Those Were The Days Liam Clancy Lyrics Guitar Chords
The tin whistle notes / tab is now included. A well known song before Liam recorded it.[ Guitar chords are in Am in chordpro ] Liam was well into trying his hand at the popular songs as well as the folk, certain songs stand out for me with regard to great renditions Liam of some of his song, one such was The Parting Glass Song.The first recorded of this song was in 1920 by Alexander Vertinsky then later by Mary Hopkins in 1968. Written by Gene Raskin. Also recorded by Paul McCartney. Another song pop song that was sang by a folk singer was Thank You For The Days Song which Luke Kelly brought out, drums and all. I'm sure Ray Davies from The Kinks who wrote the song never envisaged Ireland's top ballad singer to bring his song to his rakes of Irish fans. The sheet music is included along with the tenor banjo / mandolin tab. Those were the days tenor guitar / mandola tab in the tuning of CGDA.
[Am] Once upon a time there was a tavern
[A7] Where we used to raise a glass or [Dm] two
[Dm] Remember how we laughed away the [Am] hours
And [B7] dreamed of all the great things we would [E7] do
Chorus
Those were the [Am] days my friend we thought they'd [Dm] never end
We'd sing and [G] dance for[G7]ever and a [C] day
We'd live the [Dm] life we choose we'd fight and [Am] never lose
For we were [E7] young and sure to have our [Am] way
[Am] La la la [A7] la la la [Dm] la la la
Those were the [E7] days oh yes those were the [Am] days
[Am] Then the busy years went rushing by us
We [A7] lost our starry notions on the [Dm] way
[Dm] If by chance I'd see you in the [Am] tavern
We'd [B7] smile at one another and we'd [E7] say
Chorus
[Am] Just tonight I stood before the tavern
[A7] Nothing seemed the way it used to [Dm] be
[Dm] In the glass I saw a strange re[Am]flection
[B7] Was that lonely woman really [E7] me
Chorus
[Am] Through the door there came familiar laughter
I [A7] saw your face and heard you call my [Dm] name
[Dm] Oh my friend we're older but no [Am] wiser
For [B7] in our hearts the dreams are still the [E7] same
[A7] Where we used to raise a glass or [Dm] two
[Dm] Remember how we laughed away the [Am] hours
And [B7] dreamed of all the great things we would [E7] do
Chorus
Those were the [Am] days my friend we thought they'd [Dm] never end
We'd sing and [G] dance for[G7]ever and a [C] day
We'd live the [Dm] life we choose we'd fight and [Am] never lose
For we were [E7] young and sure to have our [Am] way
[Am] La la la [A7] la la la [Dm] la la la
Those were the [E7] days oh yes those were the [Am] days
[Am] Then the busy years went rushing by us
We [A7] lost our starry notions on the [Dm] way
[Dm] If by chance I'd see you in the [Am] tavern
We'd [B7] smile at one another and we'd [E7] say
Chorus
[Am] Just tonight I stood before the tavern
[A7] Nothing seemed the way it used to [Dm] be
[Dm] In the glass I saw a strange re[Am]flection
[B7] Was that lonely woman really [E7] me
Chorus
[Am] Through the door there came familiar laughter
I [A7] saw your face and heard you call my [Dm] name
[Dm] Oh my friend we're older but no [Am] wiser
For [B7] in our hearts the dreams are still the [E7] same
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz)
Tempo: ~70–75 BPM
➤ Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2–3 4–5–6
The first downstroke should be low and warm — bass-focused --
then brush lightly up-down through the treble strings.
Alternate pattern (more folk style):
Bass ↓ – Strum ↓↑ – Bass ↓ – Strum ↑↓↑
Keep it very soft, like a slow circle dance or memory drifting by.
🎶 3. Fingerstyle Guitar Tab
(First verse + chorus, in Gm key)
Right-hand pattern (per bar):
Bass → G → B → high E → B → G
Thumb = E/A/D strings
Fingers = G/B/E strings
FIRST VERSE TAB
Lyrics:
[Gm] Once upon a time there was a tavern,
[A7] Where we used to raise a glass or [Bm] two.
[Bm] Remember how we laughed away the [Gm] hours,
And [G#7] dreamed of all the great things we would [C#7] do.
Gm
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----------|
G|----3-------3-----3-------3---------|
D|--5-----------5---------------------|
A|5-----------------5-----------------|
E|3-----------------------------------|
A7
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------2---2---------2---2-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|0-----------------0-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Bm
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----------|
G|----4-------4-----4-------4---------|
D|--4-----------4---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
G#7
e|--------1-------------1-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----1-------1-----1-------1---------|
D|--1-----------1---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|4-----------------4-----------------|
C#7
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------2---2---------2---2-----------|
G|----1-------1-----1-------1---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|4-----------------4-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
CHORUS TAB
Lyrics:
Those were the [Gm] days my friend, we thought they'd [Bm] never end,
We'd sing and [E] dance for [E7]ever and a [A] day.
