Yesterday When I Was Young

Yesterday, when I was young. So many happy songs were waiting to be sung. So many wayward pleasures lay in store for me And so much spring my dazzled eyes refused to see. 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 my life and shunned the naked light of day And only now I see how it is ran away. Yesterday, when I was young. So many happy songs were waiting to be sung. So many wayward pleasures lay in store for me And so much spring 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 has come for me to pay for yesterday ... when I was young.