Yesterday, When I Was Young

"It seems the love I've known, 

has always been the most destructive kind.

I guess that's why now, 

I feel so old before my time." 

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, 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 has come for me to pay, 

For yesterday, when I was young.

Roy Clark