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Topic: Haunting lyrics and melody from the past |
David Pennybaker
From:
Conroe, TX USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2001 11:34 am |
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I heard this song on the radio a few days ago. It brought back memories from 25 years ago when I discovered this song on a Roy Clark Live LP. I loved it then, and even more so now.
No, there's no steel guitar on it. Mainly strings. But such a great song, lyrically and musically.
Yesterday When I Was Young
(as recorded by Roy Clark)
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 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 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
------------------
The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2001 11:56 am
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Yup...
That about sums it up.
A big Roy fan since childhood (Hee-Haw),
Pete B.
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 20 Nov 2001 1:45 pm
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| I always liked Roy best on these deeper ballads. |
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David Pennybaker
From:
Conroe, TX USA
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Al Udeen
From:
maple grove mn usa
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Posted 20 Nov 2001 3:17 pm
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| Wouldn't this song make an awesome steel instrumental? |
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Al Udeen
From:
maple grove mn usa
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Posted 20 Nov 2001 3:22 pm
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| Wouldn't this song make an awesome steel instrumental? |
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David Pennybaker
From:
Conroe, TX USA
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Larry Miller
From:
Dothan AL,USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2001 4:56 pm
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| Those lyrics mean alot more to me now, than yesterday when I was young. |
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Mike Brinkmeyer
From:
Houston, Texas
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Posted 20 Nov 2001 6:30 pm
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| Roy sang this great song at Mickey Mantle's funeral in 1995. It was one of the Mick's favorite songs. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 20 Nov 2001 6:44 pm
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Another one of Roy's great ballads (aside from the one you mentioned, and "Tips of My Fingers") is "Did He Leave So Much To Remember?". Here's as much as I can recall...
How much of you belongs to me,
and how much belongs to the past?
Is my love enough to hold you,
or will mem'ries win at last?
I've taken someone else's place,
I've known from the moment we met.
But did he leave so much to remember,
that I can't make you forget?
(chorus)
You tell me you're mine, and mine alone,
and for a while I'm happy, and then,
I wonder what would happen, if you
ever saw him again?
Could he take back this precious love
I've known since the moment we met?
Did he leave so much to remember,
that I can't make you forget?
Great song! |
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Mike Weirauch
From:
Harrisburg, Illinois**The Hub of the Universe
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Posted 20 Nov 2001 11:30 pm
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"Thank God and Greyhound You're Gone"
......the greatest love song of all times!  |
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Jussi Huhtakangas
From:
Helsinki, Finland
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Posted 20 Nov 2001 11:37 pm
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If I remember correctly, it's originally a French pop song by Charles Aznavour. Can't recall the French title though ( French is all Greek to me anyway!! ).
Jussi |
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David Pennybaker
From:
Conroe, TX USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2001 8:23 am
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You are indeed correct.
http://carol.wins.uva.nl/~jmragas/doc/ca_hierencore.html
Hier encore
Charles Aznavour
Hier encore
J'avais vingt ans
Je caressais le temps
Et jouais de la vie
Comme on joue de l'amour
Et je vivais la nuit
Sans compter sur mes jours
Qui fuyaient dans le temps
J'ai fait tant de projets
Qui sont restés en l'air
J'ai fondé tant d'espoirs
Qui se sont envolés
Que je reste perdu
Ne sachant où aller
Les yeux cherchant le ciel
Mais le coeur mis en terre
Hier encore
J'avais vingt ans
Je gaspillais le temps
En croyant l'arrêter
Et pour le retenir
Même le devancer
Je n'ai fait que courir
Et me suis essoufflé
Ignorant le passé
Conjuguant au futur
Je précédais de moi
Toute conversation
Et donnais mon avis
Que je voulais le bon
Pour critiquer le monde
Avec désinvolture
Hier encore
J'avais vingt ans
Mais j'ai perdu mon temps
A faire des folies
Qui ne me laissent au fond
Rien de vraiment précis
Que quelques rides au front
Et la peur de l'ennui
Car mes amours sont mortes
Avant que d'exister
Mes amis sont partis
Et ne reviendront pas
Par ma faute j'ai fait
Le vide autour de moi
Et j'ai gâché ma vie
Et mes jeunes années
Du meilleur et du pire
En jetant le meilleur
J'ai figé mes sourires
Et j'ai glacé mes pleurs
Où sont-ils à présent
A présent mes vingt ans?
------------------
The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons
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David Pennybaker
From:
Conroe, TX USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2001 8:25 am
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Running that through the BabelFish translator, I get:
As lately as yesterday
Charles Aznavour
As lately as yesterday I was twenty years old I cherished
time And played of the life As one plays of the love And I lived
during the night Without counting over my days Which fled in time
I did so many projects Which remained in the air I founded so many
hopes Which flew away Than I remain lost not knowing where to go the
eyes seeking the sky But the heart put out of ground
As lately as yesterday I was twenty years old I wasted time While
believing to stop it And to retain it Même to precede it I made only
run And am blown to me
Being unaware of the past Combining with the future I preceded by me
Any conversation And delivered my opinion Which I wanted the good to
criticize the world With ease
As lately as yesterday I was twenty years old But I wasted my time to
make madnesses Which leave me at the bottom Nothing really precise Que
some wrinkles with the face And the fear of the trouble
Because my loves died Before to exist My friends left And do not
return By my fault I made the vacuum around me And I wasted my life
And my youths
Best and worse By throwing the best I solidified my smiles And I froze
my tears Where are they now A present my twenty years?
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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 21 Nov 2001 9:53 am
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| It's perfect for Toby Keith. |
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nick allen
From:
France
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Posted 21 Nov 2001 10:04 am
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kyle reid
From:
Butte,Mt.usa
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Posted 21 Nov 2001 11:39 am
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| Toby could screw up a one car parade! |
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