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                C
Every generation Blames the one before
    G                              C
And all of their frustrations Come beating on your door
F
I know that I'm a prisoner To all my Father held so dear
Am
I know that I'm a hostage To all his hopes and fears
D                                               G
I just wish I could have told him in the living years


G                      C
Crumpled bits of paper Filled with imperfect thought
G                         C
Stilted conversations I'm afraid that's all we've got
F
You say you just don't see it He says it's perfect sense
Am
You just can't get agreement In this present tense
D                                           G
We all talk a different language Talking in defence


       G            C
Say it loud, say it clear
         Am        D           G
You can listen as well as you hear
          G            C
It's too late when we die
     Am           D          G 
To admit we don't see eye to eye


      G                             C
So we open up a quarrel Between the present and the past
        G                             C
We only sacrifice the future It's the bitterness that lasts
   F                           (F)
So Don't yield to the fortunes You sometimes see as fate
   Am
It may have a new perspective On a different day
D                                                           G
And if you don't give up, and don't give in You may just be OK.

      
       G            C
Say it loud, say it clear
         Am        D           G
You can listen as well as you hear
          G            C
It's too late when we die
     Am           D          G 
To admit we don't see eye to eye


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


       G            C
Say it loud, say it clear
         Am        D           G
You can listen as well as you hear
          G            C
It's too late when we die
     Am           D          G 
To admit we don't see eye to eye