That was me who commented five years ago. Nothing has changed, still love the music and the man who made the song come alive. Turned 73 last Nov. Say a prayer i answer this same text five years from now! God Bless us all!
I'm almost 64yrs old, and this was me for a lot of years. I wasted so much time, in foolishness. But I thank God the last 20yrs have been great. If your a young man listening to this song, and are not living right, give it a to God.
If only young people would really listen to these lyrics. I am now 82 years old. How I wish I had listened and paid more attention to them yesterday, when I was young. My youth is gone, never to return. I loved this song when I was young and understand and love it more today. RIP Roy Clark.
I’m 59 now. I have left everything that loves me or it left me. I can’t find another song. I am not in good health and have been saying my entire life that I have time. Well here I am almost done with my life and wishing I could have any part of it again. If your reading this don’t hesitate live your life and love unconditionally. Life goes by in less than a second. Your children are to busy and your home alone listening to your entire life in songs instead. Love a lot. I wish all happiness and love
Jesus is the God who has forgiven us, hi he is the God who heals broken hearts, yes he loves us unconditionally, he is the God of second chance , call on him friend
All of us have to meet certain conditions to cause anyone or someone to love us please read Psalms 11;5 also God himself said he hated Esau but love Jacob @@jerryosullivan4166
The wisdom you obviously have to impart, shame you don't have a RU-vid channel/book to share it w us, who cld use it. You lived your youth through a better time. God bless you Anthony. ❤🙏
Its so weird when I was a kid I heard this song a million times and never heard the words. Last week I heard this song again and for me it is at the same time the saddest and most beautiful song Ive ever heard. Does anybody else feel that way??
I hear this song and can't help but think....... this is me... my life. What was given to me by God... I wasted and threw away. I turned 70 last October and I can surly relate to this song. It is sadly beautiful...
I first heard this song when Clark performed it at Mickey Mantle's funeral, which was televised. This song was Mantle's last request so that it might serve as a warning to his fans who might be potentially drinking themselves into an early grave like he ended up doing.
Alexei Cogan Wow, I'd never heard that concerning Mantle's funeral. Very touching, sad in a way, very appropriate for Mantle too. This song is a killer. I first heard this when I was about 9 or 10 and it always remained with me... something about it, very beautiful.
liz326522 It is a powerful song and he does a fine job . I always thought he was a better entertainer who should have been more widely accepted. When I think of country music stars.... he's right up there.
Herb Houston Yes, totally agree with you. He should have been more widely accepted, such a talented man. A beautiful master on the guitar and a lovely, soothing voice... a terrific entertainer.
I turned 68 last week! I still get tears when listening to this song! Yes, time goes by fast and I'm sure we all regret looking back and thinking about "what could have been", yet we can't bear the thought! That's why great musicians like Roy Clark can come back at sometime into our lives and make us realize what we lost! God Bless Him!
I am half you're age but all my friends were closer to you're age when I was a child. One of witch shares the name with Mr.Clark. This song always brings me back to the times they planted the seeds in my head. I thank God for the time I got to share with them and I owe who I am to them all.
I will turn 69 in another few weeks, and I share your emotions about this fantastic song, Tony. Roy Clark had a great and unique voice and he was without a doubt one of the absolutely best guitar pickers to ever grace the C&W music industry. Two of my other favorites that Roy Clark did was the song 'Right or Left at Oak Street; and 'The Tips of My Fingers'. And, then 'Thank God and Greyhound You're Gone' which I am sure is a favorite for all guys who married the wrong woman.
I had tears falling from my eyes as soon as I heard this beautiful song. I'm 59 and have had many wonderful experiences but others I wish I could have a do over on. I just have to work hard to make sure the rest of my life is better. I sense my parents crying for me because they want my life to be better too.
I'm almost 70 years old and walking with Jesus for almost 40 years and this song summarizes what my life was like before I met my Lord Savior oh how I wasted my youth and now I'm to old
Roy Clark , You are legend. I'm about to hit 63. Have 3 wonderful children. Shure I've made mistakes but that's life, wouldn't change it for any thing. 🙂🙂🙂
One of the most heartbreaking songs ever recorded! I believe every human being on the planet that reaches upper middle age and beyond can relate to this song on some level. As George Bernard Shaw stated so eloquently----"What a tragedy it is that youth is wasted on the young!" This song captures that sentiment to perfection---unforgettable!!
