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 and sure to have our way

La la la la la la, La la la la la la

Those were the days

Oh yes, those were the days

Then 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 and sure to have our way

La la la la la la, La la la la la la

Those were the days

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 man 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 and sure to have our way

La la la la la la, La la la la la la

La la la la....

La la la la la la, La la la la la la

La la la la....

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

For we were young and sure to have our way

La la la la la la, La la la la la la

La la la la....

La la la la la la, La la la la la la

La la la la....