The Living Years

I heard this song one day, just by accident, playing on my radio while driving home back from work. The lines in bold struck me, as it mirrored many things to me. 

I wasnt there the day when my father died. I never spoke to him, like i wished i did. Much much later, i would regret those living years. Every time i hear this and tried to sing along, these words almost always choked my throat. Tears would try to emerge, and like a stupid adult male, i would try my best to resist.

 

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

 

Oh, 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 loud), say it clear (oh 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

 

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

 

So say it loud, say it clear (oh say it clear)
You can listen as well as you hear
Because it's too late, it's too late (it's too late) when we die (oh 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 (oh say it clear)
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late (it's too late) when we die (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 clear (come on say it clear)

- The Living Years by Mike + The Mechanics -