About the song

Dusty Springfield was more than just a singer; she was a vocal powerhouse whose soulful delivery and emotional depth made her one of the most iconic voices of the 20th century. Among her vast repertoire of hits, “Yesterday When I Was Young” stands out as a particularly poignant and introspective ballad. Released in 1964 as part of the soundtrack for the film The Singing Nun, the song quickly became a staple of the pop music landscape, resonating deeply with audiences of all ages.

“Yesterday When I Was Young” is a nostalgic reflection on youth, love, and the passage of time. The lyrics, penned by Charles Aznavour, paint a vivid picture of a bygone era, filled with dreams, aspirations, and the belief that anything is possible. Springfield’s soulful vocals convey a sense of bittersweet longing, as she mourns the loss of her youth and the innocence that accompanied it.

The song’s arrangement is simple yet effective, featuring a lush string section that adds to the song’s melancholic atmosphere. Springfield’s voice soars above the instrumentation, conveying a sense of both fragility and strength. The combination of her powerful vocals and the song’s evocative lyrics creates a truly unforgettable listening experience.

“Yesterday When I Was Young” has been covered by countless artists over the years, each interpretation adding their own unique spin to the song. However, it is Springfield’s version that is widely considered to be the definitive one. Her soulful delivery and emotional depth capture the essence of the song, making it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners today.

The song’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its universal themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. It is a song that reminds us of the beauty and fragility of youth, and the importance of cherishing the memories we create. “Yesterday When I Was Young” is a timeless classic that will continue to touch hearts for generations to come.

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Lyrics

Somehow, it seems the love I knewWas always the most destructive kind
Yesterday when I was youngThe taste of life was sweetAs rain upon my tongueI teased at life as if it were a foolish gameThe way the evening breezeMay tease the candle flame
The thousand dreams I dreamedThe splendid things I plannedI always built to last on weak and shifting sandI lived by night and shunned the naked light of dayAnd only now I see how the time ran away
Yesterday when I was youngSo many lovely songs were waiting to be sungSo many wild pleasures lay in store for meAnd so much pain my eyes refused to see
I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran outI never stopped to think what life was all aboutAnd every conversation that I can now recallConcerned itself with me and nothing else at all
The game of love I played with arrogance and prideAnd every flame I lit too quickly, quickly diedThe friends I made all somehow seemed to slip awayAnd only now I’m left alone to end the play, yeah
Oh, yesterday when I was youngSo many, many songs were waiting to be sungSo many wild pleasures lay in store for meAnd so much pain my eyes refused to see
There are so many songs in me that won’t be sungI feel a bitter taste of tears upon my tongueThe time has come for me to pay for yesterdayWhen I was young