Our friend Ellen is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to music. She frequently gently chides me “I can’t believe you didn’t play a song by ____________, for you surely knew it was the anniversary of his death/birth/execution!” I have no idea where or how she stores all this information, but store it she does! I keep telling her that I can barely remember my own name most days! Long story short, Ellen reminded me a few weeks ago that March 2 is the birthdate of the late Karen Carpenter and asked if I would play this song. As it happens, I like both Ellen and this song, so it is my pleasure.
The song was written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. The single version of the song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, kept from the #1 spot by, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce. (Personally, I get that, for there is little that tops Bad, Bad Leroy Brown in my mind) It is The Carpenters’ biggest-selling record worldwide and their best-selling single in the UK, peaking at number 2. Dionne Warwick, a close friend of the Carpenters, performed the song live in Las Vegas the night before Karen Carpenter’s death in 1983.
And on that note, Happy Birthday, Karen Carpenter (she would have been sixty-nine) — we only wish you were here to celebrate it.
Yesterday Once More
Carpenters
When I was young I’d listen to the radio
Waitin’ for my favorite songs
When they played I’d sing along, it made me smile
Those were such happy times and not so long ago
How I wondered where they’d gone
But they’re back again just like a long lost friend
All the songs I loved so well
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they’re startin’ to sing’s, so fine
When they get to the part
Where he’s breakin’ her heart
It can really make me cry, just like before
It’s yesterday once more
Lookin’ back on how it was in years gone by
And the good times that I had
Makes today seem rather sad, so much has changed.
It was songs of love that I would sing to then
And I’d memorize each word
Those old melodies still sound so good to me
As they melt the years away
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they’re startin’ to sing’s so fine
All my best memories come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry, just like before
It’s yesterday once more
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they’re startin’ to sing’s so fine
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
Songwriters: John Bettis / Richard Lynn Carpenter
Yesterday Once More lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Filosofa's Word 