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,
And dreamed of all the great things we would do.

Those were the days, my friend,
We thought would 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 la la - la la la la la la -
Those were the days,
Oh yes, those were the days.

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,

Those were the days, my friend,
We thought would 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 la la - la la la la la la -
Those were the days,
Oh yes, those were the days.

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 person really me?

Those were the days, my friend,
We thought would 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 la la - la la la la la la -
Those were the days,
Oh yes, those were the days.

4.
There I heard the echo of our laughter,
Heard the cheery voices 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 would 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 la la - la la la la la la -
Those were the days,
Oh yes, those were the days.

Notes:  The Baby Boomer generation has been defined by some as those that were born in the range of 1946-1964.   Most of my high school class was born in the range of 1939 to 1940.   Therefore, we aren't designated as "Baby Boomers."   However, I am thankful to have been born and lived at the time I did.

"Those Were the Days" is Mary Hopkin's debut single in 1968.   It is credited to Gene Raskin, who put English lyrics to the Russian song Дорогой длинною ("Dorogoi dlinnoyu"), written by Boris Fomin (1900-1948) with words by the poet Konstantin Podrevskii.   It deals with reminiscence upon youth and romantic idealism. End of Notes.