The Living Years

Today is my dad's birthday. Happy birthday dad!

It's the first time in my life I haven't been able to wish him a happy birthday. He passed away on Friday 08-July this year. You can read just a few things that made my dad special at the post on my dad

I've shed a few tears now and then thinking about dad. Listening to the song 'The Living Years' by Mike & the Mechanics makes me feel really sad. It's always been a favourite of mine... a classic song delivered well with thought provoking words. I've shown the lyrics below and you can view a video of a live performance by clicking here.

The message? Pretty obvious, and put best in the final words of the book 'A Month in the Country' by J. L. Carr...

We can ask and ask but we can’t have again what once seemed ours for ever ... a remembered voice, a loved face. They’ve gone and you can only wait for the pain to pass.

So live for the moment. Smile often, laugh often. Enjoy life. Think the best of people. And cherish those strongest of bonds, those of your dear, dear family.

Mike & the Mechanics, 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

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 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 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

It's 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

It's too late when we die

To admit we don't see eye to eye