Those Were The Days
Archie & Edith Lyrics


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Boy the way Glenn Miller Played
Songs that made the Hit Parade
Guys like us we had it made
Those were the days.

Didn't need no Welfare states
Everybody pulled his weight
gee our old LaSalle ran great
Those were the days

And you knew who you were then
Girls were girls and men were men
Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again

People seemd to be content
$50 payed the rent
Freaks were in a circus tent
Those were the days

Take a little sunday spin
Tonight I'll watch the dogers win
Have yourself a dandy day that cost you under a fin

Hair was short and skirts were long
Kate Smith really sung the song
I don't know just what went wrong





THOSE WERE THE DAYS!

Overall Meaning

Archie and Edith's song "Those Were the Days" is a wistful love letter to a bygone era. The lyrics are filled with nostalgia for a time when things seemed simpler and life was easier. The song is set to a melody that is both upbeat and melancholy, which perfectly captures the dual emotions of longing and happiness that come with reminiscing about the past.


The opening lines of the song pay tribute to the Swing Era and Glenn Miller's music, which was hugely popular in the 1930s and 40s and even today. Glenn Miller played songs that made the Hit Parade, and those songs were loved by everyone. The next verse harks back to a time when people took care of themselves and each other without relying on welfare states. In those days, everyone pulled their weight and worked hard to earn a living. The third verse reflects the traditional gender roles and how people knew who they were in society. The mention of Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, is said to symbolize a time when the country was perceived as being in better shape.


The final verse of the song is particularly poignant as it reflects on the passing of time and how things change. The reference to Kate Smith, a popular singer in the 1930s and 1940s, expresses the memory of a time when songs had meaning, and people listened to the words. The reference to hair being short and skirts being long speaks to the shifting norms of fashion and social expectations. Overall, Archie and Edith's song is a poignant reminder of how quickly time can pass and how important it is to cherish the moments that we have.


Interesting Facts:


Line by Line Meaning

Boy the way Glenn Miller Played
Before, music was much more lively and gave us memories to cherish.


Songs that made the Hit Parade
Those songs were the ones that resonated with the people that represent a simpler era, and fond memories.


Guys like us we had it made
Men had all they could ever need or want back in those days.


Didn't need no Welfare states
Back then, people were self-sufficient and reliant on their skills, rather than government aid or welfare.


Everybody pulled his weight
Everyone contributed to society and the greater good.


gee our old LaSalle ran great
The old times had simpler and more reliable cars.


And you knew who you were then
Life in the old days was much simpler, and people were much more self-aware and comfortable with who they were.


Girls were girls and men were men
Gender roles were more defined and apparent back then.


Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again
Herbert Hoover represents a time of economic prosperity, and the artist wishes for similar times of success and wealth to return.


People seemed to be content
The simplicity of life led to people enjoying simpler things, and being more satisfied with life in general.


$50 payed the rent
Costs of living were lower in the olden days, which helped people save money.


Freaks were in a circus tent
Back then, people were much more accepting and deserving of eccentric individuals.


Take a little sunday spin
People would experience the joy of driving and long weekend drives on the countryside during their free time.


Tonight I'll watch the Dodgers win
The simple pleasures of watching a sports match brought joy to people back then.


Have yourself a dandy day that cost you under a fin
People could enjoy good days without having to spend much money or extravagance.


Hair was short and skirts were long
Fashion in the olden days was more traditional, with a clear distinction between genders.


Kate Smith really sung the song
Kate Smith was a symbol of the olden days, and her music represents the era quite well.


I don't know just what went wrong
The olden days seem to be perfect and ideal, and the singer wishes things could still be the same, and is pained at the thought of something going wrong.


THOSE WERE THE DAYS!
The singer yearns for the simplicity and contentment of days gone by, and wishes for things to return to the way they once were.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@chrisolivo6591

What’s amazing is a lot of issues they argued about in those episodes are still just as relevant today 40+ years later. That is the definition of a show being ahead of its time.

@waynemc27

No it just shows how primitive we still are lol

@looking_33

the issues never change

@mhaze210

This isn't just a classic American sitcom. This is HISTORICAL.

@sethcarlow8363

you said it.

@codypriceYouTubeAddednumbers

Not really.

@eonhardy5383

Very. So happy i will enjoy it FOREVERMORE

@nickhill8612

@Eon Hardy
Yes same here.
Leave it alone and stop with the remakes of classic shows.

@bggraham83

Most spinoffs ever

11 More Replies...

@yuliaaaaaaaaaaa

it’s kinda crazy how this show, Maude, the Jefferson’s, Good Times, we’re all in the same world. They were just different stories in different environments 😂.

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