YesterdAm7ay when I was yD7oung
The taste of love was sGmaj7weet as rain upon my Cmaj7tongue;
I teased at life as F#m7if it were a foolish gB7ame
The way the Emevening B(aug)breeze maE7y tease a candle flame.
The thousand dreams I drAm7eamed the splendid things I plaD7nned--
I always built to lGmaj7ast on weak and shifting saCmaj7nd;
I lived by night and sF#m7hunned the naked light of B7day
And oEmnly now I B(aug)see how tE7he years ran away.
YesterdaAm7y when I was yoD7ung
So many happy soGmaj7ngs were waiting to be sCmaj7ung
So many wayward pAm7leasures lay in store for mB7e
And so mucEmh pain my daB(aug)zzled eyeE7s refused to see.
I ran so fast that tAm7ime and youth at last ran ouD7t
I never stopped to thGmaj7ink what life was all abCmaj7out;
And ev'ry conversAm7ation I can now recaB7ll
Concerned itEmself B(aug)with me aE7nd nothing else at all.
YesterdAm7ay the moon was blD7ue
And ev'ry crazy dGmaj7ay brought something new to Cmaj7do
I used my magic aF#m7ge as if it were a waB7nd
And neveEmr saw thB(aug)e waste aE7nd emptiness beyond.
The game of love I plAm7ayed with arrogance and prD7ide
And ev'ry Gmaj7flame I Cmaj7lit too quickly quickly died;
The friends I made all seF#m7emed somehow to drift awB7ay
And oEmnly I B(aug)am left oE7n stage to end the play.
There are so many sonAm7gs in me that won't be suD7ng
I feel the bitter taGste of tears upon my toCmaj7ngue;
The time has come for me toAm7 pay for yesterdaB7y
W (N.C.) hen I was yoEmung. Am Em