Hier Encore Lyrics in English Charles Aznavour

Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Hier Encore by Charles Aznavour from French to English.
Only yesterday, I was twenty
I caressed time and played with life
Like people play at love
And I lived at night
Not counting on my days slipping away in time
I made so many plans that stayed up in the air
I founded so many hopes that flew away
That I'm left lost not knowing where to go
Eyes searching the sky but heart buried
Only yesterday I was twenty
I wasted time thinking I could stop it
And to hold it back, even beat it
I just kept running and got breathless
Ignoring the past, conjugating in the future
I led every conversation
And I gave my opinion, sure it was right
To criticize the world offhandedly
Only yesterday I was twenty
But I wasted my time doing crazy things
Which leave me deep down with nothing very clear
Just a few wrinkles on my brow and the fear of boredom
Because my loves died before they could live
My friends have left and won't come back
Through my fault I've emptied all around me
And I've wasted my life and my youthful years
Of the best and worst, I threw away the best
I froze my smiles and I iced my tears
Where are they now, now my twenty years?
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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SONG MEANING

Yesterday I Was Twenty is Charles Aznavour’s bittersweet conversation with his younger self. In a cascade of vivid memories, he recalls sprinting through late-night adventures, tossing out grand plans, and handing out opinions as if he owned the future. The song paints youth as a thrilling game where time feels endless, yet it quietly slips away while we are busy chasing excitement.

As the verses move forward, the tone shifts from carefree confidence to heartfelt regret. Aznavour counts the cost of wasted chances, lost friends, and loves that never bloomed, finally asking where his twenties have gone. The result is a moving reminder that every moment matters—inviting listeners to dance with life, but also to cherish each step before it vanishes.

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