It truly is wasted on the young. These lyrics are so painfully poignant, especially those who have lived long enough to have experienced the harsh reality of it.
The meaning of this song is hidden from the young; To them it is simply incomprehensible. However, as the years drift by, the meanings will become clearer and clearer until it comes into sharp focus later in life. Then, and only then will they really appreciate it for the magnificent song that it is. This will repeat itself with each generation. Such is life.
Steven Mccallan You are an observant being to see that truth you describe. Yes that will be what awaits many of those youngsters that boldly flaunt themselves today. Much luck on your journey to the obvious destination of all of us.
Steven Mccallan Well put! I remember hearing this as a kid, either in the late seventies or early eighties. My brother had it on 8-track and my father had the sheet music. I actually have that sheet music now. I always liked the song when I was little. I of course never understood the song other than what was plain to see. You have to live it to understand it as with a lot of things. I'll be 40 in a couple months and well, I might as well be 80. Anyway, it's a great song and I haven't heard it in many, many years. Thanks for posting, Wilson (Who btw is my idol since I was 5... BW). I've been thinking a lot about Glen Campbell over the last year and the aggression of his Alzheimer's and have been revisiting a lot of his music and stumbled upon this. Thanks for the memories guys.
Every person in the twilight of their years should listen to this and I'm certain that most of us will be moved by the words and the singer. I've always liked this song but now in my 70s, I realise how it now brings out the emotion in me and brings tears to my eyes. I've told my wife to play this at my funeral...many years from now I hope.
I was 10 when this came out and even at that tender age, I intuitively knew these words would come back to haunt me 50 years later. I would suppose others had that same uneasy feeling too...
Roy Clark say this at Mickey Mantle's funeral. Him and Mantle had a joking promise bet who ever died first the other would sing this song at their funeral. When Mickey Mantle was when the hospital and found out he only had 3 to 7 days more to live. He calmly looked at everybody and said "Someone better call Roy and tell him". Roy Clark said singing this song at Mickey Mantle's funeral was the hardest thing he ever had to do but a promise is a promise.
As a 13 year old kid when i heard this song, i felt all of life's heartaches and mistakes through Roy Clark's voice and now at 50 I know what he meant, I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue.
I've listened to every version of this I can find. Including Willie and other GREAT singers. But as first i'm concerned NOBODY brings the raw emotions of sorrow ,and hopelessness to the song that he does !
Wait until you're in your 60s and you realize that making more plans is fruitless. When you potentially have just a few years left the biggest plan is how you'll get through those years
Charles Aznavour ? I normally prefer any song when it's sung by the original writer, he knows exactly what the words mean, what the meaning is behind the words. NOTE that the title correctly is "Yesterday, when I was young".
So many of us lived are lives in this song . Some of the talented stars sing this , but none sing it like Roy Clark . If you are lucky enough to seek out a better way when you come to realize this you will know and be forgiven and you also must forgive . Give as much of your time knowing your saviour . U Tube has a great teacher in Arnold Murray and you will be thankful and blessed in knowing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords . Good Luck to you .
You are so right. I have never been able to listen to this beautiful song without tears flowing. It reminds me of my grandparents and makes me miss them even more than usual. I remember listening to this Roy Clark 8 Track every time we would go anywhere in their gorgeous 1974 cranberry colored Cadillac (w/ white leather interior). I remember watching Hee Haw with them too after dinner and then going to the video arcade after. Roy Clark looks so much like my father that they could have been twins,: Same hair color, sideburns, cheeks, nose...dad was a big man and wore bib overalls all the time. And they both had the bluest eyes!
+Zeds Dead Baby If I deleted any comments, i didn't mean to. But I have a question - what do you mean by original version? Roy Clark is the original singer.
+Zeds Dead Baby I apologize Zeds, until I sat and read a lot of these comments, I didn't know someone else had sung this song before Roy.Clark. I've only heard it by Roy and can't imagine anybody else doing it justice. I'm going to see if I can find the other version(s) and listen to it.
