Story Behind The Song

Sung by 21 year old, London-based female vocalist, Emma Stakes. You can find her pictures and bio at: http://myspace.com/stakes21

Song Description

Modern remake of Mike & The Mechanics classic with female lead vocal.

Lyrics

THE LIVING YEARS

Words & Music by Mike Rutherford & B. A. Robertson


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 heald 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

Old crumpled bits of paper
Filled with imperfect thought
Stitled conversations
I'm afraid that's all we've got

You say you just don't see it
He says it's perfect sense
We just can't get agreement
In this present tense
We all talk a different language
Talking in defense

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 the quarrel
Between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future
It's the bitterness that lasts

So don't yield into the fortunes
You sometimes see as fate
You may have a new perspective
On a different day
And if you don't give up and you don't give in
You may just be okay

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

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