Mike + The Mechanics - The living years

^GEvery generation ^Cmaj7blames the one before ^Gand all of their frustrations ^Cmaj7come beating on your door ^F6I know that I'm a prisoner to all my father held so dear ^AmI know that I'm a hostage to all his hopes and fears. I just ^C/Dwish I cuold have told him ^D7In the living years.

^GSay it loud, ^Csay it clear. You can ^Amlisten as we^D7ll as you hea^Gr. It's to late, when we d^Cie, to adm^Am7it we don't s^D7ee eye to ^Geye.

^GOh crumpled bits of paper f^Cmaj7illed with imperfect thought ^GStilted conversations, I'm ^Cmaj7afraid that's all we got. ^F6You say you just don't see it, he says it's perfect sense, ^Amyou just can't get agreement in this present tense. ^C/DWe all talk a different language,^D7 talking in defense.

^GSay it loud, ^Csay it clear. You can ^Amlisten as we^D7ll as you hea^Gr. It's to late, when we d^Cie, to adm^Am7it we don't s^D7ee eye to ^Geye.

^GSo we open up a quarrel, b^Cmaj7etween the present and the past. ^GWe only sacrifice the future^Cmaj7, It's the bitterness that lasts. ^F6So don't yield to the fortunes you sometimse see as fate. ^AmIt may have a new perspective on a different day. ^C/DAnd if you don't give up, and don't give in ^D7You may just be ok.

^GSay it loud, ^Csay it clear. You can ^Amlisten as we^D7ll as you hea^Gr. It's to late, when we d^Cie, to adm^Am7it we don't s^D7ee eye to ^Geye.

^GI wasn't there that morning ^Cmaj7when my father passed away. ^GI didn't get to tell him all^Cmaj7 the things I had to say. ^F6I think I cqught his spirit later that same year. ^AmI'm sure I heard his echo in my baby's new born tears. ^C/DI just wish I could have told h^D7im in the living years.