The Living Years
Over the years I think many of us have some regrets for not keeping in contact with those who have passed through our lives.
Whether they were once close friends or family members, we do from time to time reminisce on what could have been.
One day, those people whom we may have wanted to patch up differences with will be no more.
Age catches up with everyone and we all die.
We may never know they have died or we may hear on the grape vine that they are no longer around.
This song by Mike and the Mechanics titled The Living years.
It is a song of regret of a son having not given enough time and recognition to his father before he died.
The Lyrics being
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 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 date, and if you don't give up, and don't give in, You may just be O.K.
Say it loud, 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
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 newborn 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, if you have someone you want/need to make amends with then do not leave it too late.
Mike and the Mechanics - The Living Years
