The Living Years Songtext
von Mike + the Mechanics

Every generation
Blames the one before
And all of their frustrations
They come beating on your door

I know that I′m a prisoner
To all my Father held so dear
I know that I'm a hostage
To all his hopes and fears
I just wish I could have told him
in the living years


Oh, crumpled bits of paper
Filled with imperfect thoughts
Stilted conversations
I′m afraid that's all we've got
You say you just don′t see it
He says it′s perfect sense
You just can't get agreement
In this present tense
We all talk a different language
Talking in defense
Say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear (oh say it clear)
You can listen as well as you hear
It′s too late (it's too late)
When we die (oh when we die)
To admit we don′t see eye to eye
So we open up a quarrel
Between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future
It's the bitterness that lasts
So don′t yield to the fortunes
You might sometimes see as fate
It may have a new perspective
On a different day
And if you don't give up
And don't give in
You just might be okay
Say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear (oh say it clear)
You can listen as well as you hear
It′s too late (it′s too late)
When we die (oh when we die)
To admit we don't see eye to eye
I wasn′t there that morning
When my Father passed away
And I didn't get to tell him
All the things I had to say
Thought I caught his spirit
Later that same year
I′m sure I heard his echo
In my baby's new born tears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years
Say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear (and say it clear)
Say it loud (got to say it loud, say it loud)
Say it clear (say it clear)
Say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear (and say it clear)
Say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear