The Living Years - wikipedia The Living Years This article is about the song by Mike + The Mechanics. For the album of the single, see Living Years. For the 2013 album The Living Years, see The Isaacs. For the One Tree Hill episode, see The Living Years ( One Tree Hill episode ). `` The Living Years '' Single by Mike + The Mechanics from the album Living Years B - side `` Too Many Friends '' Released 27 December 1988 Format Cassette Single, 7 '' Recorded Genre Pop, Ballad Length 5 : 32 Label Atlantic, WEA Songwriter ( s ) Mike Rutherford, B.A. Robertson Producer ( s ) Christopher Neil, Mike Rutherford Mike + The Mechanics singles chronology `` Nobody 's Perfect '' ( 1988 ) `` The Living Years '' ( 1988 ) `` Seeing Is Believing '' ( 1989 ) `` Nobody 's Perfect '' ( 1988 ) `` The Living Years '' ( 1988 ) `` Seeing Is Believing '' ( 1989 ) `` The Living Years '' is a ballad written by Mike Rutherford and B.A. Robertson, and recorded by Rutherford 's English rock band Mike + The Mechanics. It was released in December 1988 in the UK and in the US as the second single from their album Living Years. The song was a chart hit around the world, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 on 25 March 1989, and reaching No. 1 in Canada and Australia and No. 2 in the UK. It spent four weeks at No. 1 on the US Adult Contemporary chart. Paul Carrack sings lead vocals on the track. The song addresses a son 's regret over unresolved conflict with his now - deceased father. It won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically & Lyrically in 1989, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1990. In 1996, famed composer Burt Bacharach opined : `` ' The Living Years ' is one of the finest lyrics of the last 10 years. '' In 2004, `` The Living Years '' was awarded a 4 Million - Air citation by BMI. Contents 1 Content 2 Music video 3 Charts and certifications 3.1 Weekly charts 3.2 Certifications 4 Covers 5 References Content The Mike + The Mechanics version was initially promoted to give the impression about the disagreements between Mike Rutherford and his father, who had recently died. In an interview with Rutherford, he said : `` The lyrics were written by BA ( Robertson ) and the song is about something he went through. He lost his dad and it 's about the lack of communication between him and his father before he died. There 's also the irony of him having a baby just after losing his father. '' Music video The music video was directed by Tim Broad and premiered in January 1989. It was filmed in October 1988 in West Somerset, England near Porlock Weir and the hamlet of Culbone. The video features Mike Rutherford with his then eight - year - old son, Tom. It also includes an appearance by actress Maggie Jones, best known for playing Blanche Hunt in the soap opera Coronation Street. The video also shows the group playing the song with two sets of choirs singing the chorus with them, a all boys church choir and adults choir. Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart ( 1988 -- 89 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 18 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 25 Belgium ( VRT Top 30 Flanders ) 22 Canadian Retail Singles ( RPM ) 5 Canadian Top Singles ( RPM ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) 13 Ireland ( IRMA ) Japan ( Oricon International ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 20 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 20 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 11 Norway ( VG - lista ) 10 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 6 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) US Billboard Hot 100 US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) 5 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Japan ( RIAJ ) Gold 50,000 New Zealand ( RMNZ ) Platinum 10,000 Sweden ( GLF ) Gold 25,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) Gold 400,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone Covers There are dozens of recordings of the song, instrumental as well as vocal, reggae to classical crossover, from artists as diverse as American country music band Alabama, Chris De Burgh, West End theatre star Michael Ball, Marcia Hines, Engelbert Humperdinck, James Last, The London Symphony Orchestra, Christian artist Russ Lee, Rhydian, John Tesh, Russell Watson, the London Community Gospel Choir, the Newsboys, The Isaacs, The Katinas, and Michael English Mike + The Mechanics band member Paul Carrack, who performed the original lead vocal, has made a number of solo interpretations. Carrack 's father died in an industrial accident when he was eleven. It is still a mainstay of Carrack 's live performances today. References Jump up ^ `` Mike And The Mechanics Discography - UK ''. 45cat.com. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Weekly Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 Songs from the First 50 Years, 1980 -- 1989 ''. Billboard. ^ Jump up to : Rothstein, Simon ( 18 June 2004 ). `` The Mechanics fix it for Us ''. London : The Sun. access - date = requires url = ( help ) Jump up ^ `` Mike Rutherford ''. IMDB. Retrieved 8 December 2009. Jump up ^ `` Do you know the ways to Monterey ? Santa Fe ? Whitley Bay ?... ''. Mojo. March 1996. Jump up ^ `` BMI London Awards : Song List ''. BMI. 5 October 2004. Retrieved 8 December 2009. Jump up ^ `` Obituary : Coronation Street 's Maggie Jones ''. BBC News. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2016. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Mike + The Mechanics -- The Living Years ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Mike + The Mechanics -- The Living Years '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Mike + The Mechanics -- The Living Years '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Radio2 Top 30 Artiest : Mike & The Mechanics Radio2 ''. VRT ( in Dutch ). Top30-2.radio2.be. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` RPM Top 30 Retail Singles ''. RPM Magazine. Library and Archives Canada. 50 ( 2 ). May 8, 1989. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Search : Canadian Top Singles ''. RPM Magazine. Library and Archives Canada. Search for `` The Living Years ''. