Old Russian romance: Those were the days!

Hello,

Today we will watch a video and listen to a good old Russian romance: By Long Road (Dorogoy Dlinnoyu/Дорогой длинною) [composed before 1917]! We think many of our readers know and love an English version of this song, known as "Those Were the Days" and written in 1968.



For our readers who wants to know more:

This Romance was written by Boris Fomin (1900-1948) with words by the poet Konstantin Podrevskii the official year of birth is 1924 but specialists still argue about it: Because there are two versions of this romance and first version of it was sung by incredible Alexander Vertinsy even before Russian Revolution [25 October 1917]. All who has heard this romance by Vertinsky admit that it was genial!

For our Russian speaker readers here is a very good article about this romance in Russian.

And for all our readers we publish the original Russian text and its English interpretation:

Слова К.Подревского Ехали на тройке с бубенцами, А вдали мелькали огоньки... Эх, когда бы мне теперь за вами, Душу бы развеять от тоски! Припев: Дорогой длинною, Погодой лунною, Да с песней той, Что вдаль летит звеня, И с той старинною, Да с семиструнною, Что по ночам Так мучила меня. Да, выходит, пели мы задаром, Понапрасну ночь за ночью жгли. Если мы покончили со старым, Так и ночи эти отошли! Припев: В даль родную новыми путями Нам отныне ехать суждено! Ехали на тройке с бубенцами, Да теперь проехали давно! Припев:

English text by Gene Raskin 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. Refrain: Those were the days my friend, We'd thought they'd never end, We'd sing and dance for-ever 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. Lalala lah lala, lalala lah lala Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days. Then the busy years when 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: Refrain: 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 person really me. Refrain: 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. Refrain:

Best wishes
and we think it is great that both Russian and English speakers can enjoy such a wonderful song!

Svet and Kyle
comments always welcome.

Some videos can be not available now. We are working to recover them all!