“Those Were the Days,” a wistful and nostalgic ballad, is perhaps the most iconic song associated with Welsh singer Mary Hopkin. Released in 1968, this folk-inspired track catapulted the then 18-year-old Hopkin to international fame, becoming a defining sound of the late 1960s. Discovered by supermodel Twiggy and subsequently signed to The Beatles’ Apple Records, Hopkin’s pure, crystalline voice and innocent charm perfectly captured the sentimentality of the era.
The song, a Russian folk song originally titled “Dorogoi Dlinnoyu,” was adapted into English by Gene Raskin. It tells the story of reminiscing about simpler times, celebrating friendship, camaraderie, and the bittersweet passage of time. The lyrics paint a picture of shared memories, of singing and dancing in a favorite tavern, suggesting a yearning for the carefree joy of youth. While simple in its structure, “Those Were the Days” resonated deeply with audiences worldwide, tapping into a universal longing for the past.
Upon its release, “Those Were the Days” soared to the top of the charts in several countries, including the UK, where it reached number one, and the US, where it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It sold millions of copies globally and earned Hopkin a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary-Pop Vocal Performance, Female.
The song continues to evoke strong emotions in listeners. Many describe feeling a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, reflecting on their own past experiences. Others appreciate the song’s simple beauty and its ability to transport them back to a bygone era. While some may find the sentimentality overly saccharine, the enduring popularity of “Those Were the Days” testifies to its powerful impact and its place in popular music history as a timeless classic.