Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am trying to learn of the origins of the song "Those Were The Days." Rumour has it that it may be an old Russian folk song that was translated into English. I am hoping that Sheena may be able to sort this out.

I heard this song for the first time when it was sung by Mary Hopkins and recorded on Apple Records, produced I believe by Paul McCartney. I have never noticed it in Paul's list of composed songs before. It has always sounded like an old song to me, perhaps 1930s and 1940s, but then again, "When I'm 64" has a similar style.

It certainly has the flavour of a pub song to me, reminiscing over old times. It has a chorus that is captivating and pulls one into the song very quickly.

I will be interested in what others think of this song and it origins.

Yes, that's right, Peter. Here's the Russian text with English translation:
http://www.pitt.edu/~slavic/sli/admin/by.html
You can listen to it here, sung by Nani Bregvadze:
http://www.russiandvd.com/store/product.asp?sku=30080&genreid=
(click on "click to listen", #6 in the tracks list).

I believe her name was "Mary Hopkin". Peter. No "s".

I recall something like a balalaika playing in the background in verse 3. That's a good clue to its Slavic origins, along with the key signature and the scales used.

Sheena and Peter I appreciate this information

Those were the days when I had a memory Paul. Mary Hopkin is correct. Thank you.

There were three versions of the song released in the sixties before Hopkin's version, she also re-recorded the song with Dolly Parton in 2005.

Interesting the article mentions Hopkin was discovered by McCartney she was actually on a TV talent show called Opportunity Knocks and I believe it was Twiggy who mentioned her to McCartney. The song was also released as a single by Sandie Shaw at the same time but failed to chart.

I believe 'Goodbye' was the hit song that Paul wrote for Mary Hopkin. I recall hearing his original demo.

Correct Randy, Goodbye was the follow up single to TWTD

The tune of "TWTD" is included under the title "The Eight Days of Hannukah" in "Rhapsody for Hannukah," a medley arranged for by Stephen Bulla of "The President's Own" USMC band. This leads me to believe the tune must have eastern European origins, possibly Russian. It's at the end of the sound clip available here: http://www.curnowmusicpress.com/BrassBand/Stephen%20Bulla%20-%20Rhapsody%20for%20Hanukkah.mp3

Sorry I'm chiming in on this a little late. I don't mean to split hairs but I remember reading that "Those Were the Days" was translated from Lithuanian. I mean it's close to Russia, but.. What a great tune! What a fantastic arrangement! Can't believe that McCartney arranged it. It is too professional and must have been arranged by an oldtimer. My kids even like it and have searched information on Mary Hopkin on the internet to know more about her.

Here's where I read it. It says it's a Lithuanian folk tune:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/halloffame/showbiz/maryhopkin.shtml

If this is true, Mike, it's very interesting. Lithuanian, despite being spoken in a country which has great Slavic influences upon its culture, is actually an ancient language with NO Slavic roots. It sounds nothing like Russian, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, etc. It is the oldest Indo-European language, and shares its beginnings with Latvian, which it split from in the 9th Century.

Well dang, Paul. How do we get to the bottom of this?

Okay, let it be Lithuanian... In fact, it's a tough task to find the actual roots. The record by Alexander Vertinsky which i have says: music B. Fomin, lyrics K. Podrevsky...
BTW, has anybody listened to the song with Russian lyrics?.. Just curious...

Online publication, article taken from the newspaper "Zhivoy zvuk": http://www.willy.msk.ru/music/thosewer.html
I'll try to translate the first two passages, and i hope Mark's (Horowitz) wife could confirm i'm not tryin' to speculate or taking the translation off the top of my head - it might not be the direct "word-by-word" translation, but i'm trying to do my best to keep the general meaning. It's a thin subject, however, as i mentioned before... see my comment below the quote.
"'Dorogoy dlinnoyu' - one of a couple of popular Russian songs which not only broke through the Iron Curtain in 20th century, but even became hits in US, which is evident if we look at the hit lists. In 1968, a record entitled 'Those were the days' became a best-seller and earned millions [bucks] for performers (not creators' inheritors, though, because it was suggested to be traditional).
In fact, the song has 'parents' - a well-known (in his field) composer Fomin and now-forgotten poet Podrevsky. The most known Russian interpretation belongs to Alexander Vertinsky - he made a 'pop' tune out of it and it became famous all around the world due to him...."
That, of course, doesn't mean the song couldn't be originated in a Lithuanian folk tune. Could be that Fomin based the song on a Lithuanian folk tune. Didn't manage to find any confirmation yet, though...