Those were the Days – On the Rocks

by Mary Hopkins
Key of C – – SHEET MUSIC

The name of this song seems to be “Dorogo’ Dlinnoyu” and translated means “By a long road.”

The origins of the melody appear to be strongly claimed by the Russians; and Russian gypsies consider it their song. Some sources claim it was written by two Russian composers – B. Fomin (music) and K. Podrevsky (lyrics) at the end of the 19th century or in the beginning of 20th century. There is another song, Russian title given as “Darogoi Dli Mayou.” calling itself “Dear to Me.” this too is supposed to be a version of “Dorogo Dlinnoyu” and was first recorded by Alexander Wertinsky in the 1920s.

(Cm) Once upon a time there was a tavern (C) Where we used to raise a glass or (Fm) two. Remember how we laughed away the (Cm) hours, and (G) dream about the great things we would [G7] do

[CHORUS] – – – – – (Cm) Those were the (C) days my friend. We thought they’d (Fm)) never end. We’d sing and (A#) dance forever and a (Cm or D#) day. We’d live the (Fm) life we choose. We’d fight and (Cm) never lose, For we were (G7) young and sure to have our [Cm] way

[G7] La la la [Cm] la la la – – – [Fm] La la la la la la
La la [G7] la la La la la la la [Cm] la

[Cm] Then the busy years went rushing by us. We [C7] lost our starry notions on the [Fm] way. If by chance I’d see you in the [Cm] tavern, we’d [D7] smile at one another and we’d [G7] say

[CHORUS] – – – – –

[G7] La la la [Cm] la la la – – – [Fm] La la la la la la
La la [G7] la la La la la la la [Cm] la

[Cm] Just tonight I stood before the tavern. [C7] Nothing seemed the way it used to be. In the glass I saw a strange [Cm] reflection. [D7] Was that lonely person really [G7] me

[G7] La la la [Cm] la la la – – – [Fm] La la la la la la
La la [G7] la la La la la la la [Cm] la

[Cm] Through the door there came familiar laughter. [C7] I saw your face and heard you call my name. Oh my friend we’re older but no [Cm] wiser. For [D7] in our hearts the dreams are still the [G7] same

[CHORUS] – – – – –

[G7] La la la [Cm] la la la – – – [Fm] La la la la la la
La la [G7] la la La la la la la [Cm] la

[G7] La la la [Cm] la la la – – – [Fm] La la la la la la
La la [G7] la la La la la la la [Cm] la [ G C ] ABRUPT STOP

THOSE WERE THE DAYS 1962
RUSSIA OR UKRAINE TUNE OF ~~ 1900
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 THINK OF
ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE WOULD DO .
CHORUS
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…
THOSE WERE THE DAYS,
OH, YES THOSE WERE THE DAYS.
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 REPEAT
CHORUS
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?
REPEAT CHORUS
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.
REPEAT CHORUS