One of the great ballads from Australia’s unsung hero of the 1970s and 1980s, Richard Clapton. This song was released in 1982 and once again features the fabulous slide guitar of Kirk Lorange. The lyrics make for a great story but making them fit with the meter of the song the way he does is no easy task. He makes it seem effortless. There’s some beautiful chords in this song, make sure you’re playing them right, buy the Chord Chart below, which also has the complete song structure with verses/ chorus and solo etc.

The Best Years of Our Lives

Richard Clapton

Oh Michael, all the lines are down, it’s Australia Day again
Everytime the wheel slows down, I think of all my friends
Whatever happened to the days way back
The Bondi Lifesaver was always raging?
I’m standing here in Oxford Street, and the ghosts are howlin’
And geez it’s raining…

I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives
I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives

I wish I had been around when the Bondi Icebergs reigned
Sometimes I sit and think of it, and I dream of better days
Whatever happened to the days way back, in the nineteen thirties
All those endless parties
I’m still too young to understand, how it was back then
When the party ends…

I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives
I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives

They say the circle turns around, there’ll be better days
And I don’t mind waiting
I wish time had stopped ten years ago
But I’m learning slowly, life is always changing…

I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives
I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives

I got a letter from Doctor Pepper, ten thousand words to the page
He was talking about Gurdjieff, and I dozed off about half way
Whatever happened to the days way back, when the world was safe
And it seemed worth saving
We search for leaders on our hands and knees
But don’t ask Davy, ‘cos he’s still crazy…

I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives
I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives
I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives
I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives
I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives
I said don’t, waste time, these are the best years of our lives