Gottlieb, fresh from obtaining his Ph.D in musicology, was in the audience when Alex Hassilev and Glenn Yarbrough appeared on stage to sing a duet together. Gottlieb, who was then working as an arranger for The Kingston Trio, originally thought that "these two guys" could help him make some demos for the Trio.
Soon, they packed up and headed to Aspen, Colorado, to work at a club called "The Limelite," which Yarbrough and Hassilev had purchased after singing there during the previous ski season. After a short period of perfecting their act, they set off for the "hungry i" in San Francisco, which at the time was the California nerve center for the mushrooming contemporary folk movement. The owner had just had a group with three long names strung together and wasn't about to put "Yarbrough, Hassilev, and Gottlieb" up on the marquee. But the group had not yet decided on a name. They chose "The Limeliters".
Their success was immediate. Only two days after their professional debut, the group received offers from three recording companies. In early 1959 they released their first album on Elektra. Soon after they signed with RCA Victor and a string of best selling albums followed.
Never having a true chart-topping hit record, they are well known for their repertoire of rousing songs including such as "There's a Meetin' Here Tonight," "City of New Orleans," "A Dollar Down," "Have Some Madeira M'Dear," "Lonesome Traveler," "Wabash Cannonball," "Whiskey in the Jar," and many others which are performed on their more than 25 record albums and in their concerts.
The Limeliters' album, Tonight in Person reached number 5 in the U.S. charts in 1961. Their second album made the top 40, and their third release, The Slightly Fabulous Limeliters, made the top ten in the same year. But their one album with the longest staying power is undoubtedly their album of folk songs for children of all ages, Through Children's Eyes. For three years, The Limeliters were the musical representatives for Coca-Cola. Their rendition of the jingle, "Things Go Better with Coke" became a national hit.
Yarbrough left the group in 1963. Gottlieb and Hassilev continued the Limeliters but only as a recording act, recruiting former Gateway Singers tenor Ernie Sheldon (r.n. Ernest Lieberman) as Yarbrough's replacement. Sheldon wrote the lyrics for what became Yarbrough's biggest solo hit, "Baby the Rain Must Fall."
When the trio's RCA Victor contract expired in 1965, Gottlieb and Hassilev formally retired the act. By then Yarbrough was a successful soloist on records and in concert. Hassilev became a producer with his own recording studio and pressing plant, while Gottlieb headed the Morningstar commune on a ranch he purchased near San Francisco.
During the 1970s, the Limeliters embarked on a series of yearly reunion tours with Yarbrough. These were so successful that in 1981, Hassilev and Gottlieb decided to reform the group and to get back into the mainstream of entertainment. With the addition of tenor Red Grammer they once again began entertaining audiences with the unique sound that made them famous.
After eight very productive years, Grammer left the group to pursue a solo career as a children's artist. In 1990, he was replaced by another tenor, Rick Dougherty, whose wide-ranging musical background and bright stage presence brought another fresh dimension to the group.
Gottlieb's death in 1996 was a great loss for the group, but his high baritone part was taken up by a former Kingston Trio member, Bill Zorn.
In 2003, Zorn and Dougherty left the group and in early 2004, tenor Mack Bailey and comedian baritone Andy Corwin joined the group. In 2006, Hassilev retired and left the band. Soon afterword, Gaylan Taylor joined in 2006.
Those Were The Days
The Limeliters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once upon a time, there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two.
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And dream of all the great things we would do?
Those were the days, my friend, we thought they′d never end!
We′d live the life we'd choose, we'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way!
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'd choose, we′d fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way!
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 stranger 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′d choose, we'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way!
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′d choose, we'd fight and never lose.
For we were young and sure to have our way!
We'd live the life we′d choose, we′d fight and never lose.
Those were the days, my friend, those were the days!
The Limeliters's song "Those Were the Days" reminisces about the good old days spent at a tavern with friends. The singer reflects on the carefree and innocent times they used to have with their friends, when they would raise glasses, laugh, and dream of a promising future. They believed nothing could ever stop them and they would pursue their dreams with strength and passion. But as time passed, they realized that they barely had any of these dreams come true. Everything they once believed was just a mere memory. Yet, their hearts still hold onto those experiences and feelings of youth; though they may have grown old, the memories of the past stay with them, and now they can only smile at each other upon meeting and recall those glory days.
