Back in the 1970s music was put on 8-track tapes which allowed us to take it and play it on an 8-track player in our cars.
One of the first 8-tracks I owned was by Roy Clark (1933-2018), who according to Wikipedia "was
a multi-talented country music star, singer, guitarist, actor, and comedian. He was a key figure in popularizing country music and is best known for hosting the nationally televised variety show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1997. Clark was a versatile entertainer who won awards for his guitar and banjo playing, and also played the fiddle and mandolin. He was influenced by swing guitarist George Barnes and banjo player Earl Scruggs."
One of my favorite tracts on the tape I owned was Yesterday When I Was Young. The lyrics were written by Charles Aznavour, with the original French title "Hier Encore". The English version of the lyrics was adapted by Herbert Kretzmer. Aznavour collaborated with Georges Garvarentz on the music for both the French and English versions.
Listen to the song
Yesterday When I Was Young
Lyrics
(It seems the love I've known has always been the most destructive kind
guess that's why now I feel so old before my time)
Yesterday when I was young
The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame
The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned
I always built to last on weak and shifting sand
I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day
And only now I see how the years ran away
Yesterday when I was young
So many drinking song were waiting to be sung
So many wayward pleasures laid in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see
I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out
I never stopped to think what life was all about
And every conversation I can now recall
Concerned itself with me, me and nothing else at all
Yesterday the moon was blue
And every crazy day brought something new to do
I used my magic age as if it were a wand
And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond
The game of love I played with arrogance and pride
And every flame I lit too quickly, quickly died
The friends I made all seemed, somehow, to drift away
And only I am left on stage to end the play
There are so many songs in me that won't be sung
I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue
The time has come for me to pay for yesterday
When I was young