Yesterday – The Beatles – 1965

About the song

Ah, Yesterday, a song so ubiquitous in popular culture it transcends mere melody and lyric. Composed by Paul McCartney, though credited to the legendary Lennon-McCartney partnership, Yesterday first graced the world in 1965 nestled within the grooves of the Beatles’ iconic album Help!. While the album itself leaned towards a more mature sound, with introspective lyrics and complex arrangements, Yesterday stood out as a beacon of elegant simplicity.

McCartney himself has recounted the song’s curious genesis. He awoke from a dream with the melody fully formed in his mind, so ingrained that he initially believed it to be a pre-existing song he’d simply forgotten. He spent weeks playing it for friends and colleagues, convinced it must be a forgotten classic, only to be met with blank stares. It was only after confirming its originality that he, with the help of John Lennon, crafted the poignant lyrics that would become synonymous with the song.

Yesterday‘s brilliance lies in its masterful distillation of complex emotions into a deceptively simple form. The gentle strum of an acoustic guitar lays the foundation, adorned with McCartney’s signature warm vocals. A string quartet, a first for the Beatles, adds a layer of melancholic sophistication, perfectly complementing the song’s theme of loss and longing.

The lyrics themselves are a tapestry of yearning and introspection. The opening line, “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away,” establishes a sense of nostalgia, a yearning for a simpler time. McCartney ponders the fleeting nature of memory, the way happiness can so easily slip through our grasp. Lines like “Suddenly, I recall the last night of our stay” hint at a lost love, a source of the narrator’s sorrow.

Yesterday‘s impact is undeniable. It became the Beatles’ first ballad to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, solidifying their position as a band capable of far more than catchy pop tunes. Acclaim poured in from critics and musicians alike. It has been covered by a staggering array of artists, a testament to its universal appeal. In 1999, BBC Radio 2 listeners voted it the best song of the 20th century, a fitting tribute to a song that continues to resonate across generations.

Yesterday stands as a timeless testament to the power of music. It reminds us that even the simplest melody, imbued with genuine emotion, can capture the complexities of the human experience. So next time you hear those opening chords, take a moment to appreciate the enduring brilliance of this pop masterpiece.

Video

Lyrics

“Yesterday”