Those Were the Days, My Friends

One of the earliest memories of my mother has to do with a couple of songs she really thought were special. The fact is that my mother did not listen to music very often, so when she did, it was something to remember. One of the songs was "Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree," (which acquired something of a special significance to me as I reluctantly participated in two wars) and the other was "Those were the days my friends," which surely resonates with all of us who know it.

"Those were the days" was sung by a number of singers, but seems to have been sung most successfully by Mary Hopkin in 1968. It is believed to have toppled "Hey Jude" from the top spot on the charts. More information about the song can be found here (You can actually purchase the song and download it for under a dollar here). The lyrics are as follows:

Once upon a time, there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
Think of all the great things we would do

Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way

Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di di di di di

Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If, by chance, I'd see you in the tavern,
We'd smile at one another and we'd say,

Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way

Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di di di di di

Just tonight, I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass, I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely woman really me?

Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way

Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di di di di di

Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di di di di di

Through the door, there came familiar laughter,
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh, my friend, we're older but still no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same

Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way

Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di di di di di

Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di
Di di di di di di di di di di

La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la

How much more is there to say, really? I apologize for waxing sentimental on you, dear reader; I promise not to do it often. For tonight, however, I will think about my mother, and about dreams, loneliness, lost youth, and about days gone by.

Cheers.

Postscript: I do not know if I have violated any copyrights by posting the above lyrics; I certainly did not intend to impinge on anyone's rights. I copied the lyrics from this web site, where I could not find any notice of warning. If I am in violation of somebody's rights, I will be glad to immediately rectify the situation--simply inform me and I will immediately remove the lyrics.