Those Were The Days
Jean Stapleton Lyrics

Boy, the way Glenn Miller played
The mention of Glenn Miller's music harks back to a nostalgic time when things were simple and life was easy-going.

songs that made the hit parade
The mention of the hit parade refers to the popularity and appeal of the music.

Guys like me we had it made
The singer refers to the easy and simple lifestyle that existed in the past.

Those were the days
The phrase symbolizes a sense of nostalgia for simpler times.

Didn't need no welfare state
The reference to the welfare state reveals the singer's preference for a time when everyone took care of themselves.

ev'rybody pulled his weight
The idea of everyone pulling their own weight suggests a collective effort to succeed.

gee our old LaSalle ran great
The singer reminisces about the good times when things were functional, and everything worked as expected.

Those were the days
This phrase reiterates the singer's sentiment of reminiscing about simpler times.

And you knew who you were then
The lyrics signify a sense of identity and self-awareness that existed in the past.

girls were girls and men were men
The singer emphasizes that people's genders were more straightforward and less complicated in the past.

Mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again
The mention of Herbert Hoover, a former president, suggests a longing for leadership and guidance.

People seemed to be content
The lyrics suggest a sense of contentment and satisfaction with life in the past.

fifty dollars paid the rent
The affordability of rent in the past is highlighted in this line.

freaks were in a circus tent
The mention of freaks signifies the acceptance of the abnormal and different.

Those were the days
The phrase reiterates the singer's sentiment of looking back on simpler times.

Take a little Sunday spin
The mention of taking a simple drive shows how easy recreation used to be.

go to watch the Dodgers win
The singer nostalgically remembers the excitement of watching sports games.

Have yourself a dandy day
The phrase means to have a great day, without any problems or worries.

that cost you under a fin
The price of having fun in the past was considerably low compared to today.

Hair was short and skirts were long
The line highlights the fashion trends of the past, which were different from today's trends.

Kate Smith really sold a song
The mention of Kate Smith shows how someone's music could become popular and widely known without the use of social media.

I don't know just what went wrong
The singer doesn't understand what has happened and why times have changed so much since the past.