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...       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   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   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 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   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...       Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days...