About the song
Background:
“Yesterday’s Songs” is a song written and performed by Neil Diamond, released in 1981 from his album “On the Way to the Sky.” It was a major hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Themes:
The song explores the themes of nostalgia, the passage of time, and the enduring power of love.
- Nostalgia: The lyrics evoke a sense of longing for the past, with references to “yesterday’s songs” and “yesterday’s words.” There’s a bittersweet acknowledgement that the past cannot be relived, but it holds a certain charm and value.
- Passage of Time: The song reflects on how time changes things. “Yesterday’s songs don’t stay around long,” and “yesterday’s words don’t make themselves heard like they did before.” It emphasizes the ephemeral nature of trends, styles, and even emotions.
- Enduring Love: Amidst the changing times, the song suggests that some things remain constant, particularly the power of love. The repeated phrase “saying I love you” serves as a refrain, emphasizing that love can transcend time and trends.
Video
Lyrics
Sayin’ “I love you”Just sayin’ “I love you”
Yesterday’s songsDon’t stay around longNot much anymore (yesterday’s songs are gone)
Yesterday’s wordsDon’t make themselves heardLike they did before (yesterday’s words are gone)
Baby, yesterday’s bluesMaybe yesterday’s newsBut the truth always stays the sameAnd the good things will never changeLike sayin’ “I love you”Just sayin’ “I love you”
Yesterday’s songsDon’t seem to belongThey’re here and they’re gone (yesterday’s songs are gone)
Yesterday’s movesDon’t stay in the groovesThey keep moving on (yesterday’s grooves are gone)
Maybe yesterday’s rhymeWas for yesterday’s timeAnd the future’s not ours to seeBut there’s some things that always will beLike sayin’ “I love you”Sayin’ “I love you”
Baby, yesterday’s bluesMaybe yesterday’s newsBut the truth always stays the sameAnd the good things will never changeLike sayin’ “I love you”Sayin’ “I love you”Sayin’ “I love you”Like sayin’ “I love you”