"Yesterday, When I Was Young"

Yesterday, when I was young
The taste of life was sweet like rain upon my tongue
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
The way an evening breeze would tease a candle flame
The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned
I always built to last on weak and shifting sand
I lived by night and shunned, the naked light of day
And only now, I see how the years have run away

There were so many songs that waited to be sung
So many wild pleasures that 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
And I never stopped to think what life was all about
And every conversation that I can recall
Concerned itself with me, and nothing else at all

Yesterday, the moon was blue
And every crazy day brought something new to do
And I used my magic age as if it were a wand
I never saw the waste and emptiness beyond
The game of love I played with arrogance and pride
And every flame I lit, so 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
'Cause I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue
And the time has come for me to pay for yesterday
When I was young.

This song was originally sung by Roy Clark (1969) but has been covered by many other recording artists.

[The reason for all the attention given to Mickey Mantle and this song is that three weeks ago, in preaching about, "The Fruits of Alcohol," part of this information was included by your congenial editor to demonstrate just how much damage alcohol does—the evil fruits that result from it. Our recommendation is that each reader type in the song title, along with the name of Roy Clark and listen to the original song. The words are powerful, but the melody adds to the impact that it possesses.]

["The Fruits of Alcohol" is the second of three messages on the topic of alcohol—the other two being, "More Hogs and Cattle," and "Was Jesus a Drinking man?" They may be seen at cocwp.org. Click on Video and check under the topic of Alcohol. The dates were April 27th, May 4th, and May 11th of 2025.]