Living Years

Every generation blames the one before
 All their frustrations come beatin' 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've told him in the livin' years
 Oh, 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 talkin' 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 a quarrel between the present and the past
 We only sacrifice the future, it's the bitterness that lasts
 But don't yield to the fortunes, you sometimes see as fate
 It may have a new perspective on a different day
 If you don't give up and 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 mornin', when my father passed away
 I didn't get to tell him, all the things I had to say
 But 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 wish I could have told him in the livin' 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
 Say it loud, say it clear
 Say it loud, say it clear
 Say it loud, say it clear
 Say it loud, say it clear
 You can listen as well as you hear
 Don't give up, if you don't give in, no no, no no