The Living Years

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 thoughts

Stilted conversations, I’m afraid that’s all we’ve got

You say you just don’t see it, he says its perfect sense

You just can’t get agreement, in this present tense

We all talk a different language, talking in defense

So say it loud

Say it clear

You can listen as well as you hear

It’s too late (it’s too late)

When we die (when we die)

To admit we don’t see eye to eye

So we open up the 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

So say it say it say it loud

Say it clear

You can listen as well as you hear

‘Cos it’s too late (it’s too late)

When we die (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 newborn tears

I just, wish I could have told him in the living years

So say it say it say it loud

Say it clear

You can listen as well as you hear

‘Cos it’s too late (it’s too late)

When we die (when we die)

To admit we don’t see eye to eye

Yes it’s too late (it’s too late)

When we die (when we die)

To admit we don’t see eye to eye

Every generation…