Letra de
The Living Years

La canciĆ³n The Living Years de Mike + The Mechanics trata sobre la comunicaciĆ³n entre generaciones y el malentendido que a menudo existe en las relaciones entre padres e hijos, inspirada por las experiencias personales de Mike Rutherford y B.A. Robertson, quienes perdieron a sus padres sin resolver conflictos pendientes.

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 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'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

So say it, say it, say it loud, (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
(Say it clear) And don't look back 'til it's too late (Fade)