OLD MAN
BAKER
FIRST RELEASE
I CAN’T BREATHE
Well I seem fine to you, can’t you see the fool on the hill and the freak that I have inside me. Cause I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe. And catch me if you can, because I won’t run and I won’t hide. I’ll just keep on singing this song. Cut me down, cause I won’t bleed.
“I don’t care,” you say. “The way that you are, the way that you are is the way that I can learn to be, cause I can’t see why you can’t breathe, and I’m not like you. I don’t know why, I don’t know why.” I’ll just keep on listening to your song. Cut me down, cause I won’t bleed.
Hold on to your tears. And cry me to sleep. And cry me to sleep, because I know you want to be near me, but I can’t breathe. No, I can’t breathe. Catch me if you can, cause I won’t run and I won’t hide. I’ll just keep on listening to that song. Cut you down, because I won’t bleed.
OLD MAN BAKER
I grew up in Liberia. Performers in elaborate costumes would come to the house, dance and frighten me. They were called Old Man Baker.
I write all the songs—lyrics, chord progressions, hooks and melodies—with Oliver Chang (Animal Feelings), who co-writes and produces with some help from Suno.
I am also the World Whistling Champion ↗
My son Leo is fourteen and learning guitar, piano and drums. Hearing him discover the music I grew up with made me want to write again.