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- Mike + The Mechanics Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Living Years ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 November 2015. ^ Jump up to : Tatsaku, Ren ( 2011 ). The Oricon Sales Report ( in Japanese ). Tokyo : Oricon Style -- Recording Industry Association of Japan. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Mike & The Mechanics search results '' ( in Dutch ) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Mike + The Mechanics -- The Living Years '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Mike + The Mechanics -- The Living Years ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Mike + The Mechanics -- The Living Years ''. VG - lista. Retrieved 11 November 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Swedish single certifications -- Mike + The Mechanics -- The Living Years '' ( in Swedish ). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 11 November 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Mike + the Mechanics -- Chart history '' Billboard Adult Contemporary for Mike + the Mechanics. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Mike + the Mechanics -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for Mike + the Mechanics. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Mike + the Mechanics -- Chart history '' Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs for Mike + the Mechanics. Retrieved 11 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Mike & The Mechanics ''. Official Charts. United Kingdom. Retrieved 15 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` New Zealand single certifications -- Mike + The Mechanics -- The Living Years ''. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 11 November 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Mike & the Mechanics -- The Living Years ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 11, 2015. Enter The Living Years in the search field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ `` The Living Years Versions ''. AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Jump up ^ `` Band biography ''. Houseofmanyrooms.com. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Paul Carrack Discography ''. Carrack-uk.com. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 03. Preceded by `` When I 'm with You '' by Sheriff Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one single 25 February 1989 ( 4 weeks ) Succeeded by `` You Got It '' by Roy Orbison Preceded by `` Lost in Your Eyes '' by Debbie Gibson Billboard Hot 100 number one single 25 March 1989 Succeeded by `` Eternal Flame '' by The Bangles Preceded by `` Lost in Your Eyes '' by Debbie Gibson Canadian RPM Singles Chart number - one single 8 April 1989 -- 15 April 1989 Succeeded by `` She Drives Me Crazy '' by Fine Young Cannibals Preceded by `` She Drives Me Crazy '' by Fine Young Cannibals Australian ARIA Chart number one single 13 May 1989 Succeeded by `` Eternal Flame '' by The Bangles Mike and the Mechanics Mike Rutherford Anthony Drennan Tim Howar Luke Juby Andrew Roachford Gary Wallis Paul Carrack Paul Young Peter Van Hooke Adrian Lee Studio albums Mike + The Mechanics Living Years Word of Mouth Beggar on a Beach of Gold Mike & The Mechanics Rewired The Road Let Me Fly Mike Rutherford solo Smallcreep 's Day Acting Very Strange Compilation albums Hits Favourites / The Very Best Of Singles `` Silent Running ( On Dangerous Ground ) '' `` All I Need Is a Miracle '' `` Taken In '' `` The Living Years '' `` Word of Mouth '' `` Over My Shoulder '' Related Mike + The Mechanics discography Genesis Christopher Neil B.A. Robertson Ivor Novello Awards -- Best Song Musically and Lyrically 1960s She 's Leaving Home ( 1968 ) 1970s Where Do You Go To ( My Lovely ) ? ( 1970 ) Something ( 1971 ) Do n't Let It Die ( 1972 ) Without You ( 1973 ) Daniel ( 1974 ) Streets of London * ( 1975 ) Do n't Cry for Me Argentina ( 1978 ) Baker Street ( 1979 ) 1980s The Logical Song ( 1980 ) Woman in Love ( 1981 ) Memory ( 1982 ) Have You Ever Been in Love ( 1983 ) Every Breath You Take ( 1984 ) Against All Odds ( 1985 ) Nikita ( 1986 ) Do n't Give Up ( 1987 ) Something Inside So Strong ( 1988 ) They Dance Alone ( 1989 ) 1990s The Living Years ( 1990 ) Sacrifice ( 1991 ) The Whole of the Moon ( 1992 ) Why ( 1993 ) If I Ever Lose My Faith in You ( 1994 ) Think Twice ( 1995 ) Common People ( 1996 ) Too Much Love Will Kill You ( 1997 ) Paranoid Android ( 1998 ) Believe ( 1999 ) 2000s Strong ( 2000 ) Babylon ( 2001 ) Walk On ( 2002 ) The Other Side ( 2003 ) Leave Right Now ( 2004 ) Dry Your Eyes ( 2005 ) Suddenly I See ( 2006 ) Elusive ( 2007 ) Love Is a Losing Game ( 2008 ) One Day Like This ( 2009 ) 2010s The Fear ( 2010 ) Becoming a Jackal ( 2011 ) The A Team ( 2012 ) Next to Me ( 2013 ) Strong ( 2014 ) Take Me to Church ( 2015 ) Was n't Expecting That ( 2016 ) * Awarded as The Best Song Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Living_Years&oldid=801060179 '' Categories : 1988 singles 1989 singles Mike + The Mechanics songs Rock ballads Pop ballads Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles Number - one singles in Australia 1980s ballads Irish Singles Chart number - one singles Songs in memory of deceased persons Song recordings produced by Christopher Neil Songs written by Mike Rutherford Songs written by B.A. Robertson Atlantic Records singles Warner Music Group singles RPM Top Singles number - one singles 1988 songs Hidden categories : Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) CS1 Japanese - language sources ( ja ) CS1 Swedish - language sources ( sv ) EngvarB from June 2014 Use dmy dates from June 2014 Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart called without artist Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardmainstreamrock Certification Table Entry usages for Japan Certification Table Entry usages for New Zealand Certification Table Entry usages for Sweden Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Talk Contents About Wikipedia Français ქართული Nederlands 日本 語 Edit links This page was last edited on 17 September 2017, at 12 : 07. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what is the meaning of the song the living years
Answer: a son's regret over unresolved conflict with his now-deceased father.