As a child, I always hated this song. My mom always said it was about telling your parents you love them before they're gone. Yeah, not so much.
I heard this song for the first time in years today. I'm still not crazy about it but the lyrics make more sense to me now.
In my mind, it's not about burying the hatchet or making nice with a parent you would rather stayed out of your life. It's about not holding a grudge but getting everything out in the open, and then letting it all go. Tell them exactly how you feel, instead of just letting this cloud of tension hover over everything while you fake being nice to them. Don't let them go to their grave wondering. Air it all out, and then walk away. At least then you both know where you stand.
For all the things my father did to me growing up, I don't wish him any ill. I severed all ties with him a decade ago and I'm a much better person without him in my life. And I have no regrets, I said what I needed to say and gave him a chance to say his peace, and washed my hands of it. I did just what the song said, I told him while he was still alive to hear it.
@Coasterman72 I think you're spot on here. I too always hated this song, couldn't figure out the contradiction between the tone of the music which sounds like "forgive everyone and just get along with your parents because they are owed it" and the actual lyrics which point to what you say. I've also done as you've done but still don't understand what Mike n the Mechanics are pointing at. Why is it necessary to end bad relationships "violently" instead of just let them slip away? Seems like six of one half a dozen of the other....
@Coasterman72 I think you're spot on here. I too always hated this song, couldn't figure out the contradiction between the tone of the music which sounds like "forgive everyone and just get along with your parents because they are owed it" and the actual lyrics which point to what you say. I've also done as you've done but still don't understand what Mike n the Mechanics are pointing at. Why is it necessary to end bad relationships "violently" instead of just let them slip away? Seems like six of one half a dozen of the other.
As a child, I always hated this song. My mom always said it was about telling your parents you love them before they're gone. Yeah, not so much.
I heard this song for the first time in years today. I'm still not crazy about it but the lyrics make more sense to me now.
In my mind, it's not about burying the hatchet or making nice with a parent you would rather stayed out of your life. It's about not holding a grudge but getting everything out in the open, and then letting it all go. Tell them exactly how you feel, instead of just letting this cloud of tension hover over everything while you fake being nice to them. Don't let them go to their grave wondering. Air it all out, and then walk away. At least then you both know where you stand.
For all the things my father did to me growing up, I don't wish him any ill. I severed all ties with him a decade ago and I'm a much better person without him in my life. And I have no regrets, I said what I needed to say and gave him a chance to say his peace, and washed my hands of it. I did just what the song said, I told him while he was still alive to hear it.
@Coasterman72 I think you're spot on here. I too always hated this song, couldn't figure out the contradiction between the tone of the music which sounds like "forgive everyone and just get along with your parents because they are owed it" and the actual lyrics which point to what you say. I've also done as you've done but still don't understand what Mike n the Mechanics are pointing at. Why is it necessary to end bad relationships "violently" instead of just let them slip away? Seems like six of one half a dozen of the other....
@Coasterman72 I think you're spot on here. I too always hated this song, couldn't figure out the contradiction between the tone of the music which sounds like "forgive everyone and just get along with your parents because they are owed it" and the actual lyrics which point to what you say. I've also done as you've done but still don't understand what Mike n the Mechanics are pointing at. Why is it necessary to end bad relationships "violently" instead of just let them slip away? Seems like six of one half a dozen of the other.
@Coasterman72 Right on Coasterman72.
@Coasterman72 Right on Coasterman72.