep
There was loss, there was pain and reprieve and relief

My very worst critic had drawn his last breath
And now what would I learn from my own father's death
I won't miss the judgment, the guilt or neglect
And I'll forgive who I love, but I will not forget

"I don't need a thing" that's what he would say
If I tried to get close he just pushed me away
But I did what I could and that's all that you can
And I let the rest go
I let the rest go
Oh, I let the rest go

And said goodbye to my dad