The group made its television debut in either 1961 or 1962 on a talk show hosted by Mike Wallace and Joyce Davidson, though neither audio nor video footage has yet been found. By 1963, Peter, Paul, and Mary had recorded three albums. All three were in the Top ten the week of President Kennedy's assassination.
That year, the group also released "Puff the Magic Dragon", which Yarrow and fellow Cornell student Leonard Lipton had written in 1959, and performed "If I Had a Hammer" at the 1963 March on Washington, best remembered for Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. One of their biggest hit singles was the Bob Dylan song "Blowin' in the Wind. They also sang other Bob Dylan songs, such as: "The Times They Are a-Changin'"; "Don't Think Twice, it's Alright"; and "When the Ship Comes In".
"Leaving On A Jet Plane" became their only #1 hit (as well as their final Top 40 hit) in December 1969, and was written by John Denver (who already had some success with The Chad Mitchell Trio), and first appeared on their Album 1700 in 1967. "Day Is Done", a #21 hit in June 1969, was the last Hot 100 hit that the trio recorded.
The trio broke up in 1970 to pursue solo careers, but found little of the success which they had experienced as a group--although Stookey's "The Wedding Song (There is Love)" (written for Yarrow's marriage to Marybeth McCarthy, the niece of senator Eugene McCarthy) was a hit and has become a wedding standard since its 1971 release.
In 1978, they reunited for a concert to protest nuclear energy, and have recorded albums together and toured since. They currently play around 45 shows a year.[1]
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.
The trio became political activists for their commitment to peace in Central America and for supporting musically and personally the peace and social justice movement in America. Their inveterate support for Israel distinguishes them from other major folk singing groups and implies a uniqueness of consideration and courage in their political choices. They were awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience on September 1, 1990.[2]
In 2004, Travers was diagnosed with leukemia, leading to the cancellation of the remaining tour dates for that year. She received a bone marrow transplant and is recovering. She and the rest of the trio resumed their concert tour on December 9, 2005 with a holiday performance at Carnegie Hall.
Peter, Paul, and Mary received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.
The trio sang in Mitchell, South Dakota, for the George and Eleanor McGovern Library and Center for Leadership dedication concert on October 5, 2006.
The trio canceled several dates of their summer 2007 tour, as Mary took longer than expected to recover from back surgery and later had to undergo a second surgery, further postponing the tour.[1] They will make up at least one of the dates, at the Northfork Theatre (formerly Westbury Music Fair) in June 2008.
Those Were The Days
Peter Paul & Mary 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 lyrics of "Those Were the Days" by Peter, Paul & Mary evoke a nostalgic longing for the past and reflect on the passage of time. The song begins with a reminiscence about a tavern where the singer and their friends used to frequent, enjoying each other's company and envisioning a future filled with endless possibilities. The lyrics capture the sense of youthful optimism and the belief that they could accomplish anything.
The chorus, "Those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end," expresses the sentiment of believing that these joyous times would last forever. The idea of singing and dancing forever and living life on their own terms conveys the freedom and invincibility felt in youth. The repetition of the chorus and the inclusion of the la-la-la-da-da-da melody enhances the nostalgic and wistful tone of the song, further emphasizing the longing for the past.
As the song progresses, the lyrics acknowledge the passage of time and the loss of those idealistic dreams. The "busy years" have rushed by, and the singer realizes that they have let go of their starry notions along the way. The mention of seeing someone from those days in the present and exchanging smiles represents a bittersweet reunion that reminds them of the past and the belief that those times were special and unique.
In the third verse, the singer stands before the tavern but finds that nothing is the same anymore. The reflection in the glass reveals a lonely woman, possibly the singer themselves, symbolizing the realization that time has changed them. This verse highlights the realization that time has slipped away, leaving behind a sense of loss and a yearning for the days of their youth.
However, in the final verse, the singer hears familiar laughter, sees a familiar face, and hears their name being called. This suggests that despite the passage of time and the changes that have occurred, the connection between old friends remains. The line "we're older but no wiser" reflects the understanding that although they have grown older, the dreams and desires in their hearts have not changed. It's a reminder that, despite the nostalgia and acknowledgement of time's passing, the essence of who they are and what they long for remains the same.
Overall, "Those Were the Days" captures the wistful longing for the past, the acknowledgment of time's effects, and the endurance of friendship and dreams. Through its nostalgic lyrics and repetitive chorus, the song encourages listeners to reflect on their own memories and appreciate the importance of cherishing the moments that shape our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time there was a tavern
In the past, there existed a place where people gathered for leisure
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Where we would often toast and enjoy drinks together
Remember how we laughed away the hours
Recall the joy and amusement we experienced for extended periods of time
Think of all the great things we would do?
Reflect on the ambitious and remarkable accomplishments we envisioned
Those were the days, my friend
That period of time filled with fond memories
We thought they'd never end
We believed those moments would persist indefinitely
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We would engage in singing and dancing endlessly
We'd live the life we choose
We would embrace the freedom to live our desired lives
We'd fight and never lose
We would confront challenges with determination and always prevail
For we were young and sure to have our way
Because we were youthful and filled with conviction
Then the busy years went rushing by us
Subsequently, the busy years passed quickly without us realizing
We lost our starry notions on the way
During that journey, we abandoned our idealistic beliefs
If by chance I'd see you in the tavern
In the rare occurrence that I encountered you at the tavern
We'd smile at one another and we'd say
We would exchange smiles and have simple conversations
Just tonight I stood before the tavern
Recently, I found myself in front of the tavern
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
Upon looking into the glass, I noticed an unfamiliar reflection
Was that lonely woman really me?
Questioning whether the solitary woman in the reflection was truly me
Through the door, there came familiar laughter
From the entrance, familiar laughter could be heard
I saw your face and heard you call my name
I caught sight of your face and heard you utter my name
Oh, my friend, we're older but no wiser
Oh, my friend, we have aged but haven't necessarily gained wisdom
For in our hearts, the dreams are still the same
Because our dreams and aspirations remain unchanged within our hearts
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gene Raskin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pxyfan
Such a good song.