garvarentz • aznavour • kretzmer
"Hier Encore" was written and first released by Charles Aznavour in 1964, to music composed by Georges Diran Garvarentz (1932-1993), and Kretzmer wrote the English lyrics in '69. Jackie Gleason recorded the English version first, in 1969. The song has been translated into several other languages, but the English version has been recorded by the greatest variety of artists. It's among the most wanted funeral songs in the world, and I want this myself: it is exactly what I feel approaching the end of the line.
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 • alas • on weak and shifting sand
I lived by night and shunned the naked light of 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
concerned itself with me and nothing else at all
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 worst and the 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
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
Am D7 yesterday when I was young Gmaj7 Fmaj7 the taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue Am Am7 B7 I teased at life as if it were a foolish game Em Cmaj7 E7 the way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame Am C D7 the thousand dreams I dreamed the splendid things I planned Gmaj7 Cmaj7 I always built alas on weak and shifting sand Fmaj7 B7 I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day Em Cmaj7 E7 and only now I see how the years ran away
