Only Yesterday

Carpenters

About Only Yesterday

"Only Yesterday" is a song recorded by the Carpenters. Released on March 14, 1975, the song was composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. "Only Yesterday" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary (AC) charts, The Carpenters' eleventh number one on that chart. The song was The Carpenters' last top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100—though they would have nine more top-ten singles on the AC charts, ending with AC number seven Make Believe It's Your First Time, a few months after Karen's death in 1983. The music video features some footage of Karen and Richard at work in the studio. After Karen sang the line, "the promise of morning light", it faded from the studio to a fountain in Huntington Library Gardens in San Marino, California. It then featured some footage of a Japanese bridge. 


Year:
1996
3:49
26 
#1

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com

After long enough of being alone
Everyone must face their share of loneliness
In my own time, nobody knew
The pain I was goin' through
And waitin' was all my heart could do

Hope was all I had until you came
Maybe you can't see how much you mean to me
You were the dawn breaking the night
The promise of mornin' light
Filling the world surroundin' me
When I hold you

Baby, baby, feels like maybe
Things will be all right
Baby, baby, your love's made me
Free as a song, singin' forever

Only yesterday when I was sad and I was lonely
You showed me the way to leave the past and all its tears behind me
Tomorrow maybe even brighter than today
Since I threw my sadness away
Only yesterday

I have found my home here in your arms
Nowhere else on earth I'd really rather be
Life waits for us, share it with me
The best is about to be
And so much is left for us to see
When I hold you

Baby, baby, feels like maybe
Things will be all right
Baby, baby, your love's made me
Free as a song, singin' forever

Only yesterday when I was sad and I was lonely
You showed me the way to leave the past and all its tears behind me
Tomorrow maybe even brighter than today
Since I threw my sadness away
Only yesterday (only yesterday, only yesterday)

Only yesterday when I was sad and I was lonely
You showed me the way to leave the past and all its tears behind me

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Carpenters

The Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo of Karen and Richard Carpenter. They produced a distinct soft musical style, combining Karen's contralto vocals with Richard's arranging and composition skills. more »

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Written by: JOHN BETTIS, RICHARD CARPENTER

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Recording History
"Only Yesterday" was recorded by the Carpenters in late 1974.
Musical Composition
The song is a mixture of pop and adult contemporary, genres in which Karen and Richard Carpenter specialized.
Production Detail
It was produced by Richard Carpenter and Jack Daugherty, a frequent collaborator with the duo.
Artist Contribution
Both the lyrics and the music of the song were written by Richard Carpenter and his longtime writing partner, John Bettis.
Song Reputation
"Only Yesterday" is one of the Carpenters' biggest hits & is regarded as a classic of their work.
Song's Popularity
The song was released as a single in 1975 and became a No. 4 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
Acknowledgment
It topped the easy listening (now called Adult Contemporary) chart becoming their eighth number one on this chart.
Album Appearance
The track is included on the Carpenters' studio album, "Horizon," which was released in 1975.
Unique Attribute
The song is unique due to its upbeat tempo, despite the typically melancholy lyrics that the Carpenters were known for.
Song's Structure
With its protracted instrumental introduction, layered orchestral arrangements, and Karen Carpenter's clear vocal delivery, the song typifies the sound that made the Carpenters famous.
Continuing Popularity
"Only Yesterday" has remained popular over the years, and has been covered by multiple artists in various genres.
Musical Verse
The bass line in the verse of "Only Yesterday" was doubled with a delayed synth bass for a more distinct sound.
UK Chart Performance
"Only Yesterday" also became a hit across the pond in the UK, where it peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart.
Use in Media
The song has been frequently used in films and television series, like "Dark Shadows" and "Gilmore Girls," helping to keep its popularity alive.
The Video
A music video was produced for "Only Yesterday" - one of the early examples of this format. This was not common in the mid-1970s, and demonstrates how ahead of their time the Carpenters were.

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    Only Yesterday

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1975

    Billboard #4


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