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 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 worst, and the 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