+Zeds Dead Baby I found it on RU-vid last night and listened to it. But personally, I have to say I like Roy Clark better and that may just be because I've always heard it by Roy Clark.
69 was a great year; I met the love of my life, I was on top of the world! But in the spring of 70 it all came crashing in. She was going to away to college and she didn't want to be tied down and told me we were through... I survived, but never really recovered.
For all we ought to have thought, and have not thought; all we ought to have said, and have not said; all we ought to have done, and have not done; I pray thee God for forgiveness. The 13th Warrior
R.I.P Roy Clark. Now that I'm retired and look back on my years, this song brings an ache to my heart. Oh that today's youth would learn not to waste their time here.
And young people, dont waste your heart...your love. Never, ever miss an opportunity to love, to smile, to embrace. You will never get that moment back.
heard this song when I was young never payed attention to It caused I grew up In the Hood and usually listen to old school R/B and rap but this songs tells my life story? at 50 now and single only a couple of friends and no family...SAD....How I got here the Fast Life.....
@@rdoodoo2021this song; Wildfire by Michael Murphy; One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey & Boyz To Men (played at my little brother's funeral); Unbreak My Heart by Toni Braxton; At This Moment by Billy Vera and the Beaters; and Teen Angel by Mark Dinning are probably the top tear jerker songs for me. I love every one of them.
So this was one of my grandfather’s favorite songs, and he used to play it on RU-vid for me, and make me listen to the words which he told me would become more and more understandable as the years of my life went by and aged, and boy as usual, he was right! This man was always trying to teach me valuable life lessons, and then still trying to teach me even when I wasn’t realizing he was, and now, every time I hear this besides crying tears from missing him, I reflect on his wisdom and the wisdom of Roy Clark’s beautiful masterpiece!!! My two favorite lines in the song are “I used my magic age as if it were a wand & never saw the waste and emptiness beyond” and “The friends I made all seemed some how to drift away, and only I am left on stage to end the play,” like wow, so incredibly true, because when we were young we think we’re invincible, and we can do anything, and so many “friends“ never stick around they leave so easily, and forget you and your left wondering what the hell…….. My grandfather passed away in 2020 of cancer that he beat and fought for over 17 years and I love and miss that man more than life itself! R.I.P. Grandpa 😢❤😘
This one hurts when the shadows have grown long, and the cold night wind starts to creak in the branches. Like Johnny Cash and the song Hurt, we are always our own villain at the final curtain call. But then, even that passes, as tomorrow's peace, be it Oblivion or Paradise, prepares you for the trip back to the womb.
Being 52 I so wish I had known Jesus as my savior as a child. But this song makes me realize I had to go through the trials and tribulations in my life. To greatly appreciate the love he has for me. And how time slips away. Until we reach our final destination. Love and embrace youth. It's gone in the blink of an eye.
No Regrets, I'm 71, and embraced every opportunity offered, which meant I moved 10 times. Now Bankrupt, I am rich in memories. They should write a song about this. I guess they did, - My Way!
" and every conversation I can now recall, concerns itself with me, and nothing else at all".. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self some things, . . . but he probably wouldn't listen.
your right.....20 years ago at age 35 I still felt it was all in front of me and still felt invincible.....20 short years later it feels like its all behind me and the clock is ticking.
I cry everytime I listen to this song...decades ago, I loved this song..now I'm alot older, I can relate to the words and there really is alot of pain and regret..I cannot change my past..😥
Even back then I loved and really listened to this beautiful song. Now that I'm old I love it even more . Brings back memories of my life ,my family and friends some of which are now gone. To this day it still makes me sad and happy. Thankyou Roy may you test.in peace
Oh my goodness! There are others whom try to sing this but there is NO comparison. I would choose Mr Roy Clark to sing this beautiful and sad song. It's too late for us older folks but I wish younger people would truly listen to this song sung by the only person whom sings it so beautifully. No one else can touch this song. This is his and his only song. It touches me deeply because it's so true
To me, there is no cover of this song done by anyone that can match the heart broken feelings expressed by Roy in this masterpiece. So many of us listen to Roy singing this and feel as though it was written directly for us and about our lives and the precious years we lost which can never be replaced.
