Songs:Those Were The Days (80471)
From WWR
Contents |
Trivia, story behind the song, etc.
The origins of the melody appear to be strongly claimed by the Russians and Russian gypsies consider it their song. The name of this song seems to be "Dorogo' Dlinnoyu" and translated means "By a long road (or way)" or "Along a long road (or way)" or "On a long way." Some sources claim it was written by two Russian composers - B. Fomin (music) and K. Podrevsky (lyrics) at the end of the 19th century or in the beginning of 20th century. There is another song, Russian title given as "Darogoi Dli Mayou." calling itself "Dear to Me." this too is supposed to be a version of "Dorogo Dlinnoyu," first recorded by Alexander Wertinsky in the 1920s. (thanks, Pat - www.maryhopkin.net) In the 1950s Annikki Tahtiand recorded this in her native Finnish language. In 1962, Gene Raskin took the melody and wrote English lyrics to it. It was popularized in the US by the folk trio The Limeliters. In 1965, Paul McCartney saw Raskin and his wife perform this in a London club. McCartney remembered the performance 3 years later, when The Beatles formed Apple Records. In 1968, British model Twiggy telephoned McCartney about a singer who performed on the UK TV program Opportunity Knocks (the US had a similar TV show in the '90s - Star Search). Three-time winner Mary Hopkin was a 17-year-old from Wales who had people talking about her performances. McCartney returned to London and auditioned Hopkin. He was impressed by her voice and recommended that she record "an American folk song" that he heard a few years earlier, "Those Were the Days." The single was released simultaneously with the Beatles' "Hey Jude." While "Hey Jude" was #1 for nine weeks in the US, "Those Were the Days" was #2 for four of them and knocked the Beatles out of #1 in the UK charts. Not bad for the first two single releases of Apple Records.
Lyrics
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'd choose We'd fight and never lose For we were young and sure to have our way La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La 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'd choose We'd fight and never lose Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La 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 they'd never end We'd sing and dance forever and a day We'd live the life we'd choose We'd fight and never lose Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La 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 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'd choose We'd fight and never lose Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La la la la la la La la la la la la La la la la la la
Listener comments about Those Were The Days (80471)
Tags
 | Jazz 1,172 items |
 | Cover 1,156 items |
 | Acoustic Guitar 10,104 items |
 | Violin 501 items |
 | Depressed 123 items |
 | Jazzy 704 items |
 | Nostalgic 68 items |
 | Sad 203 items |
 | Minor key 354 items |
 | Sparkit Singulars 82 items |
 | Solo vocalist 12,088 items |
 | Acoustic 10,157 items |
 | Band 7,170 items |
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Categories: Jazz | Cover | Acoustic guitar | Violin | Depressed | Jazzy | Nostalgic | Sad | Minor key | Sparkit singulars | Solo vocalist | Acoustic | Band
