Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday

by Stevie Wonder

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Lyrics

What hap pened (G7)to

the world we (C)knew,

when we would (G7)dream and scheme and (C)wile the (E7)time a (Am)way, yes ter (D7)me, yes ter (G7)you, yes ter (C)day?

Where did it (G7)go,

that yes ter (C)glow,

when we could (G7)feel the wheel of (C)life the (E7)turn our (Am)way, yes ter (D7)me, yes ter (G7)you, yes ter (C)day?

I had a (Dm7)dream, so did (G7)you.

Life was (C)warm, (E7)love was (Am)true.

Two kids who fol lowed all the (G7)rules,

(G)yes (Dm)ter (C)fools.

(Ebm)And (Dm7)now, now it (G7)seems

those yes ter (C)dreams

were just a (G7)cruel and fool ish (C)game we (E7)used to (Am)play, yes ter (D7)me, yes ter (G7)you, yes ter (C)day.

When I re (Dm7)call what we (G7)had, I feel (C)lost, (E7)I feel (Am)sad,

with noth ing but the mem ’ry (G7)of

(G)yes (Dm)ter (C)love.

(Ebm)And (Dm7)now, now it (G7)seems

those yes ter (C)dreams

were just a (G7)cruel and fool ish (C)game we (E7)had to (Am)play, yes ter (D7)me, yes ter (G7)you, yes ter (C)day.

When I re

Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday by Stevie Wonder — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday” by Stevie Wonder in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of C at 120 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.