Yesteryear
The Dears Lyrics


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What the hell just happened here
A falling out, falling out
Of favor since yesteryear
Ain't no doubt, doubt about it
What's the word I'm looking for
It starts with 'M' and ends with 'Y'
Come at me and I'm out the door
I can't let you see, see me cry

What's the deal

What's the word I'm looking for
It starts with 'M' and ends with 'Y'
Come at me and I'm out the door
I can't let you see, see me cry

What's the deal

I thought you'd never say we're lost
I thought you'd never say we're lost
I thought you'd never say we're lost
I thought you'd never say we're lost

I can't let you see, see me cry
So I'm marching out, marching out
What starts with 'M' and ends with 'Y'
Tell me all, tell me about it
We've got to know what happened here
And what the hell we're looking for
I've been searching since yesteryear
House to house, door to door




House to house, door to door
House to house, door to door

Overall Meaning

The Dears’ “Yesteryear” is a song about a falling out of a relationship that has been going on since yesteryear or in the past. The song starts with a realization of what has happened, “What the hell just happened here.” The singer adds that she/he fell out of favor since yesteryear and that there’s no doubt about it. She/he tries to find the right word to describe this feeling and couldn’t quite put a finger on it except that it starts with ‘M’ and ends with ‘Y.’ The singer is holding back her/his emotions and cannot let the other person see her/him cry. She/he would rather “march out” than let them see how she’s/he’s feeling.


The chorus concentrates on the phrase “What’s the deal” where the singer is asking what the other person wants out of the relationship or what both of them were aiming for. The other person says they’re lost, which is something the singer thought they’d never say. The singer can’t help but despair because she/he has been searching for answers since yesteryear, going from house to house and door to door. The song highlights the feeling of being lost after a long relationship and trying to find something to hold on to.


Line by Line Meaning

What the hell just happened here
Expressing confusion and shock about an unexpected event that occurred


A falling out, falling out
Referring to a conflict or disagreement that has taken place


Of favor since yesteryear
Referring to a decline in popularity or approval from a previous time period


Ain't no doubt, doubt about it
Stressing the certainty of the situation


What's the word I'm looking for
Expressing a search for a specific term or phrase


It starts with 'M' and ends with 'Y'
Hinting at the word 'mystery' as a possible answer


Come at me and I'm out the door
Suggesting a lack of tolerance for confrontation or conflict


I can't let you see, see me cry
Expressing vulnerability and the need to avoid showing emotion in front of others


What's the deal
Asking for an explanation or clarification of the situation


I thought you'd never say we're lost
Expressing surprise at the acknowledgment of being directionless or uncertain


So I'm marching out, marching out
Taking action to leave the situation behind


Tell me all, tell me about it
Requesting information and details about the situation


We've got to know what happened here
Emphasizing the importance of understanding what led to the current situation


I've been searching since yesteryear
Indicating a continued effort to find answers since a previous time period


House to house, door to door
Describing a persistent and thorough search for information




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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