Only Yesterday

by Carpenters
Loading song
Fetching song
1
β€”
How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

Start the lesson
Personalize the finger hints for your handsPick your hand size and we'll re-suggest this song's fingering to fit you.Personalize
More ways to play

Other arrangements of Only Yesterday

Pick a learning view.

Lyrics

(G)Af ter long e nough of be ing a (Am7)lone,

ev ’ry one must (D7)face their share of lone li (G)ness.

In my own (A7)time no bod y (D)knew

the (G)pain I was go in’ (C)thru,

and (Am7)wait in’ was all my (Dsus)heart could (D)do.

(G)Hope was all I had un til you (A7)came,

(F#dim)may be you can’t see

how much you mean to (G)me.

You were the (A7)dawn

break ing the (D)night,

the (G)prom ise of morn ing (C)light,

(A7)fill ing the world sur (D)round ing me.

When I hold you (F)ba by, ba by, feels like may be (Am)things will be all right.

(F)Ba by, ba by, your love’s made me (Dsus)free as a song,

(D7)sing in’ for ev er.

(G)On ly yes ter day when I was (Am7)sad and I was (D7)lone ly,

(G)you showed me the way to leave the (Am7)past and all its (D7)tears be hind me.

To mor row may be e ven (Em)bright er than to day

since (Am7)I threw my (D7)sad ness a (Am7)way.

On ly yes ter (G)day.

I have found my home here in your (Am7)arms,

(D7)no where else on earth I’d real ly rath er (G)be.

Life waits for (A7)us.

Share it with (D)me,

the (G)best is a bout to (C)be.

And (A7)so much is left for (D)us to see.

When I hold you (G)day.

Only Yesterday β€” Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

2 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "Only Yesterday" by Carpenters: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of G, 100 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About β€œOnly Yesterday”

What key is "Only Yesterday" by Carpenters played in?
Only Yesterday is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Only Yesterday"?
The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Only Yesterday" easy to play on piano?
Yes β€” this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Only Yesterday"?
Yes β€” registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Only Yesterday"?
"Only Yesterday" was originally performed by Carpenters. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Carpenters can I play here?
Try "O HOLY NIGHT", "BECAUSE WE ARE IN LOVE", "CALLING OCCUPANTS". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "Only Yesterday" with lyrics?
Yes β€” this is a free karaoke slide for "Only Yesterday" by Carpenters. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does β€” a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "Only Yesterday" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in G, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) β€” the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "Only Yesterday" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes β€” the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.