Charles Aznavour wrote and released this song in 1964 with music composed by his French-Armenian collaborator (and eventual brother-in-law) Georges Garvarentz, with whom he wrote more than 100 songs.
“Hier Encore” is a lament for wasted youth. The simple, two-word title must have occasioned considerable thought in the choice and sequence of words. The literal translation is “Yesterday Again” but it is commonly translated as: “Just Yesterday,” “Only Yesterday,” or “Not So Long Ago.” The English language version covered by many artists was titled “Yesterday When I Was Young.” None of these is completely satisfactory to express the “meaning” of the song, which is perhaps appropriate since great poetry gives rise to multiple interpretations.
The French word “encore” normally means “again,” “more” or “still.” In a theatrical context, audiences call “encore” for “again” or “more.” This song, however, is not invoking “more.” On the contrary, it laments the lingering and immutable quality of a past that is done but not finished since it comprises decisions that still haunt the present and will continue to do so into the future. The placement of the words in the title also affects their meaning. “Hier Encore” strongly implies “Yesterday Still” while “Encore Hier” would emphasize “Again/More Yesterday.” The title also has a sardonic quality because the text makes clear that the speaker is of a “certain age” and his twenties were not “only” or “just” yesterday but quite some time ago and those years were wasted in youthful misadventures. There’s no going back, there’s little time left, and yesterday is done but its consequences and regrets linger.
The English version of “Hier Encore” (“Yesterday, When I was Young”) was written with English journalist and lyricist Herbert Kretzmer and in 1969 it became a huge hit in America for country singer Roy Clark of Hee Haw fame. By 1972, the song had been released in more than 90 versions and languages and even as late as 2023 it received fillips from Bad Bunny and the Netflix show Lupin.
[Sidebar: Herbert Kretzmer’s work with Charles Aznavour on “Hier Encore” and “Tous Les Visages de l’Amour” (“She”) caught the ears of English producer Cameron Mackintosh (Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon). In 1984, Mackintosh asked Kretzmer to write English lyrics for a French musical concept album named Les Misérables by Alain Boublil (lyrics) and Claude-Michel Schoenberg (music) that in 1980 had premiered for a short run in Paris at the Palais des Sports. Kretzmer’s re-write expanded the show from 2 to 3 hours. Les Miz opened in London in October 1985 and continues today as the longest-running West End musical in history. Ironically, the success of the London show brought a 1991 Paris revival in French, and another one upcoming in Fall 2024 at the Chatelet Theater (reworked by Alain Boublil)].
“Hier Encore” is a lament for wasted youth. The simple, two-word title must have occasioned considerable thought in the choice and sequence of words. The literal translation is “Yesterday Again” but it is commonly translated as: “Just Yesterday,” “Only Yesterday,” or “Not So Long Ago.” The English language version covered by many artists was titled “Yesterday When I Was Young.” None of these is completely satisfactory to express the “meaning” of the song, which is perhaps appropriate since great poetry gives rise to multiple interpretations.
The French word “encore” normally means “again,” “more” or “still.” In a theatrical context, audiences call “encore” for “again” or “more.” This song, however, is not invoking “more.” On the contrary, it laments the lingering and immutable quality of a past that is done but not finished since it comprises decisions that still haunt the present and will continue to do so into the future. The placement of the words in the title also affects their meaning. “Hier Encore” strongly implies “Yesterday Still” while “Encore Hier” would emphasize “Again/More Yesterday.” The title also has a sardonic quality because the text makes clear that the speaker is of a “certain age” and his twenties were not “only” or “just” yesterday but quite some time ago and those years were wasted in youthful misadventures. There’s no going back, there’s little time left, and yesterday is done but its consequences and regrets linger.
The English version of “Hier Encore” (“Yesterday, When I was Young”) was written with English journalist and lyricist Herbert Kretzmer and in 1969 it became a huge hit in America for country singer Roy Clark of Hee Haw fame. By 1972, the song had been released in more than 90 versions and languages and even as late as 2023 it received fillips from Bad Bunny and the Netflix show Lupin.
[Sidebar: Herbert Kretzmer’s work with Charles Aznavour on “Hier Encore” and “Tous Les Visages de l’Amour” (“She”) caught the ears of English producer Cameron Mackintosh (Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon). In 1984, Mackintosh asked Kretzmer to write English lyrics for a French musical concept album named Les Misérables by Alain Boublil (lyrics) and Claude-Michel Schoenberg (music) that in 1980 had premiered for a short run in Paris at the Palais des Sports. Kretzmer’s re-write expanded the show from 2 to 3 hours. Les Miz opened in London in October 1985 and continues today as the longest-running West End musical in history. Ironically, the success of the London show brought a 1991 Paris revival in French, and another one upcoming in Fall 2024 at the Chatelet Theater (reworked by Alain Boublil)].
Hier encore J’avais vingt ans, Je caressais le temps Et jouais de la vie Comme on joue de l’amour, Et je vivais la nuit Sans compter sur mes jours Qui fuyaient dans le temps. J’ai fait tant de projets Qui sont restés en l’air, J’ai fondé tant d’espoirs Qui se sont envolés, Que je reste perdu, Ne sachant où aller, Les yeux cherchant le ciel, Mais le cœur mis en terre. Hier encore J’avais vingt ans Je gaspillais le temps En croyant l’arrêter Et pour le retenir Même le devancer Je n’ai fait que courir Et me suis essoufflé. Ignorant le passé, Conjuguant au futur, Je précédais de moi Toute conversation Et donnais mon avis Que je voulais le bon Pour critiquer le monde Avec désinvolture. Hier encore J’avais vingt ans Mais j’ai perdu mon temps À faire des folies Qui ne me laissent au fond Rien de vraiment précis Que quelques rides au front Et la peur de l’ennui Car mes amours sont mortes Avant que d’exister Mes amis sont partis Et ne reviendront pas Par ma faute j’ai fait Le vide autour de moi Et j’ai gâché ma vie Et mes jeunes années Du meilleur et du pire En jetant le meilleur J’ai figé mes sourires Et j’ai glacé mes pleurs Où sont-ils à présent ? À présent, mes vingt ans ? |
Just yesterday I was twenty years old. I cherished the time And enjoyed life Like one enjoys love. And I lived for the night Without counting my days That faded in time. I made so many plans That remained in thin air. I built so many hopes That flew away. So I stay lost Not knowing where to go Eyes searching the sky But heart tied to ground. Just yesterday I was twenty years old. I wasted time Thinking I could make it stop. And to keep it, Or even get ahead of it, I did nothing but run And ran out of breath. Ignoring the past, Thinking about the future, I jumped ahead in Every conversation. And I spoke my mind I only wanted to do good By criticizing the world Flippantly. Just yesterday I was twenty years old. But I wasted my time Doing foolish things That basically left me Nothing really specific Except wrinkles on my brow And fear of boredom. Because my romances died Before even existing. My friends have gone And will never return. It’s my fault--I’ve made Emptiness around myself. I’ve wasted my life And my youthful years. From the best and the worst While throwing away the best. I fixed my smiles And I froze my tears. Where are they now? Now--my twenty years? |