Yesterday, When I was Young (Hier Encore) written by: Charles Aznavour Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, as sung by Lena Horne
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 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.
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.
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