Released 1964 Genre Chanson | Recorded 1964 Writer(s) Charles Aznavour | |
Language French, English, Italian, Spanish | ||
"Hier Encore", whose original French title translates as "Only Yesterday", is a song written by Charles Aznavour and released in September 1964.
Contents
History
It was subsequently released in English as "Yesterday, When I Was Young", in Italian as "Ieri Si", in Danish as "Hvor tiden går", in Japanese 帰り来ぬ青春, and in Spanish as "Ayer Aún". It is considered one of Aznavour's greatest hits.
The English-language lyrics, written by Herbert Kretzmer, tell of a man reflecting on his life. He recounts how he had wasted his youth on self-centered pursuits, and that, now that he is older, he will not be able to do all that he had planned; this implies that he may be close to his impending death.
Notable versions
Charles Aznavour performed this song with Patrick Bruel in a live performance. This version can be heard on Aznavour's 40 chansons d'or album.
In the United States, the best-known version was recorded by country music performer Roy Clark. His version became his biggest hit up to that time on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, peaking at No. 9 in August 1969, and indeed, it became his only top 40 pop hit, peaking at No. 19. Clark performed the song at Mickey Mantle's funeral in 1995, at Mantle's personal request.
Amanda Lear recorded her personal version for her 2001 CD Heart.
The song has been performed and recorded by many international stars, such as Bing Crosby, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, Roy Clark, Mel Torme, Lena Horne, Andy Williams, Jimmy Durante, Bobby Bare, Al Martino, The Peanuts, Glen Campbell, Julio Iglesias, Eddy Mitchell, Dean Reed, Johnny Mathis, Marc Almond, Patricia Kaas, Nora Aunor, etc., and an uptempo version by Blossom Dearie. According to Billboard, more than 90 versions of the song were recorded before 1972.
In 2008 Aznavour and Elton John performed "Yesterday When I Was Young" for Aznavour's Duos album.