The song "Those Were the Days" is a nostalgic reflection of the past and the emotions that come with it. The lyrics sit together perfectly with the upbeat melody, making the song catchy and empowering. The tune, written by Boris Fomin and Gene Raskin, reflects on a certain era that was characteristic of the 60s and the 70s, making it a poignant reminder of a time long ago. The song depicts how, at some point in everyone's lives, we all come to the realization that things are not the way they used to be, and the feelings we once had may never return.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time, there was a tavern
Back in the day, there was a bar that we frequented.
Where we used to raise a glass or two.
And we’d go there to drink and socialize.
Remember how we laughed away the hours
We’d spend hours laughing and having a good time together.
And dream of all the great things we would do?
And we’d dream about all the great things we were going to do with our lives.
Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end!
Those were some great times that we thought would last forever!
We’d sing and dance forever and a day.
We would sing and dance without a care in the world.
We’d live the life we’d choose, we’d fight and never lose
We were young and confident, living life on our own terms, ready to conquer the world!
For we were young and sure to have our way!
We had youth on our side and knew we had all the time we needed to make our dreams come true!
Then, the busy years went rushing by us.
But time flew by and before we knew it, we were much older.
We lost our starry notions on the way.
We lost some of our idealistic and romantic ideas along the way.
If, by chance, I’d see you in the tavern
If I happened to bump into you at that old bar…
We’d smile at one another and we’d say.
We’d exchange a smile filled with shared memories and nostalgia.
Just tonight, I stood before the tavern.
Just the other night, I was standing outside that old hangout of ours.
Nothing seemed the way it used to be.
But everything looked different and felt unfamiliar.
In the glass, I saw a strange reflection.
When I looked at my reflection in the window, it felt like I was seeing someone else entirely.
Was that lonely stranger really me?
I felt a sense of loneliness and wondered if I was still the same person.
Through the door, there came familiar laughter.
But then I heard familiar laughter coming from inside.
I saw your face and heard you call my name.
And then I looked up and saw you, my old friend, and heard you call out my name.
Oh, my friend, we’re older but no wiser
Despite the fact that we’ve grown older, we’re no smarter than we used to be.
For in our hearts, the dreams are still the same.
We still hold onto those old dreams we had even though we know they’re unlikely to come true.
Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end!
Those were some amazing times that we thought would go on forever.
We’d sing and dance forever and a day.
We would sing and dance and enjoy life without any worries.
We’d live the life we’d choose, we’d fight and never lose.
We’d live life on our own terms, battling against any adversity that came our way.
For we were young and sure to have our way!
Because we were so young and full of confidence, we were convinced that things would always work out in our favor.
Those were the days, my friend, those were the days!
Those were absolutely the best days, my friend! No doubt about it.
Writer(s): Gene Raskin
Contributed by Aubrey K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@RLaraMoore
I remember dancing freely to this song when I was little and had no idea what the be words meant.
to the little child me, it was a song of happiness.
there's a poignant line from a movie about love lost ... not lost, so much as 'almost had':
"..and it occurred to me to wonder,
is a memory something you lost? or something you have?"
🙏
@coffeeg.1127
I was woken up every morning with these guys. Boy I miss my dad.
@RLaraMoore
I remember dancing freely to this song when I was little and had no idea what the be words meant.
to the little child me, it was a song of happiness.
there's a poignant line from a movie about love lost ... not lost, so much as 'almost had':
"..and it occurred to me to wonder,
is a memory something you lost? or something you have?"
🙏
@user-kf9vu8vg5n
Слушая это на разных языках по настоящему понимаешь глубину и душу этого человека , что это написал .
@aleafox1675
I wan to hear this in the original language.
@vdm2189
The original version is дорогой длиною from Russia, composed in 1924
@user-zg8lh4wx9m
Дорогой длинною* - a minute of hard grammar from Russia )))
@koenyikgmail8346
@mark d Yes
@dakarirhys5264
i realize Im kinda off topic but do anyone know of a good place to watch new movies online?
@dakarirhys5264
@Callan Kellan Thanks, I signed up and it seems to work :) Appreciate it !!
@callankellan4955
@Dakari Rhys glad I could help xD