Father's Day - The Living Years

Mysteriously this song somehow ended up in my MP4 player - don't remember adding it. I first heard it on Radio 4 on the way to school in mom's car - I was Standard 5 then and half awake in the Mini Minor. The dee jay (one of the old schools e.g. Alan Zechariah or someone like that) introduced it in such a way that I still remember it today. But then, the song didn't have much meaning for me - being a kid without a care in the world except for UPSR exams

I listen to the song again and it has become powerful now - now that I've gone through the trials and heartaches of relationships with the people dear to me. Especially since it's Father's Day, this song somehow screamed 'Hear me!'. Life suddenly seemed too short for grudges and resentments.



The Living Years - Mike and the Mechanics

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

Crumpled bits of paper
Filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations
I'm afraid thats all we've 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 don't 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 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 don't 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 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 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 don't see eye to eye