Yesterdays
Johnny Smith and Stan Getz Lyrics


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Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be,

There's a shadow hanging over me.
Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say.
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday.

Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play.
Now I need a place to hide away.




Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Johnny Smith and Stan Getz's song, "Yesterdays," are a reflection of the feeling of losing a loved one and the nostalgia that comes with it. The opening line, "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away," indicates that the singer used to have a blissful life that felt untouchable. However, the next line, "Now it looks as though they're here to stay," introduces the idea that his problems have caught up with him, and he can't escape them anymore.


The chorus line, "Oh, I believe in yesterday," is a poignant expression of his longing for the past, where things were easier and more certain. The second verse, which starts with "Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be," implies that the loss he's experienced has taken a severe emotional toll on him, and he can't function as he used to. The line, "There's a shadow hanging over me," is a metaphor for his overwhelming sadness and despair.


The third verse delves into the details of the loss that he's experienced, with "Why she had to go, I don't know, she wouldn't say." He's left with unanswered questions and a deep sense of regret, as indicated by the line, "I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday." The final line, "Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm," serves as a melancholic refrain that encapsulates the sentiment of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
In the past, my problems appeared distant and insignificant.


Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Unfortunately, they have persisted and do not seem to be leaving.


Oh, I believe in yesterday.
I have faith in the peace and tranquility of the past, and long for those days again.


Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be,
Suddenly, I feel weaker and less capable as a person.


There's a shadow hanging over me.
I feel a dark, looming cloud of negativity over my head.


Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
The contrast between past and present is sudden and jarring.


Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say.
I cannot comprehend why someone important to me left without explanation.


I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday.
I regret my past mistakes and yearn for simpler, happier times.


Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play.
In the past, my romantic relationships were effortless and enjoyable.


Now I need a place to hide away.
My current struggles have led me to desire solitude and seclusion.


Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Once again, I have faith in the comfort of the past.


Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
This interjection represents unspoken emotions and deep contemplation of the past.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, OTTO HARBACH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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