Mike & The Mechanics debuted with their stellar eponymous album in 1985 which highlighted Rutherford's innovative guitar work and the vocal talents of the two Pauls, amongst other guest vocalists. Initially, the group's albums were released between Genesis albums, all three Genesis members having solo projects of their own, most notable in the huge chart success of singer/drummer Phil Collins. This ended with the disbanding of Genesis in 1998.
The classic song "The Living Years" from the album of the same name was to be the height of their critical success to date; the #1 single was written by and about the dissension between singer BA Robertson and his father, a situation that was never rectified prior to his father's death, sung with great passion by Carrack. The album also featured the song "Nobody's Perfect" which received considerable airtime as the music to a successful television advertising campaign for Tennants bitter. Their third album "Word of Mouth" followed in 1991 with less commercial and critical success although the lead single, with vocals by Paul Young, reached the Top 20. The fourth album "Beggar On a Beach of Gold" was a high watermark in the quality of their material, with both the album and first single "Over My Shoulder" charting well with many considering the album the band's best work.
After a hiatus following Young's death from a heart attack on July 17, 2000, the band reformed in 2004 as Mike & the Mechanics featuring Paul Carrack releasing the album "Rewired".
A new Mike & the Mechanics album (titled "The Road") was released in the spring of 2011, supported by a 22-date UK tour. Replacing Carrack and Young as vocalists for the group are Andrew Roachford and Canadian actor/singer Tim Hower.
The Living Years
Mike & The Mechanics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
I just wish I could have told him in the living 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
Talking in defence
Say it loud (say it loud), say it clear (oh say it clear)
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late (it's too late) when we die (oh 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 okay
So say it loud, say it clear (oh say it clear)
You can listen as well as you hear
Because it's too late, it's too late (it's too late)
When we die (oh, 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 (oh say it clear)
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late (it's too late) when we die (it's too late when we die)
To admit we don't see eye to eye
So say it, say it, say it loud (say it loud)
Say it clear (come on say it clear)
Say it loud
(Don't give up, don't give in and don't look away 'til it's too late)
Say it clear
Say it loud (say it loud, say it loud)
Mike & The Mechanics's song "The Living Years" is an emotional reflection on the strained relationship between a father and son. The song captures the universal theme of how we often take our loved ones for granted and only realize what we've missed when it's too late. The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the singer reflecting on how every generation blames the previous one for their frustrations. The singer then acknowledges his own feelings of being a prisoner and hostage to his father's expectations and dreams, which he feels went unspoken.
The chorus of the song becomes a rallying cry to the listener to speak up and communicate with their loved ones while they are still alive. The lyrics warn that it is "too late when we die to admit we don't see eye to eye," and that "it's the bitterness that lasts" if we do not take the time to open up a dialogue with those who mean the most to us. The bridge of the song reveals a personal moment of regret for the singer who wasn't able to express everything he wanted to say to his father before he passed away. However, he finds solace in his baby's newborn tears, interpreting them as a sign that his father's spirit lives on.
