Not So Very Long Ago

Written by Gordon Yates.

Performed by Gordon Yates & Ric Neale.

“Not So Very Long Ago” Was written in 1949 by Gordon Yates for his soon to be wife, Betty. Gordon and Betty married in 1950 and had 67 happy years together before Betty passed away in 2017.

This is the first recording of the song with Gordon singing his beautiful words and melody.

Performed with Ric Neale on piano at Old Chapel Studios, Leeds. 5/9/2025

Lyrics

 

 

Not so very long ago,

I met an angel,

Not so very long ago,

I saw her golden hair,

I knew right from the start,

That she had captured my heart,

I knew that I would die,

If ever she left me,

I thought I better let you know,

Now that you’re leaving me

That the angel I saw,

My darling was you,

 

Everyone dreams,

Every day so it seems,

That they will one day,

meet an angel so gay,

I met one,

I held one,

I know that it’s true,

Oh my darling the day I met you,

 

Not so very long ago,

I met an angel,

Not so very long ago,

I saw her golden hair,

I knew right from the start,

That she had captured my heart,

I knew that I would die,

If ever she left me,

I thought I better let you know,

Now that you’re leaving me,

That the angel I saw,

My darling was you,

 

If you would like to support more people to write their Swan Songs, please consider donating to The Swan Song Project.

 

Every donation makes a big difference and helps more people to celebrate life in a song

 

 

 

Search for a song by Song or writers name

Thanks to our supporters and partners