A masterpiece... absolute unreal how profound this is. I am 64, and believe you me, thank you Jesus, I have NO regrets for I have lived an epic life with Army, Living overseas and best man ever I married. But I know so many people that live in PURE regret.. .for how they lived their younger day. At 18 < I went in Army and... with great parents... was grounded for life!
Now that I'm in my late 60s, I find that one of the things that saddens me is that I can't share all the fantastic songs that accompanied me through life. I want people to hear what I heard...and feel what I felt. It boils down to this: my life was amazing...life is amazing...and I am only beginning to see how amazing it was for me now that I'm older and can reflect on the years gone by and the words to songs as beautiful as this. God filled my life with wonderful music, all types of people, experiences, emotions...and continues to do so. Thank you LORD for the gift of life. I am blown away by what I now see...and by how awesome you are.
And so, Roy went HOME today! And so his worst day turned out to be his very BEST one - EVER! And now he has eternity to come, to make beautiful music in the House of the Lord! And I'm quite certain he and Glen will forever be making quite the joyful noise, with their amazing and now never-ending duets!
I just woke up from a dream with this song playing in my mind. I was in the house where my wife & I raised out two daughters. She was in our older daughter's bedroom, who was about eight at the time. This song came on, & my wife came out of the room. She even looked as she did back then. We simply came together & began to sway to this song, as it was our favorite song while we were courting. We just smiled & enjoyed the experience. Upon waking, I had to hear this song while the experience was still fresh. From all the wonderful comments, I see that she & I weren't the only ones touched by this beautiful composition. My companion, who she got for me four years before passing, lays at my feet as I type this.
Stop it, the picture your words created is beautiful. So sorry you did not stay there with her in that moment. Love, the hearts friend and foe. Nice your four legged friend lay at your feet when you woke. Take care amigo...
A lady was commenting that she doesn’t know how 180 people would just like this song some people don’t understand that the beauty of music is not only happy music but deep sad music can be very meaningful too and beautiful drought time torch songs were always very popular this is one of the great ones I’m sure it’s Roy Clark’s greatest achievement
+John Wedeward I am 63. This song... The story of my life.Still have family members and friends but alone otherwise. So much has slipped away So much I could have done and been....and believe it is not too late. All the best to you.
Amen. Just turned 60. I wonder where the last 40 years went, don't know, but they went. Like the Bible says like in the blink of an eye. Life can be hard at times, that is for sure.
I was 15 when I first heard this song and I used it a guiding light. Life went by and I lived each day as it was my last day on this on this earth. Now at 67 years of age, I still live the same way and I am truly thankful for this song.
This is another song I used to play on Radio here in South Florida. One day, while at Home, this song was playing on my radio station. I saw my Father crying as it played. I didn't really understand WHY. Now, 41+ years later, I KNOW WHY. Now, I CRY.
I woke up 2 days ago with this song in my head. The first time I went to play it I started crying so hard I had to stop. I did listen to it the second time. Beautiful and tragic.
One of the most profound, truest heart felt songs ever written. There is always a price to pay for a wasted youth. Which in some ways we are all guilty of.!
Ron Willis thanks for ending your statment like that agreed youth is made for good times and not taking seriously. cause after its gone as my dear parents use to say its all dog eat dog
This song reminds me as a child when riding with my Dad in a 1974 Cheverlot Nova. This song was on the radio back in that time. Roy Clark was amazing Musician. The great ones are dying!!
When I was a child, my parents would listen to this song........I always thought that this song was written for them......I will be 60 yrs old in 9 days, hahaha ...the jokes on me !!!!!
I am turning 65 this year and wonder why I wasted all those years and wish I could go back and repeat my life.. when your young you think you know it all And you really do not know anything Yesterday When I Was Young
Charlie Sochko I love this song and I like going through and reading all of the comments. Im 15 and I love listening to the wisdom an older generation can give.
62 years old and Yesterday I was young. Time flies except when we're young and foolish. This song captures so much universal truths in both words and how it is sung!
I used to play this song performed by Roy Clark on WLIZ-AM, LAKE WORTH, FL. I once caught my Father listening to this, and he was crying his eyes out. I "sort of understood." Now, all these years later I TRULY UNDERSTAND, and cannot keep myself from crying MY eyes out. Rest In Peace, Dad and Roy Clark.
