A canção, escrita por Gene Raskin (1909-2004), refere-se a White Horse Tavern, um bar em Greenwich Village, que foi frequentado por Dylan Thomas.
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
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 chose
Big fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
La la la la la la
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 chose
Big fight and never lose
Those were the days
Oh yes, those were the days
La la la la la la
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 creature really me?
Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
All my friends were 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 chose
Big fight and never lose
Those were the days
Oh yes those were the days
