The lyrics and the video are based on a short story by Del James called Without You. The story is part of a collection called The Language Of Fear, which was brought back to market in 2008 after being out of print. The new version of the book contains an intro by Axl Rose, who wrote: "Del James has a personal knowledge of most of the situations he writes about, and has a love of the gutter from having been there." James contributed lyrics to two Guns N' Roses songs: "The Garden" and "Yesterdays," and has directed several music videos. Written by Axl Rose, the original version of this song was 25 minutes long, and was edited down to 8:59. It is the longest ever Top 10 hit and contains the longest guitar solo in a Top 10 single. Slash actually plays two guitar solos in the song. Rose put the song's lengthy gestation period down to opposition from Slash and Duff McKagan.
The albums "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II" were released simultaneously. Yesterdays is from "Use you Illusion I" This was a bold move, but the band was huge and the albums both sold very well. When they were released, Use Your Illusion II was the #1 album in the US, followed by Use Your Illusion I. The last time an artist had the top two albums at the same time was in 1974, when two Jim Croce albums held the top spots shortly after his death. The album was released in September 1991, but this came out as a single in February, 1992.
'Cause yesterday's got nothin' for me
Old pictures that I'll always see
Time just fades the pages in my book of memories
Prayers in my pocket
And no hand in destiny
I'll keep on movin' along
With no time to plant my feet
'Cause yesterday's got nothin' for me
Old pictures that I'll always see
Some things could be better
If we'd all just let them be
Yesterday's got nothin' for me
Yesterday's got nothin' for me
Got nothin' for me
Yesterday there was so many things I was never shown
Suddenly this time I found I'm on the streets and I'm all alone
Yesterday's got nothin' for me
Old pictures that I'll always see
I ain't got time to reminisce old novelties
Yesterday's got nothin' for me
Yesterday's got nothin' for me
Yesterday's got nothin' for me
Yesterday
Yesterday
The song "Yesterdays" is about someone who is alone on the streets. An outcast, someone who is the least, the last, and the lost. Someone who is remembering his or her yesterdays and acknowledging that yesterdays have no hold over them,"Yesterday's got nothing for me" that even reminiscing is something they have no time for.
This is the last day of 2014 tomorrow is a new year. The yesterdays of 2014 cannot be relived in 2015. Yes we may not be able to forget some of the things that happened. The joys as well as the hurts. One thing is for sure is that the things that fuelled us in all our yesterdays cannot be the soul things that fuel is in 2015. In The Old Testament during the time of Moses there is a passage in Exodus 16 about the provision of God for the children of Israel.
Exodus 16:4 "Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day."
The deal was that the children of Israel would be provided for by God enough for each day. They could not store any more. This was to be called "Manna" or "Bread" it would be enough to nourish the people of God one day at a time.
We cannot rest on yesterday's bread we can only be fuelled by bread for today. In that sense "Yesterday's got nothing for me" I must have the provision of for my life day by day. His faithfulness days by day, his grace day by day, I need to live my life day by day. I cannot rely and build my life on past successes or achievements or be dragged down by past falls and failures. We all need to know that God who sustains us each day at a time.
In Hebrews we find a passage that proclaims to us the thought of God's sustaining power in Christ day at a time.
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
In this last day of the year 3 things are good to know 1. - That Jesus never changes he will be to us in the coming days just as he was to us in the past. He will sustain us in 2015, he can be trusted in 2015, he will partner our work as we partner his in 2015. 2. - That if we are like the person in the lyrics of the Guns 'N' Roses song "Yesterdays" God has a continued plan for our lives as we follow Jesus. You may have been castout, you may have been branded a reject, a nobody. Today my friend in God's eyes you are a somebody. 3. I praise the good work of homeless shelters, the Salvation Army, churches, who have cared for the people on the streets this christmas and new year. Seeking to bring a light happiness to those who find them selves along and on the street. May Jesus who never changes, give you all the provision and guidance in the 2015. May you know him more, may you serve him, may you love whom he loves, care for the stranger as well as the saint. May God's blessing be upon you as you do these things.
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