Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
The 1968 remake of an older Russian song sung by the first artist signed by The Beatles' Apple Records label by Welsh singer Mary Hopkin.
The song was second in the US (to The Beatles' “Hey Jude”) charts for 4 weeks, and knocked that same song from the top of the British chart.
[Verse 1]
Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
Dreamed of all the great things we would do?
[Chorus]
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
La la la la...
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
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
La la la la...
[Verse 3]
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?
[Chorus]
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
La la la la...
[Verse 4]
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
[Chorus]
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
La la la la...
Those Were the Days was written by Gene Raskin & Борис Фомин (Boris Fomin) & Константи́н Подре́вский (Konstantin Podrevsky).
Those Were the Days was produced by Paul McCartney.
Mary Hopkin released Those Were the Days on Mon Aug 26 1968.
It is unknown. The tune derives from an old Russian folk song. The song has versions in many languages, including Spanish, Italian, German, French, Japanese and even in Hebrew.