Mary Hopkin Music http://www.maryhopkin.co.uk/ was established in 2005 to enable Mary to release her music on her own terms. Its first release was of 'Live at the Royal Festival Hall 1972'. Christmas 2006 saw a download-only release of 'Snowed Under', a cynical look at Christmas.
And now, the third release on Mary Hopkin Music, 'Valentine', a new release from the archives which includes three of Mary's own songs.
And following the success of 'Snowed Under', there may be a Christmas EP featuring her past Christmas songs.
Those Were The Days
Mary Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
La-la-la-da-da-da
La-la-la-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da
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 choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
La-la-la-da-da-da
La-la-la-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da
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 choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
La-la-la-da-da-da
La-la-la-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da
La-la-la-da-da-da
La-la-la-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da
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 choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
La-la-la-da-da-da
La-la-la-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da
La-la-la-da-da-da
La-la-la-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
The song "Those were the days" by Mary Hopkin talks about the nostalgia and longing for the past. It reminisces about a time when the singer and their friends used to hang out in a tavern, laughing and making plans for the future. They thought that those times would last forever and they would always be young and carefree. However, as time went by, life happened and things changed. The singer visits the tavern again and feels like a stranger in a place that used to be so familiar. They realize that they are older now and life did not turn out the way they thought it would, but the dreams they had in their hearts are still the same.
The lyrics of the song are a representation of the universal human feeling of nostalgia. The song is relatable to anyone who has had a wonderful time in the past that they wish to go back to. The tavern is a metaphor for a place where people gather and create memories that they cherish forever. The songwriter Mary Hopkin tells a story of growing up, looking back with fondness at a time that will never come again.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time there was a tavern
In the past, there existed a drinking establishment
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Where we often drank together
Remember how we laughed away the hours
Recall the good times that were spent with light-heartedness
Think of all the great things we would do?
Recall the aspirations that were formed together
Those were the days, my friend
Those moments were golden
We thought they'd never end
They were wished to last forever
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd participate in festivities that lasted for an immeasurable amount of time
We'd live the life we choose
We thought we could have a life of our own choice
We'd fight and never lose
We were convinced that we would emerge victorious in every conflict
For we were young and sure to have our way
We were confident of having things done our way because of our youthfulness
Then the busy years went rushing by us
Time flew away quickly as we were preoccupied with our occupations
We lost our starry notions on the way
Our grand and idealistic expectations were quenched by the reality of life
If by chance I'd see you in the tavern
Meeting you again in that drinking place was unlikely
We'd smile at one another and we'd say
We would both express how we missed the past
Just tonight I stood before the tavern
Tonight, I stood in front of the former drinking place
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
Everything appeared different from how it was in the past
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
I saw my aged self in my reflection
Was that lonely woman really me?
I asked myself if the person staring back at me was who I had become
Through the door, there came familiar laughter
I heard laughter that I recognized
I saw your face and heard you call my name
I recognized you and you called out to me
Oh, my friend, we're older but no wiser
We are now more advanced in years, but we have not acquired more wisdom than we had before
For in our hearts, the dreams are still the same
Deep in us, we still have the same aspirations as we had when we were young
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
Vocalization to lend melody to the song's chorus
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gene Raskin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@coloradokevin1675
My friend,
I am soon to be 61. I have heart problems and stage 2 cancer. I can only convey to you to keep your head up. Never give up. Remember the good times you and your wife had.
Honor her memory.
Ignore what others tell you. They do not understand.
By doing so, this will help you in ways you have yet to understand.
Keep in touch if this helps.
@1sublyustrum
Ехали на тройках с бубенцами
А вдали мелькали огоньки
Эх, как бы и мне теперь за вами
Душу бы развеять от тоски
Дорогой длинною, да ночкой лунною
Да с песней той, что вдаль летит звеня
Да с той старинною, с той семиструнною
Что по ночам так мучила меня
Да, выходит пели мы задаром
Понапрасну ночь за ночью жгли
Если мы покончили со старым
Так и ночи эти отошли
Дорогой длинною, да ночкой лунною
Да с песней той, что вдаль летит звеня
Да с той старинною, с той семиструнною
Что по ночам так мучила меня
В даль родною новыми путями
Нам отныне ехать суждено
Ехали на тройках с бубенцами
Да теперь приехали давно
Дорогой длинною, да ночкой лунною
Да с песней той, что вдаль летит звеня
Да с той старинною, с той семиструнною
Что по ночам так мучила меня
Да с той старинною, с той семиструнною
Что по ночам так мучила меня
@doveshel1646
I am almost 96 old and always love to hear this song.Mary Hopkins does it beautiful!!
@che2933
64yo 💝
@emizerri
God bless you
@rachelcherian2056
I love this song so much
@mageds2684
You’re luck to have lived so long and lived a life rich with experience.
@wiesawhajdul3054
@@che2933 iu 8
@yamerosolitario2
My wife passed away on march 26th., 2023 and I can not stop crying when I hear this beautiful song!
@W84Mary
aww condolences, I know its hard 😢
@BJ-fe7wd
So sorry man
@howardpoole5391
condolences