Once upon a time there was a tavern
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 live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
La-da-da da-da-da
La-da-da da-da-da
La-da-da-da-da, da-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'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
La-da-da da-da-da
La-da-da da-da-da
La-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'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
La-da-da da-da-da
La-da-da da-da-da
La-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da da-da-da,
La-da-da da-da-da
La-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'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
La-da-da da-da-da
La-da-da da-da-da
La-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da da-da-da,
La-da-da da-da-da
La-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