Hier encore


"Hier encore", whose original French title translates as something like "Just yesterday" or "Not so long ago", is a song written by Charles Aznavour and released in September 1964.

History

It was subsequently released in English as "Yesterday, When I Was Young", in Italian as "Ieri Si", in Danish as "Hvor tiden går", in Japanese 帰り来ぬ青春, in Spanish as "Ayer aún", "Eilen kun mä tiennyt en" in Finnish and "Μόλις χθες" in Greek. It is considered one of Aznavour's greatest hits.
The English-language lyrics, written by Herbert Kretzmer, tell of a man reflecting on his life, recalling how he had wasted his younger years on hedonistic pursuits, and now that he is older, he is unable to do everything that he had planned; the lyrical implication is that the man may be close to his impending death.

Roy Clark version

In the United States, the best-known version was recorded by country musician Roy Clark. His version, under the English title "Yesterday When I Was Young," became his biggest hit up to that time on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, peaking at No. 9 in August 1969, and indeed, it became his only top 40 pop hit, peaking at No. 19. Clark performed the song at Mickey Mantle's funeral in 1995, at Mantle's personal request. In Canada, the song reached number seven on the pop chart, number two on the country chart, and number one AC.

Chart performance

Other notable cover versions

Charles Aznavour performed this song with Patrick Bruel in a live performance. This version can be heard on Aznavour's 40 chansons d'or album.
Amanda Lear recorded her personal version for her 2001 album Heart.
The song has been performed and recorded by many international stars, such as Bing Crosby, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, Roy Clark, Mel Torme, Jack Jones, Lena Horne, Andy Williams, Bebe Buell, Jimmy Durante, Bobby Bare, Al Martino, The Peanuts, Glen Campbell, Julio Iglesias, Tony Kenny, Eddy Mitchell, Dean Reed, Johnny Mathis, Marc Almond, Patricia Kaas, Matt Monro, Lena Martell, Nora Aunor, Willie Nelson etc., and an uptempo version by Blossom Dearie. According to Billboard, more than 90 versions of the song were recorded before 1972.
In 2008, Aznavour and Elton John performed "Yesterday When I Was Young" for Aznavour's Duos album.
In 2020, Willie Nelson released a version on his album First Rose of Spring.

Charts

;Charles Aznavour
Chart Peak
position
Holland3
Belgium6

;Tony Kenny
Chart Peak
position
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