Yesterday
Beatles · Anthology 2
Now it look as though they're here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be
There's a shadow hanging over me
oh, yesterday came suddenly
Why she had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday
Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
oh, I believe in yesterday
Why she had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday
Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
oh, I believe in yesterday, Mm
Yesterday
Released as the opening track on The Beatles' 2021 anthology album Anthology 2, 'Yesterday' remains the group's most iconic solo composition, originally written by Paul McCartney in 1963. While the song was not included on their original 1963 album, its enduring popularity led to its eventual inclusion in the group's official discography. The track features a distinctive acoustic guitar melody and McCartney's emotive vocal delivery, establishing a template for balladry that would influence countless artists across genres. Its inclusion in the Anthology series provided a definitive home for the recording, allowing fans to experience the song in its original context without the studio overdubs present in the 1963 version. As a cornerstone of The Beatles' catalog, 'Yesterday' continues to resonate globally, symbolizing the band's artistic evolution and their lasting impact on popular music history.