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 [bad word] for me to pay, 
For yesterday, when I was young