yesterday when i was young
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 g ame,
the way the evening breeze may tease a candle fl ame.
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 the 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 itwere a wand
and never saw the waste and emptiness beyond.
the g ame of love i played with arrogance and pride
and every flame i lit too quickly quickly died.
the friedns 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.