The Living Years

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

Crumbled bits of paper
Filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations
Well, 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 defense

Come on, 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
To admit that we don't see eye to eye

So we open up a quarrel
Between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future
'Cause 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 you don't give in
You just might be okay

Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late, oh, it's much too late
When we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye

I wasn't there that morning
When my father passed away
And I didn't get to tell him
All the things I had to say
I think I caught his spirit
Later that same year
And I'm sure I heard his echo
In my newborn baby's tears
I just wish I could have told him
In the living years

So, come on, say it
Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen just as well as you hear
And it's much too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye

Oh, say it loud, come on, say it clear
You know that you can listen
Just as well as you hear
And it's much too late
Well, it's way too late
It's late, late when we die
To admit we don't see
We don't see eye to eye...