The Living Years by Mike Rutherford
(This song does not apply to my father and I, as we have always spoke our peace!)
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
No crumpled bits of paper, filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations, I 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
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 futunes what you sometimes see as fate
You may have a new perspective on a different date
And if you don't give up and don't give in, you may just be okay
Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late 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 think I hear 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
You can listen as well as you here
It's too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye-to-eye.
Don't give up and don't give in
Don't wait 'til it's too late
(C)1984 EMI Mike + The Mechanics (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved
