Dec. 27, 19881 viewer41.7K views
The Living Years Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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
[Chorus]
Say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear (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
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
[Chorus]
Say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear (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
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
Say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear (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
[Verse 3]
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
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
[Chorus]
Say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear (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
[Verse 3]
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
[Chorus]
Say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear (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
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
[Chorus]
Say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear (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
About
This song bio is unreviewed
Genius Annotation
The Living Years is a Ballad released by Mike & The Mechanics in 1988. The song addresses a son’s regret over an unresolved conflict with his now-deceased father.
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Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 2.The Living Years
- 4.Nobody Knows
- 6.Blame
- 7.Don’t
- 8.Black & Blue
- 10.Why Me?
Credits
Producers
Writers
Lead Vocals
Release Date
December 27, 1988
Songs That Sample The Living Years
The Living Years Covers
The Living Years by Russ Lee, The Living Years by Alabama, The Living Years by Declan, The Living Years by Chris De Burgh, The Living Years by Engelbert Humperdinck, The Living Years by The Last Breakfast Club (Ft. Anna Grace Barlow, Damon Gravina, Garrett Clayton, Jonah Platt, Lana McKissack & Max Ehrich), The Living Years by Glee Cast, Living Years by Gregorian, The Living Years by Straight No Chaser, The Living Years by Big Daddy & The Living Years by Newsboys
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