Roy Clark – Yesterday When I was Young

Roy Clark – Yesterday When I was Young, «Hier encore», whose original French title translates to «Just yesterday» or «Not so long ago», is a song written by Charles Aznavour and released in September 1964.

In the United States, the best-known version was recorded by country musician Roy Clark. His version, under the English title «Yesterday When I Was Young,» became his biggest hit up to that time on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, peaking at No. 9 in August 1969, and indeed, it became his only top 40 pop hit, peaking at No. 19. Clark performed the song at Mickey Mantle’s funeral in 1995, at Mantle’s personal request. In Canada, the song reached number seven on the pop chart, number two on the country chart, and number one AC.

Roy Clark – Yesterday When I was Young
From the album Yesterday When I Was Young
B-side «Just Another Man»
Released May 1969
Recorded January 1969
Genre Country
Label Dot 45-17246
Songwriter(s) Charles Aznavour and Georges Garvarentz
Herbert Kretzmer (English lyric)
Producer(s) Joe Allison

COUNTRYPEDIA

Roy Clark – Yesterday When I was Young Lyrics

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 alas 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 drinking songs were waiting to be sung
So many wayward 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…

GENIUS