Yesterdays
The Charles Mingus Duo Lyrics
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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.
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
The Charles Mingus Duo's rendition of The Beatles' classic "Yesterday" takes the song to a different level of interpretation, adding a sense of melancholy and introspection to the already poignant lyrics. The opening lines, "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away / Now it looks as though they're here to stay / Oh, I believe in yesterday," convey a sense of longing for a time when life was simpler and problems seemed more manageable. The line "Now it looks as though they're here to stay" suggests that the troubles are no longer abstract but have become a permanent fixture in the singer's life. And yet, despite this realization, the singer still clings to the past, to a time when things seemed easier and more carefree.
The second stanza, "Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be / There's a shadow hanging over me / Oh, yesterday came suddenly," continues the theme of loss and regret. The phrase "not half the man I used to be" suggests a loss of confidence or identity, while the "shadow" hints at a darker emotional state. The final line, "Oh, yesterday came suddenly," reinforces the idea that the past can both comfort and haunt us, and can arrive in our minds unbidden, triggering feelings of sadness and regret.
The final stanza, "Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play / Now I need a place to hide away / Oh, I believe in yesterday," brings the focus back to love, adding another layer of emotional complexity to the song. The line "love was such an easy game to play" suggests that the singer was once more carefree and less guarded in matters of the heart, while "now I need a place to hide away" implies a sense of vulnerability and hurt. The final line, "Oh, I believe in yesterday," brings the song full circle, returning to the idea that the past holds a powerful grip on our emotions, even when we know it is gone forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
In the past, my problems felt distant and insignificant.
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Unfortunately, my troubles seem to have permanency and won't go away.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
I still believe that things were better in the past when life was easier and more carefree.
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be,
Unexpectedly, I feel like I'm not as strong and capable as I once was.
There's a shadow hanging over me.
I feel weighed down and burdened by my problems, casting a dark cloud over me.
Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
Yesterday, or the past, came back to me abruptly and without warning.
Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say.
I'm unsure why the person I care about is gone, as they didn't give me any explanations or reasons for leaving.
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday.
I know I made a mistake or said something that caused problems, making me wish I could go back to the past and do things differently.
Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play.
In the past, love felt effortless and simple to manage.
Now I need a place to hide away.
Currently, I feel like retreating and finding a safe haven away from the difficulties of life.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Again, I still hold onto the belief that the past was better and easier than the present.
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Indistinct humming sounds that do not provide any additional meaning to the lyrics.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, OTTO HARBACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind