Yangon Thu

The Living Years

My father donating money at the Burmese Buddhist Temple in Singapore. This temple will also become the place where he was bitten by a few bugs - which eventually led to his death 3 weeks after ThinGyan in 2006

I was watching Singapore Idol tonight and I never watch this show, except to watch the contestant Mathilda D'Silva - who I believe has the best voice in this competition, hands down (she also happens to be the daughter of a colleague). Mathilda never ceases to impress me with her singing skills but tonight, with her choice of song, she did more than that. The lyrics for the song are below. Thanks Mathilda for opening my eys to this beautiful song.

The living Years by 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

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 its perfect sense
You just can’t get agreement
In this present tense
We all talk a different language
Talking 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

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 o.k.

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 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
You can listen as well as you hear
It’s too late when we die
To admit we don’t see eye to eye

Posted by Yangon Thu at August 9, 2006 10:35 PM