[Fishwhenican]

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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


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- "The Living Years" (Mike and the Mechanics)


My son was born six months after my father died. We'd never communicated very well, so these lyrics jumped right out at me when the song hit the radio 3 years later.


edit: Also, the whole song "Tears in Heaven" tilts the hell out of me, as my son was born about the same time Clapton's was and looked very similar.

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Good post!

My wife and I lost our first child and I can't even play Tears in Heaven" around her. She loves the song, as do I but it is just too hard sometimes.

I had the same thoughts on the "The Living Years"! Reminded me way too much of my father and I.


A couple of other songs that pretty much do the same thing to me are:

Neil Young, Old Man. They have this song on the juke box in the tavern I hang out in and I have to play it when I am there.

Old man take a look at my life
I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that's true.

My old man was a minister later in his life and I can remember one week he wrote a sermon based on this song. I wasn't around much after he became a minister but it was one of the times I happened to be in town and he told me he was pretty proud of this one and that I should make it to the service if I could. I went to church that Sunday and while I can't quote you anything from his sermon I can tell you that I was moved and think of my dad and I every time I hear this song.

Cat Stevens - Cats In The Cradle

A child arrived just the other day,
came to the world in the usual way,
But there were planes to catch
and bills to pay, he learned to walk while I was away
He was talking before I knew it and as he grew
he said I'm going to be like you Dad,
you know I'm going to be like you.

Chorus :
And the cat's in the cradle,
and the silver spoon, Little Boy Blue,
and the Man in the Moon,
When you coming home son, I don't know when
We'll get together then, you know we'll have a good time then.

My son turned 10 just the other day,
Said thanks for the ball now c'mon let's play
Will you teach me to throw, I said not today,
I've got a lot to do, he said that's ok
And he walked away and he smiled and he said
You know I'm going to be like you, Dad,
you know I'm going to be like you.

Chorus.

He came from college just the other day,
so much like a man I just had to say,
I'm proud of you, won't you sit for a while
He shook his head and said with a smile,
What I'm feeling like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later can I have them please.

Chorus.

I've long since retired and my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I'd like to see you, if you don't mind
He said I'd love to Dad, if I could find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking you Dad, it's been real nice talking to you.
And as I hung up the phone it occured to me
He'd grown up just like me, my boy was just like me.