In the fifties after many failed attempts to sell his songs, he finally was signed up with Capitol Records and recorded a few rock and roll songs without much chart success. Just before he was drafted into the Army, he wrote a song called 'The All American Boy' and did a demo for his friend, Bill Parsons, to learn and record it. Instead of using the version Bill Parsons did later, the record company, Fraternity Records, decided to use the original demo done by Bobby Bare. The record reached number 2 on the Billboard Top 100, but it was wrongly credited to Bill Parsons.
His real big break came when RCA boss and guitarist Chet Atkins signed him to the RCA label. The first song he released on this label, 'Shame On Me', sold nearly a million copies and pushed Bobby Bare to fame overnight. His second RCA release, 'Detroit City' won him a Grammy for the best song of the year. Then a surge of hits followed, including '500 Miles Away From Home', 'Four Strong Winds' and others. He has also recorded two very successful albums with Skeeter Davis and has also dueted with Lacy J. Dalton and Rosanne Cash and additionally had a major hit as part of a trio with Norma Jean (singer) and Liz Anderson in 1967 titled 'The Game of Triangles'.
He moved to Mercury label in 1970 and had two big hits from early Kris Kristofferson compositions, 'Come Sundown' and 'Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends' before returning to RCA label where he produced his own records. Later Bare moved to CBS label and in 1979, he helped establish Rosanne Cash's career by singing with her on "No Memories Hangin' Round". Bare's singles for Columbia Records included 'The Jogger', 'Tequila Sheila', 'Gotta Get Rid Of This Band', 'When Hippies Get Older' and 'Numbers'. He later recorded for EMI with little success.
Bobby Bare is a versatile singer, and in the 70s started to release novelty songs recorded live with selected audiences. One of such songs, 'Marie Laveau' about a witch, reached the number one position on the country chart. This song was written by his friend, a very talented song writer, poet, author and cartoonist Shel Silverstein. He also penned many other songs for Bobby Bare including a Grammy nominated hit called 'Daddy What If' which he recorded with his five year old son, Bobby Bare Jr, who later became a star on his own. Bobby Bare later recorded a very successful album with his family and penned mainly by Shel called 'Singing in The Kitchen'. It was nominated for best group category in Grammy Awards but was declined by Bobby himself.
He later took chances recording strange, controversial material as 'Dropkick Me Jesus (Through The Goalposts Of Life)' (a 1976 Grammy nominee) and the expletive-driven 'Redneck Hippie Romance' with much success.
Bobby Bare is also the first to come up with a concept album called 'Bird Named Yesterday' which was very successful. His most successful concept album is 'Lullaby Legends and Lies'.
Bobby Bare was also given an opportunity to star in the movies. He did a Western with Troy Donahue called A Distant Trumpet, and a few episodes of a TV series called No Time for Sergeants. He turned his back on Hollywood to pursue his career in Country Music.
In 1998 he formed the band Old Dogs together with his friends Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis and Waylon Jennings.
In addition to the above, Bobby Bare is credited for introducing Waylon Jennings to RCA. He is also one of the first to record from many well known song writers such as Jack Clement, Harlan Howard, Billy Joe Shaver, Mickey Newberry, Tom T. Hall, Kris Kristofferson, and many others. He later had a TV series called 'Bobby Bare & Friends, A Song Writer Showcase'. Recently, he has recorded a new album after over 20 years called 'The Moon Was Blue' produced by his son. His son, Bobby Bare, Jr., is also a musician.
Yesterday When I Was Young
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The taste of life was sweet
As rain upon my tongue
I teased at life as if
It were a foolish game
They way the evening breeze
May tease a candle flame
The splendid things I planned
I always, always bulit
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
Yesterday, when I was young
So many happy songs were waiting to be sung
So many happy 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
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
And 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
Roll over yesterday, when I was young
The song "Yesterday When I Was Young" by Bobby Bare reflects upon the life of youth and how it is often taken for granted. The opening lines of the song are reflective of the optimism and zest for life that comes naturally to those in their youth. When the singer describes life as having a sweet taste, it creates an image of how life was once a joyous and enjoyable experience. The metaphor of teasing life is particularly noteworthy because it is a metaphor for how careless and unthinking youth can be, believing life is merely a game to be played with.
