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 
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 [bad word] for me to pay 
for Yesterday When I was Young.