這是「兒子」唱給他爸的歌。Living Years 是指「你活著的那些年」。我們不曾正視過對方的需求、聆聽對方的心意，直到你死為止。主角是爸爸也只是個平凡人，希望自己的兒子能出人頭地，其實不限東西方，到處都有想控制孩子的父母，並不是西方人，就一定比較開明。雖然歌裡帶著遺憾，但是卻說出自己的真實感受，典型的癒療系。
Mike + The Mechanics裡面的Mike其實是Genesis裡面的貝斯手Mike Rutherford, 找了The Mechanics 這個流行樂團，想一起做流行樂，最後傳唱下來的只剩這首歌。不過在二十幾年前，雖然不知在唱什麼，這首歌卻是火紅，大部份人應該都有聽過吧！
歌名：Living Years
原唱者：Mike + The Mechanics
發行年：1988
Every generation
(每一個世代)
Blames the one before
(都無法諒解上一代)
And all of their frustrations
(上一代對生活的挫敗感)
Come beating on your door
(無時無刻威脅著你)
I know that I’m a prisoner
(我是囚犯)
To all my Father held so dear
(是他們的囚犯)
I know that I’m a hostage
(我是個人質)
To all his hopes and fears
(他們的希望和恐懼，挾持了我)
I just wish I could have told him in the living years
(我希望，我有機會讓他們了解我的感受)
Crumpled bits of paper
(一張弄皺的紙)
Filled with imperfect thought
(寫滿無法坦白的心情)
Stilted conversations
(虛偽的對話)
I’m afraid that’s all we’ve got
(我們之間，有的就是這些)
You say you just don’t see it
(你說你不了解)
He says it’s perfect sense
(他卻說：『這事情就是這樣…』)
You just can’t get agreement
(『你只是故意唱反調。』)
In this present tense
(一種揮之不去的緊繃)
We all talk a different language
(我們無法溝通)
Talking in defence
(即使對話，也是小心翼翼)
Say it loud, say it clear
(說出來吧)
You can listen as well as you hear
(你懂得放下自己，傾聽別人嗎？)
It’s too late when we die To admit we don’t see eye to eye
(走到終點時，我們才發現彼此從未感受過親情，太遲了)
So we open up a quarrel
(我們爭執)
Between the present and the past
(我們放不下過去的怨恨)
We only sacrifice the future
(我們只是繼續恨著對方一輩子)
It’s the bitterness that lasts
(永恆不滅的是痛苦，不是愛)
(註：人只會模仿別人，集體歌頌家庭中的「愛」，說愛是永恒，但是對在家庭裡受苦的人，他們心中的痛苦，其實才是消滅不了)
So Don’t yield to the fortunes
(不要放棄希望，事情能改變的)
You sometimes see as fate
(這是命運的安排)
It may have a new perspective
(但是你可以用不同的眼光來看它)
On a different day
(有朝一日)
And if you don’t give up, and don’t give in
(如果你不放棄，不屈服於命運)
You may just be O.K.
(你會從痛苦中找到出路)
Say it loud, say it clear
(把你的痛說出來)
You can listen as well as you hear
(你希望別人傾聽你，你要先用心傾聽別人)
It’s too late when we die to admit we don’t see eye to eye
(否則時間到了，一切只會成為遺憾)
I wasn’t there that morning
(我逃走了)
When my Father passed away
(當他過世的那天我仍不在)
I didn’t get to tell him
(我也從來沒對他說過…)
All the things I had to say
(我應該告訴他的那些話)
I think I caught his spirit
(我想，我和他是一樣的)
Later that same year
(不久之後)
I’m sure I heard his echo In my baby’s new born tears
(我的小孩出生了，在嬰兒的淚水中，我彷彿看到我父親的影像)
I just wish I could have told him in the living years
(我只希望我還有機會對他說……)
Say it loud, say it clear
(對他說吧)
You can listen as well as you hear
(聆聽別人，才是溝通的開始)
It’s too late when we die To admit we don’t see eye to eye
(到死那天，我們才有勇氣正視我們之間的歧異，也已經太遲了)