Over 100 years ago, George Bernard Shaw said "The trouble with youth is that it's wasted on the young". This song lays the naked & brutal truth to those words. I always felt a great companion song to this was Sinatra's "It was a very good year" which came out about the same time in the late 60's. Both songs remain near & dear to me 50 years after I first heard them. So superbly done, that I won't listen to any other singer attempt either one. THAT gets awful personal!
I was born in 1950 and never became a big Sinatra fan. I have heard and seen him on tv and in movies. I liked his sixties hits quite a lot. But, i can't help but wonder how Roy would sound singing "It was a very good Year.">
interesting point about Sinatra's song....though his celebrates his past life. While Roy Clark's is full of regret. Hopefully, for many people, life is someplace in the middle.
@@SuperSojourn me too about Sinatra....to us, he was an Old Man...and yet, his '60s hits were played on our rock and roll stations....!....His "That's Life" is great, among others.
I am a 54 year old man now. I never thought that one day this song wll haunt me hard and each time I listened to this song, memories of my past will randomly flashed back in my eyes with all those painful memories emphasized.
Roy Clark was an under rated treasure in the field of show business. "Yesterday" a beautiful piece of music, will be forever his trademark. I always felt he should have been as big in show business as he was in talent, charm and class !!
Roy was so underrated as a musician. Man can he play. He was not the originator of this song, but in my opinion he made it his own. Loved his version above anyone else..
I was never into Roy Clark but I respected him coz my pop liked him so much. However this song always made me smile although it was a sad smile just the same.
Not really, the music was Charles Aznavour's "Hier Encore" and the English lyrics were written by Herbert Kretzmer which, whilst maintaining the "sense" of the original French lyrics, were substantially different. However that is splitting hairs, for all intents and purposes the song was, indeed, Charles Aznavour's. Subsequently pinched by Ahmet Kaya and Adele.
I grew up watching Roy on Hee Haw. He was so talented and down to earth. This song is beautiful and sad. I read he sang this song at Mickey Mantle's funeral. My dad has been in Heaven going on 6 years and my mom going on 11 - I hope Roy will sing this for them and others in Heaven. Heaven just got a little brighter with their new angel. Love you Roy!!!
Why didn't I listen because they said I should. Shows how smart I was now, I play it and cry for my dad myself and my daughter, I didn't share it with my son so guess who listened?! Maybe I'll have time to " not share " with the grandkids God Bless ed us with Roy Clark and his music thank you Roy
RIP this day Roy! You've blessed many with your comedy and your songs! At 56 I still remember this song, it's one with great depth and meaning, thank you! Now you can chat with Mr. Mantle and ask if he approved of your performance of this song at his funeral!
The first time I heard this song I fell in love. I listen to it whenever I feel down and remind myself how short life really is. I turn 27 in 2 months and I'll keep listening to is for as long as I can, to remiond myself to live life to the fullest. Nothing is ever a regret, its a lesson learned.
Aznavour, Roy Clark, Dusty Springfield, 3 interprétations géniales de cette chanson. Un regard déchiré, nostalgique sur le temps qui passe trop vite, les espoirs déçus et les amours mortes....Bravo
I've been a fan of Roy Clark since I was a kid watching Hee-Haw. He is an amazing singer, guitar player and banjo player. I think he's very under-appreciated. Very talented man.
Kelly Stevens same I love this song I feel as it were wrote as a reminder that we don't have all the time in the world,so make the best of it I love it just so much
Best version ever of this was a year ago when Ray performed it on Larry's Country Diner on RFD-TV. Still this version is so good. We will miss this mans musicianship and laughter.
This song just kills me. Hopes and dreams that were never realized. Makes me want to live as much as possible and cram as much life as I possibly can into the rest of my life
+carrie destler Even more important than unrealized hopes and dreams: unrealized relationships, love not given or received. I've known this song since it came out and have always hoped that it was "just a song" that Roy Clark wrote (he wrote a lot of songs) but sadly, I suspect that he truly felt every word.
Lyrics 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 to last 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 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 as if it were a wand And never saw the waste 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
