About The Song
Title: Only Yesterday
Artist: Carpenters
Release Date: 1975
Album: Horizon
Writers: Richard Carpenter, John Bettis
Genre: Pop, Soft Rock
Chart Performance:
- “Only Yesterday” by Carpenters reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975.
- The song is one of Carpenters’ well-known and successful recordings.
Musical Style:
- “Only Yesterday” is a soft rock and pop ballad that showcases Karen Carpenter’s distinctive and emotive vocals.
- The track features lush orchestration, including strings and horns, characteristic of the Carpenters’ polished sound.
Song Structure:
- The song opens with a gentle piano introduction, followed by Karen Carpenter’s warm and expressive vocals.
- The chorus is marked by its memorable melody and poignant lyrics, reflecting themes of nostalgia and reflection.
Cultural Impact:
- “Only Yesterday” is considered one of the standout ballads in the Carpenters’ discography and a representation of their signature sound.
- The song’s success contributed to the Carpenters’ continued popularity in the mid-1970s.
Usage in Media:
- “Only Yesterday” has been featured in various films, TV shows, and commercials.
- Its enduring popularity has led to its inclusion in compilations and retrospectives of classic pop and soft rock music.
Legacy:
- The song remains a classic example of the Carpenters’ ability to deliver emotive ballads with a timeless quality.
- “Only Yesterday” is celebrated for its beautiful melody, Karen Carpenter’s vocals, and its place in the broader context of 1970s soft rock.
In summary, “Only Yesterday” by Carpenters is a poignant and beautifully orchestrated ballad that exemplifies the duo’s signature sound. Its emotional depth, coupled with Karen Carpenter’s vocals, has secured its place as a classic in the realm of pop and soft rock music.
Video
Lyrics
“Only Yesterday”
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
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 doHope 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 morning light
Filling the world surrounding 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
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