In the Living Years (Mike & the Mechanics)

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 held 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

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)

Losing a parent is a pivotal moment in one’s life. Painful as the experience may be, more often than not it changes us for the better. It’s something of an epiphany to know that some things in life are just beyond our control and to know our parents would be gone for good one day. However, this does not mean that there are no regrets in this kind of situation, especially if you were not in very good terms with your parent before they passed away. There are certain things that could have been said, things that could have had some form or resolution and wounds that could have been mended.

The song Living in the Years by Mike and the Mechanics tells us that these regrets are very normal despite it being borne of years of accumulated pain brought about by disagreements and differences of values but the song also tells us that these regrets do not last for good.

The song has an unmistakably 80’s vibe to it and is somewhat upbeat which is an unusual tempo choice for a song about death and regret but it does not diminish the message of the song in any way. This leads us to the lyrics themselves which gives you a straightforward account of the context of the song and the speaker’s hopes, aspirations, frustrations and the lessons that he learned. Nevertheless, this could be an interesting song choice depending on which direction you wish to go to your funeral planning.

The straightforward and simple charm to the song’s lyrics coupled with the tune that’s popular for its time must have had struck its listeners since the song hit number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. The song also hit number one in countries like Australia, Japan, Ireland, and Canada. Likewise, it was nominated for four Grammy awards in 1990, including Record and Song of the Year, as well as Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best Video. So, generally speaking, Living in the Years can be a good funeral song choice since it’s recognizable to people at a certain demographic and also its message is plainly heard.