Yesterday, When I Was Young

Album: Yesterday, When I Was Young (1969)
Charted: 19
Play Video
  • It seems the love I've known
    Has always been the most destructive kind
    I guess that's why now
    I feel so old
    Before my time

    Yesterday, when I was young
    The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue
    I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
    The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame
    The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned
    I always built to last on weak and shifting sand
    I lived by night and shunned the naked light of the day
    And only now I see how the years ran away

    Yesterday, when I was young
    So many happy songs were waiting to be sung
    So many wild pleasures lay in store for me
    And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see
    I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out
    I never stopped to think what life was all about
    And every conversation I can now recall
    Concerned itself with me and nothing else at all

    Yesterday the moon was blue
    And every crazy day brought something new to do
    I used my magic age as if it were a wand
    And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond
    The game of love I played with arrogance and pride
    And every flame I lit too quickly, quickly died
    The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away
    And only I am left on stage to end the play

    There are so many songs in me that won't be sung
    I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue
    The time has come for me to pay for
    Yesterday, when I was young Writer/s: Charles Aznavour, Herbert Kretzmer
    Publisher: EDITIONS MUSICALES DJANIK, T.R.O. INC.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • AnonymousSeems there is discrepancy abut who wrote this song..Charles Aznavour or the beetles?
  • Bryan from Clearwater, FloridaRoy Clark sang this song at Mickey Mantle's funeral at Mickey's request.
  • Coy from Palestine, TexasIn his biography, Roy Clark credits Scott Turner for giving him this song to record. Turner wrote songs with war hero/actor Audie Murphy. Turner and Murphy wrote Roy's hit song "When the Wind Blows in Chicago".
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: www.legacy.com {11-15-2018}...
    Roy Clark, the popular longtime host of TV’s Country Music variety show 'Hee Haw', passed away on November 15th, 2018 at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was 85...
    He hosted the show from 1969 until 1997. Buck Owens co-hosted the show with Clark until 1986. Clark was instrumental in growing the popularity of Country Music. He was a renowned guitarist and banjo player who influenced countless, country music stars, including Brad Paisley...
    Clark had a warm inviting persona that turned him into a TV star. He had a recurring guest role as businessman Roy Halsey on 'The Beverly Hillbillies'. As the host of 'Hee Haw', he would perform in comedy skits and played with the Million Dollar Band...
    Clark’s biggest crossover song was 1969’s “Yesterday, When I Was Young,” which was his only top 40 hit, reaching number 19 on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
    Clark started playing guitar, banjo, and mandolin as a teenager and won the World Banjo/Guitar Flatpick Championships. He made his first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry at the age of 17...
    He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry...
    May he R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm {10-01-2018}...
    French singer/songwriter Charles Aznavour died at his home in the southeast part of the country at the age of 94. In America, he is best-known for writing the original versions of “Yesterday, When I Was Young”* and “If You Go Away”...
    He recorded more than 1,200 songs in seven different languages and performed in 94 countries...
    May he R.I.P.
    * On July 27th, 1969 Roy Clark's version of the song peaked at #19 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.