Those Were the Days is a song credited to Gene Raskin, who put English lyrics to the Russian romance song Dorogoi dlinnoyu (Дорогой длинною, lit. By the long road), composed by Boris Fomin (1900–1948) with words by the poet Konstantin Podrevskii. It deals with reminiscence upon youth and romantic idealism. Georgian singer Tamara Tsereteli (1900–1968) and Russian singer Alexander Vertinsky made what were probably the earliest recordings of the song, in 1925 and in 1926 respectively. The song is featured in the 1953 British/French movie Innocents in Paris, in which it was sung with its original Russian lyrics by the Russian Tzigane chanteuse Ludmila Lopato, but is probably best remembered in English-speaking countries for Mary Hopkins 1968 recording, which was a chart-topping hit in much of the Northern Hemisphere. On most recorded versions of the song, Raskin is credited as the writer, even though he wrote only the later English lyrics and not the melody. Once upon a time there was a tavern Where we used to raise a glass or two Remember how we laughed away the hours And dreamed of all the great things we would do Those were the days my friend We thought theyd never end Wed sing and dance forever and a day Wed live the life we choose Wed fight and never lose For we were young and sure to have our way. La la la la... Then the busy years went rushing by us We lost our starry notions on the way If by chance Id see you in the tavern Wed smile at one another and wed say Those were the days my friend We thought theyd never end Wed sing and dance forever and a day Wed live the life we choose Wed fight and never lose Those were the days, oh yes those were the days La la la la... 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 theyd never end Wed sing and dance forever and a day Wed live the life we choose Wed fight and never lose Those were the days, oh yes those were the days La la la la... Through the door there came familiar laughter I saw your face and heard you call my name Oh my friend were older but no wiser For in our hearts the dreams are still the same Those were the days my friend We thought theyd never end Wed sing and dance forever and a day Wed live the life we choose Wed fight and never lose Those were the days, oh yes those were the days La la la la...
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 20:44:37 +0000
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