About the song
Those Were the Days by Mary Hopkin: A Nostalgic Ballad of Youth and Lost Love
Released in 1968, “Those Were the Days” by Mary Hopkin is a wistful ballad that captures the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia. The song’s gentle melody and melancholic lyrics have made it a timeless classic, beloved by listeners of all ages.
“Those Were the Days” was written by the Russian songwriter Boris Fomin in 1925, with original lyrics in Russian. The song, titled “Dorogoi dlinnoyu”, became a popular folk song in Russia and was later covered by numerous artists around the world. In 1968, English lyricist Gene Raskin adapted the song’s lyrics for an English-language version, and it was this version that Mary Hopkin would make famous.
Hopkin, a young Welsh singer with a pure, clear voice, was relatively unknown when she recorded “Those Were the Days”. The song was released as her debut single and quickly became a worldwide hit, reaching number one on the charts in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It also reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
“Those Were the Days” is a song about looking back on one’s youth with a mix of fondness and regret. The lyrics paint a picture of a simpler time, when life was full of carefree days and dreams of the future. However, the song also acknowledges that those days are gone forever, and that we can only reminisce about them from a distance.
The song’s gentle melody and Hopkin’s delicate vocals perfectly capture the nostalgic mood of the lyrics. The song is full of longing for the past, but it is also tinged with a sense of acceptance. “Those Were the Days” is a reminder that time marches on and that we can never recapture the past, but we can still cherish the memories we have.
“Those Were the Days” was included on Hopkin’s debut album, Postcard (1968). The album was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish Hopkin as one of the most popular new artists of the era. However, Hopkin’s career never quite reached the same heights again, and she retired from music in the early 1980s.
Despite her relatively short career, Mary Hopkin left behind a lasting legacy with “Those Were the Days”. The song is a beloved classic that continues to be enjoyed by listeners of all ages. It is a beautiful and poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of time and the importance of cherishing our memories.