Artist: Mike & the Mechanics
  Song Title: The Living Years
       Album: The Living Years (1988)
   Tabbed By: Cinthia G

[Chords in parenthesis are optional and played louder in the song]


Capo 1


Beginning Chords:

G F#m Am D G



G (320003@1)              CEvery (x32010@1)generation Blames the one before
    G (320003@1)                            CAnd (x32010@1)all of their frustrations Come beating on your door
FI (133211@1)know that I'm a prisoner To all my Father held so dear
AmI (x02210@1)know that I'm a hostage To all his hopes and fears
D (xx0232@1)                                             GI (320003@1)just wish I could have told him in the living years


G (320003@1)                    CCrumpled (x32010@1)bits of paper Filled with imperfect thought
G (320003@1)                       CStilted (x32010@1)conversations I'm afraid that's all we've got
FYou (133211@1)say you just don't see it He says it's perfect sense
AmYou (x02210@1)just can't get agreement In this present tense
D (xx0232@1)                                         GWe (320003@1)all talk a different language Talking in defence


       G (320003@1)          CSay (x32010@1)it loud, say it clear
         Am (x02210@1)      D (xx0232@1)         GYou (320003@1)can listen as well as you hear
          G (320003@1)          CIt's (x32010@1)too late when we die
     Am (x02210@1)         D (xx0232@1)        G (320003@1)To admit we don't see eye to eye


      G (320003@1)                           CSo (x32010@1)we open up a quarrel Between the present and the past
        G (320003@1)                           CWe (x32010@1)only sacrifice the future It's the bitterness that lasts
   F (133211@1)                         (F)
So Don't yield to the fortunes You sometimes see as fate
   AmIt (x02210@1)may have a new perspective On a different day
D (xx0232@1)                                                         GAnd (320003@1)if you don't give up, and don't give in You may just be OK.

      
       G (320003@1)          CSay (x32010@1)it loud, say it clear
         Am (x02210@1)      D (xx0232@1)         GYou (320003@1)can listen as well as you hear
          G (320003@1)          CIt's (x32010@1)too late when we die
     Am (x02210@1)         D (xx0232@1)        G (320003@1)To admit we don't see eye to eye


          G (320003@1)                       CI (x32010@1)wasn't there that morning When my Father passed away
  G (320003@1)                            CI (x32010@1)didn't get to tell him All the things I had to say
  F (133211@1)                       (F)
I think I caught his spirit Later that same year
    Am (x02210@1)                  (Am)
I'm sure I heard his echo In my baby's new born tears
D (xx0232@1)                                             GI (320003@1)just wish I could have told him in the living years


       G (320003@1)          CSay (x32010@1)it loud, say it clear
         Am (x02210@1)      D (xx0232@1)         GYou (320003@1)can listen as well as you hear
          G (320003@1)          CIt's (x32010@1)too late when we die
     Am (x02210@1)         D (xx0232@1)        G (320003@1)To admit we don't see eye to eye