Mike & The Mechanics - The living Years

Lyrics :-)

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


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 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


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 OK.


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'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
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye

• Category

  People & Blogs

[Iain Orr]

I was 14 when my father and i hit a rough spot, i had no respect for him, we were constantly arguing and i was being a little hellion. One day he called me into his room handed me a cassette player and i pad of paper with a pen. He said there is one song on that tape and I want you to write every word of it on that paper. I was crying my eyes out the whole time i was writing and once i finished, there was some new found bond between us. him and i were best friends all of a sudden

[sting tail]

the first time i heard this song was on 14/11/89 then five hours later he did die after a long illnes. i was 17. R.I.P DAD (ronald). miss you still xxx

[napalm5]

I can imagine how raw and painful listening to the lyrics of this song must be to some. Thanks for sharing your stories.

[SpaceAndStarsGalore]

Keep saying it loud, earthlings.

[Lillie LaGory]

miss you dad

[Neil Jacquest]

Sorry I meant nicko boyo, I'm sure you got that.

[Neil Jacquest]

nico boy lovely story all the best

[bjbinmke]

I don't think any other song on YouTube motivates so many heartfelt comments.

[nicko boyo]

I can relate to Iain ther,but my father hated me from the ages of 12 to 25. he was convinced i wasn't his son,and we made eachothers life hell! we did however,reconciliate,17 yrs ago now,but i never forgave him. this is my song to him and to say i'm sorry i was a headstrong arrogant prick! Love and miss you Dad xxx

[countryboyfromheaven]

this is the real countryboyfromheaven,i would like to apologize for the asshole who made these comments while he hacked my account,this song means the world to me,again im sorry

[MrRanger1947]

my dad was killed when i was six feel i didnt know him but still think and miss him with all my heart ,love you dadxxx

[stonewall857]

my pops was killed in a car wreck in 1958 -- sucks i never knew him--ww2 war hero ---never the less I love you with all my heart dad--never got to call him dad--feels right