The Living Years - Mike & The Mechanics Intro: G 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 D7 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 D7 G We all talk a different language talking in de-fence |[Chorus] | 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 ad- mit 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 So don't yield to the fortunes you sometimes see as fate Am It may have a new perspective on a different day D D7 G And if you don't give up, and don't give in you may just be OK. [Chorus] 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 I think I caught his spirit later that same year Am I'm sure I heard his echo in my baby's new born tears D D7 G I just wish I could have told him in the living years [Chorus] x2 G