The song “Yesterday” was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was first released on the album Help! in August 1965. In the U.S. the song was released as a was issued as a single. McCartney’s vocal and acoustic guitar, together with a string quartet, essentially made for the first solo performance of the band. It remains popular today.
Yesterday is one of the most covered songs in recorded music and was voted the best song of the 20th century in a 1999 BBC Radio. “Yesterday” is a melancholy ballad about the break-up of a relationship. The singer nostalgically laments for yesterday when he and his love were together before she left because of something he said.
According to biographers of McCartney and the Beatles, McCartney composed the entire melody in a dream one night in his room at the Wimpole Street home of his then-girlfriend Jane Asher and her family. Upon waking, he hurried to a piano and played the tune to avoid forgetting the melody. McCartney originally claimed he had written “Yesterday” during the Beatles’ tour of France in 1964; however, the song was not released until the summer of 1965. During the intervening time, the Beatles released two albums, A Hard Day’s Night and Beatles for Sale, each of which could have included “Yesterday”.
Although McCartney has never elaborated on his claims, a delay may have been due to a disagreement between McCartney and George Martin regarding the song’s arrangement, or the opinion of the other Beatles who felt it did not suit their image. Lennon later indicated that the song had been around for a while before and McCartney said the breakthrough with the lyrics came during a trip to Portugal in May 1965.
Video
The following video shows the tablature for acoustic guitar followed with the chords, so you can play the melody and your friend plays the chords. The song is in the key of F major, at 80 bpm.
Tip
Change the video speed clicking in the gear, so you can start playing along slowing. When you are more confident, return to the original speed. This is a nice way to practice. I hope you an excellent performance.
Lyrics
Yesterday
All my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks 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
