Foreigner’s “That Was Yesterday”: A Power Ballad for the Ages

About the song

Foreigner’s “That Was Yesterday”: A Power Ballad for the Ages

Ah, the 1980s. The era of big hair, bold synthesizers, and power ballads that could melt the coldest heart. And few bands mastered the art of the power ballad quite like Foreigner. While they had a string of hits throughout the decade, “That Was Yesterday,” nestled within their 1984 album Agent Provocateur, stands out as a particularly poignant exploration of love, loss, and the passage of time.

Now, “That Was Yesterday” wasn’t a chart-topping juggernaut like “I Want to Know What Love Is” or “Waiting for a Girl Like You.” But for many Foreigner fans, it represents the band at their most mature and introspective. The song opens with a gentle, almost melancholic piano intro that sets the stage for Lou Gramm’s signature vocals, which are at once powerful and vulnerable.

What strikes me most about “That Was Yesterday” is its lyrical depth. This isn’t just another song about a lost love. It’s a meditation on how time can change our perspectives, heal old wounds, and ultimately lead us to a place of acceptance. The lyrics “That was yesterday, now it’s gone, gone away / And I found myself thinkin’ ’bout tomorrow today” perfectly encapsulate this sense of moving forward and embracing the future.

But it’s not just the lyrics that make this song so special. Mick Jones’s guitar work is masterful, providing soaring solos that perfectly complement the song’s emotional core. And the production, by Keith Olsen and Mick Jones himself, is pristine, giving each instrument space to breathe while creating a rich and layered soundscape.

“That Was Yesterday” may not be Foreigner’s most commercially successful song, but it’s arguably one of their most enduring. It’s a testament to the band’s ability to craft music that resonates on a deep emotional level, music that speaks to the complexities of the human experience. So pour yourself a glass of your favorite vintage, dim the lights, and let the timeless beauty of “That Was Yesterday” wash over you.

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Lyrics

I thought I knew you well
But all this time I could never tell
I let you get away
Haunts me every night and every day

You were the only one
The only friend that I counted on
How could I watch you walk away
I’d give anything to have you here today

But now I stand alone with my pride
And dream that you’re still by my side

But that was yesterday
I had the world in my hands
But it’s not the end of my world
Just a slight change of plans

That was yesterday
But today life goes on
No more hiding in yesterday
‘Cause yesterday’s gone

Love, my love I gave it all
Thought I saw the light
When I heard you call
Life that we both could share
Has deserted me
Left me in despair

But now I stand alone with my pride
Fighting back the tears I never let myself cry

But that was yesterday
Love was torn from my hands
But it’s not the end of my world
Just a little hard to understand

That was yesterday
But today life goes on
You won’t find me in yesterday’s world
Now yesterday’s gone

Goodbye yesterday
Now it’s over and done
Still I hope somewhere deep in your heart
Yesterday will live on