I thought I saw you yesterday
But I didn't stop cause you was walking the opposite way
I guess I could have shouted out your name
But even if it was you I don't what I would say
We can sit and reminisce about the old school
Maybe share a cigarette because we both fools
Chop it up and compare perspectives
Life
Love
Stress
And set backs
Yes
You could tell me how hard you had it
And you could show me all the scares to back it
And we can analyze each complaint
Break it down and explain these mistakes I make
I like to tangle up the strings of the puppetry
But you knew me back when I was a younger me
You've seen Sean in all types of life
And I've been meaning to ask you if I'm doing alright

Yesterday, was that you
Looked just like you
Strange things my imagination might do
Take a breath reflect on what we've been through
Or am I just going crazy cause I miss you

Yesterday, was that you
Looked just like you
Strange things my imagination might do
Take a breath reflect on what we've been through
Or am I just going crazy cause I miss you

I'm shook
I know
I pushed when I should of pulled
Took it all back if I could I put that on my soul
And I would make a top notch good listener
If you could block off a little time out to give it here
Since we went our separate paths
I hits a couple of snags
That remind me of the past
I cant front I'm having a blast
But damned if I ain't afraid of how long its gonna last
Sitting here wishing we could kick it
Gimme your opinions I do miss the criticisms
I didn't mean to be distant
Make a visit
Ill wait up and keep the coffee brewing in the kitchen
But who am I jokin' with
There's no way that you and I will ever get to re-open it
It doesn't matter, this is more than love
And maybe if I'm lucky, get to see you out the corner of

Yesterday was that you? Looked just like you
Strange things my imagination might do
Take a breath, reflect on what we've been through
Or am I just goin' crazy 'cause I miss you?

Yesterday was that you? Looked just like you
Strange things my imagination might do
Take a breath, reflect on what we've been through
Or am I just goin' crazy 'cause I miss you?

And when you left, I didn't see it coming
I guess I slept, it ain't like you was runnin'
You crept out the front door slow
And I was so self absorbed, I didn't even know
And by the time I looked up, it was booked up
Put it all behind you, the bad and the good stuff

A whole house full of dreams and steps
I think you'd be impressed with the pieces I kept
You disappeared but the history is still here
That's why I try not to cry over spilled beer
I can't even get mad that you gone
Leavin' me was probably the best thing you ever taught me

I'm sorry
It's official
I was a fist-full
I didn't keep it simple

Chip on the shoulder, anger in my veins
Had so much hatred, now it brings me shame
Never thought about the world without you
And I promise that I'll never say another bad word about you
I thought I saw you yesterday
But I know it wasn't you 'cause you passed away, Dad
Looked just like you
Strange things my imagination might do
Take a breath, reflect on what we've been through
Or am I just goin' crazy 'cause I miss you?


Lyrics submitted by 360degrees, edited by shejustright

Yesterday Lyrics as written by Anthony Davis Sean Michael Daley

Lyrics © UPSIDEDOWN HEART MUSIC, ANT TURN THAT SNARE DOWN

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Yesterday song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

49 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment

    M favorite song off the new album. The piano is soothing as can be. I wasn't really paying attention the first time I heard it and I kinda stopped what I was doing when he said "but you passed away...Dad."

    360degreeson April 19, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Easily my favorite song on the album. I have absolutely no connection to my father, and Slug still managed to let me feel what he felt with his lyrics. Granted, I highly doubt I felt EVERYTHING he felt, but I was shocked at how much the song effected me. I love the piano in it as well. Amazing song.

    anthonyfreakingrockon April 26, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think the best part of this song is the fact that all of us listned to it the first time and thought all right this is pretty solid, then all of a sudden when it came to the Dad part at the end we all were like wait what! holy crap

    thats why Atmosphere is so fricking good, Slug can just mind ninja you like that with his lyrics. one of the best on the new album.

    ROBOFROon April 28, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song broke my heart. i was sitting in a public place, listening to this on my ipod and casually nodding along when the last bit of the song hit me -- and i was suddenly crying. RIP dad.

    catsinheaton July 26, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i cant listen to this song. it hits me pretty hard. my eyes sweat. i also had a not so good relationship with my father and recently lost him. so i feel what he is saying.

    charlie2on August 31, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    One of my best friends asked me to listen to this song, and i figured it would be a song i knew like something we would have called "our song", since he's away at college. but when the dad part came into play, it changed everything. my dad died 2 years ago today.

    kaatiieeeon September 16, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    goddamn this song kills me everytime I hear it. When I listened to this for the first time, I really dug the track and kept thinking "oh yeah, this is obviously another track about an ex, but it's actually kinda nice - it's good to hear a song from Slug about an ex that's a little more positive" then he mentions his Dad and BAM, the feeling was like a bat to the chest

    SgtReznoron January 11, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    first time i heard this i thought it was about an ex just like everyone else. when i hit that last line i cried. my dad died in a motorcycle accident less than a year ago. we weren't on speaking terms when he passed...

    still makes me tear up every time

    tdecaston June 09, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    my dad died in March, & this song is a perfect portrayal of my relationship with my father. i appreciate & love this song more than any other song i've ever heard. there's nothing like being able to relate to music so well that it brings you to tears.

    alexxchristineon October 01, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I lost my father last June and this song really, really hits home. I can't believe how much this song perfectly describes my thoughts and feelings. Great song and lyrics

    dash1126on January 27, 2011   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Album art
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms. “Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.