Every generation blames the one beforeAnd all of their frustrationsThey come beating on your doorI know that I'm a prisoner to whom my father held so dearI know that I'm a hostage to all his hopes and fearsI just wish that I'd have told him in the living yearsOh, crumpled bits of paperFilled with imperfect thoughtsStill the conversationsI'm afraid that's all we've gotYou say you just don't see itIt serves its perfect senseYou just can't get agreementAnd in the present tense we all talk a different languageTalking in defenseSay it loudSay it loudSay it clearSay it clearYou could mess up as well as you canOh, it's too lateIt's too lateWhen we dieOh, when we dieTo admit we don't see eye to eyeSo we open up a quorumBetween the present and the pastWe only sacrifice the futureIt's the bitterness that lastsSo don't give to the fortunesYou might sometimes see us fadeMight bring a new perspective on a different dayAnd if you don't give up, don't give inIt just might be okaySay it loudSay it loudSay it clearAnd say it clearYou can mess up as well as you canIt's too lateIt's too lateWhen we dieOh, when we dieTo admit we don't see eye to eyeWell, I wasn't there that morningWhen my father passed awayAnd I didn't get to tell himAll the things I had to sayThought I caught his spiritLater that same yearSure, I heard his echoAnd my baby's newborn tearsI just wished that I'd have told himIn the living yearsSay it loudSay it loudSay it clearAnd say it clearSay it loudGot to say it loudSay it loudSay it clearSay it loudSay it clearSay it loudSay it clearAnd say it clearSay it loudSay it loudSay it clearYou can mess up as well as you canAs well as you can