Mancini was born Enrico Nicola Mancini in the Little Italy neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the steel town of West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. His parents emigrated from the Abruzzo region of Italy. Mancini's father, Quinto, was a steelworker, who made his only child begin flute lessons at the age of eight. When Mancini was 12 years old, he began piano lessons. Quinto and Henry played flute together in the Aliquippa Italian immigrant band, "Sons of Italy". After high school, Mancini attended the renowned Juilliard School of Music in New York. In 1943, after roughly one year at Juilliard, his studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the army. In 1945, he participated in the liberation of a South German concentration camp.
Mancini recorded over 90 albums, in styles ranging from big band to classical to pop. Eight of these albums were certified gold by The Recording Industry Association of America. He had a 20 year contract with RCA Records, resulting in 60 commercial record albums that made him a household name composer of easy listening music.
Mancini's range also extended to orchestral and ethnic scores (Lifeforce, The Great Mouse Detective, Sunflower, "Tom and Jerry: The Movie", Molly Maguires, The Hawaiians), and darker themes ("Experiment In Terror," "The White Dawn," "Wait Until Dark," "The Night Visitor").
Mancini was also a concert performer, conducting over fifty engagements per year, resulting in over 600 symphony performances during his lifetime. Among the symphony orchestras he conducted are the London Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He appeared in 1966, 1980 and 1984 in command performances for the British Royal Family. He also toured several times with Johnny Mathis and with Andy Williams, who had sung many of Mancini's songs.[citation needed]
Mancini had experience with acting and voice roles. In 1994 he made a one-off cameo appearance in the first season of the sitcom series Frasier, as a call-in patient to Dr. Frasier Crane's radio show. Mancini voiced the character Al, who speaks with a melancholy drawl and hates the sound of his own voice, in the episode "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast?" Mancini also had an uncredited performance as a pianist in the 1967 movie Gunn, the movie version of the series Peter Gunn, the score of which was originally composed by Mancini himself.
Mancini was nominated for an unprecedented 72 Grammys, winning 20 Additionally he was nominated for 18 Academy Awards, winning four. He also won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for two Emmys.
Mancini won a total of four Oscars for his music in the course of his career.
Mancini died at the age of 70 in Beverly Hills/Los Angeles, California of pancreatic cancer. He was working at the time on the Broadway stage version of Victor/Victoria. At the time of his death, Mancini was married to singer Virginia "Ginny" O´Connor, with whom he had three children. Ginny Mancini went on to found the Society of Singers a non profit organization which benefits the health and welfare of professional singers worldwide. Additionally the Society awards scholarships to students pursuing an education in the vocal arts and holds the annual Ella Awards.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers(ASCAP) Foundation "Henry Mancini Music Scholarship" has been awarded annually since 2001.
Those Were the Days
Henry Mancini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Songs that made the hit parade
Guys like me we had it made
Those were the days
Didn't need no welfare state
Ev'rybody pulled his weight
Gee our old LaSalle ran great
Those were the days
Girls were girls and men were men
Mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again
People seemed to be content
Fifty dollars paid the rent
Freaks were in a circus tent
Those were the days
Take a little Sunday spin
Go to watch the Dodgers win
Have yourself a dandy day
That cost you under a fin
Hair was short and skirts were long
Kate Smith really sold a song
I don't know just what went wrong
Those were the days
In Henry Mancini's song "Those Were the Days," the lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era. The singer reminisces about the past, specifically reflecting on the music of Glenn Miller that used to dominate the hit parade. This music brings back memories of a time when life felt simpler and more enjoyable. The singer, along with others like him, feels fortunate to have experienced this period, claiming that they "had it made."
The lyrics also touch upon the economic situation of the time. The mention of not needing a welfare state suggests that people were self-reliant and took responsibility for their own well-being. It implies that the society of that era had a strong work ethic, with everyone contributing their fair share to the community. The reference to the old LaSalle running great implies that even the material possessions of that time were reliable and sturdy.
The song further emphasizes the clear distinctions between genders in that era. As the lyrics state, "Girls were girls and men were men." This phrase reflects a traditional view of gender roles, where there were clear societal expectations and defined characteristics for each. The mention of Herbert Hoover, a former U.S. president known for his policies during the Great Depression, serves as a reference to a time when strong leadership was valued.
The second part of the song highlights the contentment and simplicity of those days. The relatively low cost of living is mentioned, with only fifty dollars being enough to pay the rent. The mention of "freaks in a circus tent" suggests that even the outsiders or eccentrics were embraced and entertained rather than marginalized. Going for a Sunday spin, a common pastime, and watching the Dodgers win adds to the sense of leisure and enjoyment that was easily accessible during that time. The mention of a "fin" signifies a five-dollar bill, indicating that even such pleasant experiences didn't require excessive spending.
The final lines of the song convey a sense of confusion or loss regarding the changes that have occurred since that period. The short hair and long skirts mentioned may be a reference to the evolving fashion trends that no longer align with the nostalgia the singer feels. The mention of Kate Smith, a popular singer at the time, indicates the cultural shift in music preferences. The lyrics leave the listener pondering what exactly went wrong and why things have changed so significantly from those supposedly idyllic days.
Line by Line Meaning
Boy, the way Glenn Miller played
I fondly remember the way Glenn Miller played his music
Songs that made the hit parade
Those songs were so popular and widely loved, they made it to the top charts
Guys like me we had it made
People like me, we were living the good life
Those were the days
That was a time filled with fond memories and nostalgia
Didn't need no welfare state
We didn't rely on government support or welfare
Ev'rybody pulled his weight
Everyone took responsibility and worked hard
Gee our old LaSalle ran great
Oh, our old LaSalle car used to run so perfectly
Those were the days
Those times were truly remarkable
And you knew who you were then
Back then, it was clear and certain about one's identity
Girls were girls and men were men
People embraced their gender identity without confusion
Mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again
We could really benefit from a leader like Herbert Hoover once more
People seemed to be content
Back then, it appeared that people were satisfied with their lives
Fifty dollars paid the rent
Renting a place only cost fifty dollars
Freaks were in a circus tent
Unusual or eccentric individuals could be found in a circus tent
Those were the days
That period truly holds precious memories
Take a little Sunday spin
Have a leisurely drive on a Sunday
Go to watch the Dodgers win
Attend a baseball game to witness the Dodgers' victory
Have yourself a dandy day
Enjoy a splendid and delightful day
That cost you under a fin
All that excitement and joy could be experienced for less than five dollars
Hair was short and skirts were long
At that time, men's hair was short while women wore long skirts
Kate Smith really sold a song
Kate Smith had a talent for captivating audiences with her singing
I don't know just what went wrong
I'm unsure about the specific reasons for the changes that occurred
Those were the days
Those were truly remarkable times
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES STROUSE, LEE ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind