雋永經典: The Living Years - Mike + the Mechanics (1988)－塵封

「Living years」專輯封面 Guitar & Bass : Mike Rutherfold Vocal: Paul Carrack

這一首歌曲是麥克與機械工（Mike + The Mechanics）1988年專輯「Living Years」(有生之年)的同名單曲。歌詞描寫長年以來和父親間有嚴重衝突的兒子，在父親逝世之後，恍然發現自己與父親之間的深厚情感聯繫，因而懊悔父親在世時，自己未能傾訴孺慕之情。由於深刻寓意的歌詞與優美的旋律，讓這首歌在1989葛萊美獎獲得四項提名，遺憾地是，當年遭遇足成傳世經典的歌曲：Bette Midler 的 ”Wind beneath my wings”、Don Henley 的 ”The end of innocence ” 而含恨飲敗。不過，猶記得當年(應該是國二吧) 買了這一塊專輯後，有一陣子每晚都讓收音機流瀉這些旋律呢。

在麥克與機械工中，麥可指稱的是吉他與貝斯手Mike Rutherfold，為重量級前衛搖滾樂團Genesis（創世紀）的創團元老，Genesis的鼓手便是知名的Phil Collins。麥克與機械工成軍於1985年，所有成員先前都是知名搖滾樂團的樂手。1985年推出首張專輯時，有兩首歌曲成功打入Top 10，"All I Need Is A Miracle" (http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=8QLLgEUNIog&feature=related) 與 "Silent Running" (http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=0KL_fgWgK40)。

The Living Years – Mike + the Mechanics

http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=hOSrKNVF2VI&feature=related

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 cant 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
Its too late when we die to admit we don’t see eye to eye