Line by Line Meaning
Every generation
Every new generation of people
Blames the one before
Blames the previous generation for the problems they inherit
And all of their frustrations
All the current generation's frustrations
Come beating on your door
Are often directed towards the older generation
I know that I'm a prisoner
I feel trapped
To all my Father held so dear
By the beliefs and values my Father instilled in me
I know that I'm a hostage
I feel captive
To all his hopes and fears
By his aspirations and anxieties for me
I just wish I could have told him in the living years
I wish I could have talked to him while he was still alive
Oh, crumpled bits of paper
All the letters and notes we wrote to each other
Filled with imperfect thought
Were not always well written or expressed
Stilted conversations
Our dialogs were often awkward
I'm afraid that's all we've got
This is all we have left of our conversations
You say you just don't see it
You claim you can't understand
He says it's perfect sense
He believes it's entirely logical
You just can't get agreement
You can't agree with each other
In this present tense
Here and now
We all talk a different language
We express ourselves in different ways
Talking in defense
We argue and defend our position
Say it loud (say it loud)
Express yourself loudly
say it clear (oh say it clear)
Speak out boldly and make yourself understood
You can listen as well as you hear
Pay attention to what others say
It's too late (it's too late)
When we're gone
when we die (oh when we die)
Once we've passed away
To admit we don't see eye to eye
To acknowledge our disagreements
So we open up a quarrel
We start arguing
Between the present and the past
About what happened before versus what's happening now
We only sacrifice the future
We're missing an opportunity to build a better future
It's the bitterness that lasts
We'll only remember the argument and not the actual disagreement
So don't yield to the fortunes
Don't get discouraged by bad luck
You sometimes see as fate
That seems like it's beyond your control
It may have a new perspective
It might change in the future
On a different day
Depending on the circumstances
And if you don't give up, and don't give in
If you keep trying and don't quit
You may just be okay
Things could still turn out fine
I wasn't there that morning
I was absent the day my Father died
When my Father passed away
When my Father died
I didn't get to tell him
I wasn't able to speak to him
All the things I had to say
All the unspoken words I had for him
I think I caught his spirit
I felt his presence somewhere near me
Later that same year
Later on in the same year
I'm sure I heard his echo
I believe I heard his voice or influence
In my baby's new-born tears
In my child's crying
Say it loud, say it clear (oh say it clear)
Emphasize your message
It's too late (it's too late)
When we pass away
When we die (oh, when we die)
After we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye
To accept that we don't agree
Say it, say it, say it loud (say it loud)
Repeat yourself as often as it takes
Don't give up, don't give in
Persist and keep trying
And don't look away 'til it's too late
Stay focused until it's over
Say it clear
Be clear in your communication
Say it loud (say it loud, say it loud)
Emphasize your message
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: B.A. Robertson, Mike Rutherford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Humility777
This song has brought me to tears om msny occasions. I had my own dramatic life experience at 16 in 1974. Basically, in my junior year of HS, my so-called parents moved me to a rural area away from all my lifelong friends. They moved us into a trailer park. It was isolated
Within four months, my mother left one morning without a goodbye. A month later, my father left, but at least told me I was on my own. It was horrifying to be homeless. I immediately dropped out of school. No home or family. No money, no food, no job. Had to steal food to survive. No one on earth loved me during this time of life, it was like my parents died. Emptiness and Hopelessness overwhelmed me! I was broken. I had no place to go but beg God for help. Asking why was tjis happening to me. Looking back later I clearly see He did answer my prayers in a big way!
So, He helped me through not losing the will to live during that fargile time. I am grateful that I eventually got on my two feet, as at 18, I joined the Marine Corps. My homelessness turned out to be like survival training. I stayed in 8 years as if I got out I had no where to go. So, when I did get out I spent a month living in my pickup.
It took me many years, though, to heal and to trust anyone.
Today, 50 years later, my life is amazing. Loving wife of 40 years now. She helped me heal and is my best friend, my soul mate. We have 7 children all grown-up and 5 grandchildren today.
Pretty amazing transformation, but it did take me almost 20 years to heal. It also drove me to be successful. Today, we are independently wealthy. Best of all, I became the father I should have had!
@garyfeenan8143
I have terminal cancer less than 4 months to live. Went from a 220 pound ripped bodybuilder who ran half marathons to a 98 pound skeleton. Thought I would live to a good age I am only 42. Everybody live your life to the fullest.
@stevethomas4353
Call out to Jesus-- you'll be in a far better place!
@michaelcalmeyn7376
My thoughts are with you
@ashleytaylor994
God bless you
@j.daniel6357
Jesus saves ! Call out to him. I did. It was like life from the dead . Depression hit me hard but I prayed to him and was saved. All glory to him !
@benjaminngubeni5812
Sending you all the love and light in all the world for you.
@marcashley8492
I called my father one night. I was so stoned. I was crying having listened to this song. I thanked him for everything he had done for me, sobbing like a fool. I asked him what he was doing, I was on speaker phone with my uncles. Haha. I was so humiliated for so long.
Then he passed away two years later. I was so happy I said what I needed to.
Thank God.
@melony9470
Dad I made it. I'm sober and clean 5 yrs now, you'd be proud I miss you. RIP Dad we miss you so much.
@summerBcohen69
Your dad would be so so proud of you he's smiling down now saying good girl trust me ❤
@jilllynn371
Im so proud of you and positive your dad is as well 💕😊