THE LIVING YEARS - lyrics and chords

The Living Years
Artist: Mike & the Mechanics
Album: The Living Years (1988)

Capo 1

G F#m Am D G

G                C

Every generation blames the one before

    G                              C

And all of their frustrations come beating on your door

F

I know that I'm a prisoner to all my Father held so dear

Am

I know that I'm a hostage to all his hopes and fears

D                                               G

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

G                      C

Crumpled bits of paper filled with imperfect thought

G                         C

Stilted conversations I'm afraid that's all we've got

F

You say you just don't see it he says it's perfect sense

Am

You just can't get agreement in this present tense

D                                           G

We all talk a different language talking in defence

       G            C

Say it loud, say it clear

         Am        D           G

You can listen as well as you hear

          G            C

It's too late when we die

     Am           D          G

To admit we don't see eye to eye

      G                             C

So we open up a quarrel between the present and the past

        G                             C

We only sacrifice the future it’s the bitterness that lasts

   F                           (F)

So don’t yield to the fortunes you sometimes see as fate

   Am

It may have a new perspective on a different day

D                                                           G

And if you don't give up, and don't give in you may just be OK.

  

       G            C

Say it loud, say it clear

         Am        D           G

You can listen as well as you hear

          G            C

It's too late when we die

     Am           D          G

To admit we don't see eye to eye

          G                         C

I wasn't there that morning when my Father passed away

  G                              C

I didn't get to tell him all the things I had to say

  F                         (F)

I think I caught his spirit later that same year

    Am                    (Am)

I'm sure I heard his echo in my baby's new born tears

D                                               G

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

       G            C

Say it loud, say it clear

         Am        D           G

You can listen as well as you hear

          G            C

It's too late when we die

     Am           D          G

To admit we don't see eye to eye