Yesterday When I Was Young
View chords used in this chart
Am7 D7
Yesterday when I was young
Gm7 Cm7
The taste of love was sweet as rain upon my tongue;
F#m7 B7
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
Em B+ E7
The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame.
Am7 D7
The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned--
Gm7 Cm7
I always built to last on weak and shifting sand;
F#m7 B7
I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day,
Em B+ E7
And only now I see how the years ran away.
Am7 D7
Yesterday when I was young,
Gm7 Cm7
So many happy songs were waiting to be sung,
Am7 B7
So many wayward pleasures lay in store for me,
Em B+ E7
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see.
Am7 D7
I ran so fast that time and youth, at last, ran out,
Gm7 Cm7
I never stopped to think what life was all about;
Am7 B7
And ev'ry conversation I can now recall
Em B+ E7
Concerned itself with me, and nothing else at all.
Am7 D7
Yesterday the moon was blue,
Gm7 Cm7
And ev'ry crazy day brought something new to do,
F#m7 B7
I used my magic age as if it were a wand,
Em B+ E7
And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond.
Am7 D7
The game of love I played with arrogance and pride,
Gm7 Cm7
And ev'ry flame I lit too quickly, quickly died;
F#m7 B7
The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away
Em B+ E7
And only I am left on stage to end the play.
Am7 D7
There are so many songs in me that won't be sung,
G Cm7
I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue;
Am7 B7
The time has come for me to pay for yesterday
(N.C.) Em Am Em
When I was young.
How to play Yesterday When I Was Young
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is Am7. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.