(Boris Fomin/Gene Raskin)
 
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 dreamed 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 choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young
Oh yes those were the days
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
For we were young
Oh yes those were the days
 
How the busy years [bad word] 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
For we were young
Oh yes those were the days
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
For we were young
Oh yes those were the days
 
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 person 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
For we were young
Oh yes those were the days
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
For we were young
Oh yes those were the days
 
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 our 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
For we were young
Oh yes those were the days
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
For we were young
Oh yes those were the days