"Yesterday" Song Analysis

“Yesterday”, a lonesome ballad, written by Paul McCartney is in relation to the misfortune of vanished love. The general theme of this song appears to be regret. Support for this theme is found in McCartney’s use of connotation and figurate language.

Connotation, the use of diction, plays a noteworthy function in this song. McCartney uses connotation to enlighten the listener with the account of his lost love. Before this moment in his life his, McCartney had a principally astonishing individual in his life. His loss of this individual results in his longing for yesterday; “Yesterday all my trouble seemed so far away / Now it looks as though / They’re here to stay / Oh I believe in yesterday” (Beatles 1-5). “Yesterday,” McCartney was a man profoundly in love; with the departure of that, love came regret, regret for not appreciating yesterday.

A figurative language, figures of speech, is also an exceedingly significant aspect of the song. McCartney uses abstract things such as shadows to mirror his discontent in letting such a astonishing woman walk out of his life; “Suddenly / I’m not half the man I used to be / There’s a shadow hanging over me / Oh yesterday came suddenly (Beatles 6-10). The shadow is the grief imposed upon his soul It is also his heavy burden of regret and yearning for love.

Overall, McCartney created a simplistic song that means a great deal to numerous people. To one individual it may represent the lost love of a mother; to another individual it may represent the lost love of a girlfriend. The song ultimately contains few lyrics, but somehow they get the point across with the assistance of a beautiful melody.