(Lyrics and the music video of “The Living Years by Mike & Mechanics”.)
Every generation, Blames the one before
And all of their frustrations, 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
thought
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 defence.
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 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 may just be okay.
So say it loud, say it clear (oh say it clear)
You can listen as well as you hear.
Because it's too late, 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
I didn't get to tell him, All the things I had to
say
I think 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 clear (oh say it clear), You
can listen as well as you hear
It's too late (it's too late) when we die (it's too
late when we die)
To admit we don't see eye to eye.
So say it, say it, say it loud (say it loud), Say
it clear (come on say it clear)
Say it loud, (Don't give up, don't give in and
don't look away 'til it's too late)
Say it clear, Say it loud (say it loud, say it
loud).
