About the Song
Those Were the Days… a Song That Whispers of Youthful Memories
Do you remember the carefree days of your youth? The time when laughter echoed effortlessly, dreams stretched endlessly, and the future shimmered with endless possibilities? If so, then Mary Hopkin’s enchanting ballad, “Those Were the Days,” might just resonate with the deepest chords of your memory.
Released in 1968, “Those Were the Days” wasn’t just a song; it was a cultural phenomenon. Its nostalgic melody and poignant lyrics captured the hearts of a generation yearning for simpler times. Hopkin’s pure, crystalline voice, barely out of her teens, added a layer of vulnerability and innocence, making the song all the more relatable.
The song opens with a melancholic introspection. The narrator stands before a tavern, the reflection in the glass a stark reminder of time’s passage. The carefree joy of youth seems a distant memory, replaced by a sense of quiet solitude. But then, the chorus bursts forth, a bittersweet ode to those lost yet cherished days:
“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 / Those were the days, oh yes those were the days.”
“Those Were the Days” isn’t merely a lament for lost youth. It’s a celebration of the experiences that shaped us, the friendships forged in the fires of shared laughter and tears, and the unwavering belief in the impossible that only youth possess. It’s a reminder that even as life takes its turn, those memories, like precious gems, continue to sparkle within us, offering solace and strength.
So, dear reader, if you find yourself humming along to “Those Were the Days,” don’t dismiss it as mere nostalgia. It’s an invitation to revisit the vibrant tapestry of your youth, to appreciate the journey you’ve taken, and to hold onto the hope that, in some ways, those carefree days might just live on within you, forever young.
Lyric
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 for-ever 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.
Lalala lah lala, lalala lah lala
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days.
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:
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.
Through the door there came familiar laughter.
I saw your face and heard you call my name.
Oh, my friend, we’re older but no wiser,
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same.