I listened to this song in back in 1998. I was searching through the oldies rack for Frank Sinatra when Dame Shirley Bassey's compilation CD caught my eye. I had no idea who this singer is until I saw the double O 7'Goldfinger' title as part of the featured tracks. So she's the one who recorded it. Cool voice. A broadway style that gripped my soul.

Bought the CD, forgot about Sinatra (sorry Frank..:) and enjoyed it. I mostly liked 'Yesterday When I was Young'. Roy Clark and Dusty Springfield did wonderful renditions of their own too. I enjoyed the melody and only recently I that I began to understand the lyrics (thanks to the conference book..:)) A reminiscense of past youth. Very meaningful. To summerize it; Never waste your young age before you get old or you'll regret it. Always think about your life, and it's direction.

Enjoy the song ya.



Yesterday When I Was Young
Written by: Charles Aznavour
English translation by: Herbert Kretzmer

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 lovely songs were waiting to be sung
So many wayward 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 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...


Rudy Djoharnaen
Singapore