Yesterday

The Beatles

About Yesterday

"Yesterday" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was first released on the album Help! in August 1965, except in the United States, where it was issued as a single in September. The song reached number 1 on the US charts. It subsequently appeared on the UK EP Yesterday in March 1966 and made its US album debut on Yesterday and Today, in June 1966. A cover version by Matt Monro was a top 10 hit in Britain in October 1965. McCartney's vocal and acoustic guitar, together with a string quartet, essentially made for the first solo performance of the band. It remains popular today and, with more than 2,200 cover versions, is one of the most covered songs in the history of recorded music. "Yesterday" was voted the best song of the 20th century in a 1999 BBC Radio 2 poll of music experts and listeners and was also voted the No. 1 pop song of all time by MTV and Rolling Stone magazine the following year. In 1997, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) asserts that it was performed over seven million times in the 20th century."Yesterday" is a melancholy ballad about the break-up of a relationship. The singer nostalgically laments for yesterday when he and his love were together, before she left because of something he said. McCartney is the only member of the Beatles to appear on the track. The final recording was so different from other works by the Beatles that the band members vetoed the release of the song as a single in the United Kingdom, although other artists were quick to record versions of it for single release. The Beatles recording was issued as a single there in 1976 and peaked at number 8. 


Year:
1999
2:34
62 
#2

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Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday

Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be
There's a shadow hanging over me.
Oh, yesterday came suddenly

Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday

Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe in yesterday

Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday

Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Mm mm mm mm mm mm mm

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The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music. Their best-known lineup consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, they later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. In the early 1960s, their enormous popularity first emerged as "Beatlemania", but as their songwriting grew in sophistication, they came to be perceived by many fans and cultural observers as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era's sociocultural revolutions. more »

57 fans

Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Beatles Origin
"Yesterday" is originally a song by The Beatles. It first appeared on the album "Help!" in the UK, released in August 1965.
McCartney's Role
Paul McCartney, a member of the Beatles, is usually credited for the writing of the song. He purportedly composed the entire melody in a dream one night in his London flat.
McCartney's Original Title
Initially, the song did not have lyrics. McCartney listed it under a temporary title "Scrambled Eggs."
Historical Significance
"Yesterday" is considered one of the best songs of all time. It has a significant cultural impact with more than 2,200 cover versions.
Matt Monro's Version
The song was covered by Matt Monro in 1965. He was the first artist to cover the song after the Beatles originally recorded it.
Chart Success
The Monro cover reached the top ten in the UK singles chart, making it one of his most successful songs.
Guinness World Record
According to the Guinness Book of Records, "Yesterday" inspired the most covers of any song ever written, helping to gain The Beatles more recognition globally.
Unique Composition for Beatles
The original Beatles' version is remarkable as it's the first official recording by the band that does not feature the full group. The version solely features Paul McCartney's lead vocal and acoustic guitar, backed by a string quartet.
Popularity in the United States
Despite initial hesitation, "Yesterday" was finally released in the U.S. in 1965 and topped the Billboard charts for four weeks.
Honors and Awards
In 1997, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Additionally, "Yesterday" was also voted the best song of the 20th century in a 1999 BBC Radio 2 poll.

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    Yesterday

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1965

    Billboard #1


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