The second verse speaks of youthful happiness and the pleasures that are waiting to be experienced. It also highlights how pain is often ignored, and the singer regrets not noticing the waste and emptiness of his lifestyle. The third verse talks about the self-centered approach of youth and how the singer was always the focus of every conversation. The tone changes here to self-reflection, looking back with regret on the missed opportunities and wasted life moments. The final verse is about the bitter taste of tears and how the time has come to pay for the recklessness of youth.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday, when I was young
Looking back at my youth, I recall a time filled with possibilities and potential.
The taste of life was sweet
Life seemed like a delightful experience, and I savored every moment of it.
As rain upon my tongue
It was a refreshing and invigorating feeling, like rainwater on my tongue.
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
I didn't take life seriously and played with it like a game, not realizing the consequences of my actions.
The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame
I was so carefree and lighthearted that I didn't understand the danger of being too playful.
The thousand dreams I dreamed
My aspirations and hopes were countless and ambitious.
The splendid things I planned
I had grand plans for my life and imagined a future filled with success.
I always, always built on weak and shifting sand
Unfortunately, I based my dreams and plans on unstable foundations that ultimately could not support me.
I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day
I preferred to spend my time at night, enjoying the pleasures that it offered and avoiding the harsh realities of the daytime.
And only now I see how the years have run away
I am only now realizing how quickly time has passed and how many opportunities I have missed.
So many happy songs were waiting to be sung
I had the potential for so much happiness, but I didn't always recognize or take advantage of the opportunities that were available to me.
So many happy pleasures that lay in store for me
There were numerous delightful experiences and pleasures that awaited me in life, but I was often too distracted or self-involved to enjoy them.
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see
Blinded by the allure of youth and excitement, I was unable or unwilling to see the difficulties and hardships of life.
I never stopped to think what life was all about
I was too caught up in the moment and the excitement of living to reflect on the deeper meaning and purpose of my existence.
And every conversation I can now recall concerned itself with me, and nothing else at all
My self-absorption and preoccupation with my own life prevented me from engaging meaningfully with others or empathizing with their experiences.
And every crazy day brought something new to do
I was always looking for new and exciting experiences, eager to embrace the unpredictable and unexpected.
And I used my magic age as if it were a wand
I believed that my youth and vitality were magical and that they would enable me to overcome any obstacle or challenge that came my way.
And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond
Despite my outward excitement and enthusiasm, I was often unfulfilled and searching for meaning and purpose.
And every flame I lit, too quickly, quickly died
My relationships and romances were often fleeting and superficial, unable to withstand the test of time or depth of emotion.
The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away
The people I befriended often moved on or failed to remain in my life, leaving me feeling lonely and disconnected.
And only I am left on stage to end the play
I am now alone, without the support or companionship of others, and it is up to me to decide how to end my story and move on.
There are so many songs in me that won't be sung
I feel that I have missed out on so many wonderful experiences and opportunities in life and that I will never be able to reclaim them.
I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue
I am filled with regret and sorrow for the experiences and opportunities that I have missed and the mistakes that I have made.
The time has come for me to pay for yesterday when I was young
I must now bear the consequences of my actions and decisions in the past and accept that I cannot change what has already happened.
Roll over yesterday, when I was young
I wish that I could turn back the clock and relive my youth, making better decisions and appreciating the opportunities that I had.
Writer(s): Charles Aznavour, Herbert Kretzmer
Contributed by Gianna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@honantong
My most listened version of this song
@mandanhusker24
I always loved this song, but even more so now that I am getting into retirement age and this song resonates even more deeply to me.
@onrywaymore104
Couldn't agree with you more; the meaning of the song is timeless.
@coralreef3728
Great !
@onrywaymore104
I agree; love it!
@gordonbelle1375
Wish he would record this again in 2019 his voice is so raspy now. It would be awesome
@onrywaymore104
It would be awesome; It would have even more meaning now when he would sing it
@missyd9462
Love this song.......but my children call me a “seenager”..........roles are now reversed........they wait up for me to get home. (Text). lol lol lol tyvm for posting On’ry......hugs and kisses ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️💋💋💋💋💋
@onrywaymore104
Love a naughty girl! How old are your kids Missy?
@missyd9462
On'ry Waymore
Well, I truly haven’t found any man to be naughty with after the passing of my husband.....except for this dude On’ry!! Your personality attracts me like no other!!! I get many offers from much younger men....they say they love my spirit and I know how to have fun.....but I just LOVE live music and LOVE to dance. I am interested in a good hearted man my own age who wants to grow young with me! My beautiful daughters are 36 and 34. How old are yours, Eddie?