Yesterdays
Ray Conniff Lyrics


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When I was young

I'd listened to the radio

Waitin' for my favorite songs

Waiting they played I'd sing along
It made me smile


Those were such happy times

And not so long ago

How I wondered where they'd gone

But they're back again

Just like a long lost friend

All the songs I loved so well


(*) every sha-la-la-la

Every wo-wo-wo

Still shines

Every shing-a-ling-a-ling

That they're starting to sing's

So fine


When they get to the part

Where he's breakin' her heart

It can really make me cry

Just like before

It's yesterday once more


Lookin' back on how it was

In years gone by

And the good times that I had

Makes today seem rather sad

So much has changed


It was songs of love that

I would sing to then

And I'd memorize each word

Those old melodies

Still sound so good to me

As they melt the years away


Repeat (*)


All my best memories

Come back clearly to me

Some can even make me cry

Just like before





It's yesterday once more

Overall Meaning

The song Yesterday Once More by Ray Conniff reminisces the theme of music from the past and how it brings back beautiful memories that are cherished for a lifetime. The lyrics in the song describe the impact that music played in the singer's life while growing up. The nostalgic tone of the song is reflected through the opening lines "when I was young, I'd listen to the radio, waiting for my favorite songs, waiting they played, I'd sing along, it made me smile." From a personal level, the song highlights how music was an integral part of the singer's life and how the memories of the past are still alive.


The lyrics in the song's chorus explore the idea that the music from the past still has an impact on the present. The line "every sha-la-la-la, every wo-wo-wo, still shines, every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they're starting to sing's so fine" emphasizes that the music from the past still holds a special place in the singer's heart. The song also acknowledges the changes that have occurred with time, highlighting how the memories of the past are precious and they're valuable because of the fact that it can take one back to a time that was magical.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was young
Back when I was a child


I'd listened to the radio
I listened attentively to the radio


Waitin' for my favorite songs
I eagerly anticipated hearing my favorite tunes


Waiting they played I'd sing along
As I waited for the radio station to play my songs, I would sing along


It made me smile
Singing along to my favorite songs brought me joy and made me smile


Those were such happy times
Those moments of singing along were some of the happiest memories of my childhood


And not so long ago
Those moments happened not very long ago


How I wondered where they'd gone
I often questioned where those happy moments had disappeared to


But they're back again
Luckily, those moments have returned


Just like a long lost friend
These moments have come back as though they are an old friend returning


All the songs I loved so well
The same songs that I loved to sing along to back then


every sha-la-la-la
And every 'sha la-la-la'


Every wo-wo-wo
And every 'wo-wo-wo'


Still shines
Are still enjoyable to listen to


Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
And every 'shing-a-ling-a-ling'


That they're starting to sing's
Just hearing the music start


So fine
Is so wonderful


When they get to the part
When the song reaches the part


Where he's breakin' her heart
Where the singer breaks the heart of his lover in the song


It can really make me cry
The song's lyrics at that moment can elicit emotions that make me cry


Just like before
As it did when I was younger


It's yesterday once more
The feeling I have is as though I am reliving my past


Lookin' back on how it was
As I reflect on how it was


In years gone by
During the past years


And the good times that I had
Remembering the fun moments I experienced


Makes today seem rather sad
Makes me realize the present is not as exciting as the past was


So much has changed
An enormous amount has changed from back then to now


It was songs of love that
The songs that were special to me were love songs


I would sing to then
Which I used to sing alone or with others


And I'd memorize each word
I tried my best to learn and remember all the words by heart


Those old melodies
Those old songs


Still sound so good to me
Which still sound fantastic to me


As they melt the years away
As I listen, I feel like I am back in time again


All my best memories
All my fondest memories


Come back clearly to me
Return to me in vivid detail


Some can even make me cry
Some bear enough emotional weight to bring tears to my eyes


Just like before
As if it's the same as the past


It's yesterday once more
It again feels like I am back in the past rather than in the present




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JIM MUNDY, PEGGY WHITE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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