The Living Years

Every generation

Blames the one before

And all of their frustrations

Come beating on your door

I know that Im a prisoner

To all my father held so dear

I know that Im 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

Im afraid thats all weve got

You say you just dont see it

He says its perfect sense

You just cant 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

Its too late when we die

To admit we dont see eye to eye

So we open up a quarrel

Between the present and the past

We only sacrifice the future

Its the bitterness that lasts

So dont yield to the fortunes

You sometimes see as fate

It may have a new perspective

On a different day

And if you dont give up, and dont give in

You may just be o.k.

Say it loud, say it clear

You can listen as well as you hear

Its too late when we die

To admit we dont see eye to eye

I wasnt there that morning

When my father passed away

I didnt get to tell him

All the things I had to say

I think I caught his spirit

Later that same year

Im sure I heard his echo

In my babys 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

Its too late when we die

To admit we dont see eye to eye