I remember when I was a kid, my father would play the song "Yesterday when I was Young" - it was one of his favorites. I remember listening to it and knowing that someday it would catch up to me. And it has. It's beautifully written and it's filled with a stark and sobering wisdom.

Lyrics:

Seems the love I've known has always been The most destructive kind Guess that's why now I feel so old Before my time.

Yesterday when I was young The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue. I teased at life as if it were a foolish game, The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame. The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned I always built to last on weak and shifting sand. I lived by night and shunned the naked light of the day And only now I see how the years ran away.

Yesterday when I was young So many happy songs were waiting to be sung, So many wild pleasures lay in store for me And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see. I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out, I never stopped to think what life was all about And every conversation I can now recall Concerns itself with me and nothing else at all.

--- Instrumental ---

Yesterday the moon was blue And every crazy day brought something new to do. I used my magic age as if it were a wand And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond. The game of love I played with arrogance and pride And every flame I lit too quickly, quickly died. The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away And only I am left on stage to end the play.

There are so many songs in me that won't be sung, I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue. The time has come for me to pay for Yesterday when I was young...