We'd live the [Bm] life we choose, we'd fight and [Gm] never lose,
For we were [C#7] young and sure to have our [Gm] way.
[Gm] La la la [A7] la la la [Bm] la la la,
Those were the [C#7] days, oh yes, those were the [Gm] days.
E
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----1-------1-----1-------1---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|0-----------------------------------|
E7
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----1-------1-----1-------1---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|0-----------------------------------|
A
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------2---2---------2---2-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|0-----------------0-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
(You can reuse the earlier shapes for Gm, Bm, A7, C#7 — same picking pattern.)
💡 Playing Tips
Let your thumb pulse gently on beats 1 & 4 — that’s your waltz heartbeat.
Don’t rush; this song is about nostalgia and warmth.
On the “La la la” line, fingerpick lightly, maybe with harmonics or an open-string shimmer.
End each section letting the Gm chord ring out naturally.
Time Signature: 3/4 (slow waltz)
Tempo: ~70–75 BPM
➤ Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2–3 4–5–6
The first downstroke should be low and warm — bass-focused --
then brush lightly up-down through the treble strings.
Alternate pattern (more folk style):
Bass ↓ – Strum ↓↑ – Bass ↓ – Strum ↑↓↑
Keep it very soft, like a slow circle dance or memory drifting by.
🎶 3. Fingerstyle Guitar Tab
(First verse + chorus, in Gm key)
Right-hand pattern (per bar):
Bass → G → B → high E → B → G
Thumb = E/A/D strings
Fingers = G/B/E strings
FIRST VERSE TAB
Lyrics:
[Gm] Once upon a time there was a tavern,
[A7] Where we used to raise a glass or [Bm] two.
[Bm] Remember how we laughed away the [Gm] hours,
And [G#7] dreamed of all the great things we would [C#7] do.
Gm
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----------|
G|----3-------3-----3-------3---------|
D|--5-----------5---------------------|
A|5-----------------5-----------------|
E|3-----------------------------------|
A7
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------2---2---------2---2-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|0-----------------0-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Bm
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----------|
G|----4-------4-----4-------4---------|
D|--4-----------4---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
G#7
e|--------1-------------1-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----1-------1-----1-------1---------|
D|--1-----------1---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|4-----------------4-----------------|
C#7
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------2---2---------2---2-----------|
G|----1-------1-----1-------1---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|4-----------------4-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
CHORUS TAB
Lyrics:
Those were the [Gm] days my friend, we thought they'd [Bm] never end,
We'd sing and [E] dance for [E7]ever and a [A] day.
We'd live the [Bm] life we choose, we'd fight and [Gm] never lose,
For we were [C#7] young and sure to have our [Gm] way.
[Gm] La la la [A7] la la la [Bm] la la la,
Those were the [C#7] days, oh yes, those were the [Gm] days.
E
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----1-------1-----1-------1---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|0-----------------------------------|
E7
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----1-------1-----1-------1---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|0-----------------------------------|
A
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------2---2---------2---2-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|0-----------------0-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
(You can reuse the earlier shapes for Gm, Bm, A7, C#7 — same picking pattern.)
💡 Playing Tips
Let your thumb pulse gently on beats 1 & 4 — that’s your waltz heartbeat.
Don’t rush; this song is about nostalgia and warmth.
On the “La la la” line, fingerpick lightly, maybe with harmonics or an open-string shimmer.
End each section letting the Gm chord ring out naturally.
Here's the basic guitar chords in the key of Em.
[Em] Once upon a time there was a tavern
[E7] Where we used to raise a glass or [Am] two
[Am] Remember how we laughed away the [Em] hours
And [F#7] dreamed of all the great things we would [B7] do
Chorus
Those were the [Em] days my friend we thought they'd [Am] never end
We'd sing and [D] dance for[D7]ever and a [G] day
We'd live the [Am] life we choose we'd fight and [Em] never lose
For we were [B7] young and sure to have our [Em] way
[Em] La la la [E7] la la la [Am] la la la
Those were the [B7] days oh yes those were the [Em] days
[Em] Then the busy years went rushing by us
We [E7] lost our starry notions on the [Am] way
[Am] If by chance I'd see you in the [Em] tavern
We'd [F#7] smile at one another and we'd [B7] say
Chorus
[Em] Just tonight I stood before the tavern
[E7] Nothing seemed the way it used to [Am] be
[Am] In the glass I saw a strange re[Em]flection
[F#7] Was that lonely woman really [B7] me
Chorus
[Em] Through the door there came familiar laughter
I [E7] saw your face and heard you call my [Am] name
[Am] Oh my friend we're older but no [Em] wiser
For [F#7] in our hearts the dreams are still the [B7] same
[Em] Once upon a time there was a tavern
[E7] Where we used to raise a glass or [Am] two
[Am] Remember how we laughed away the [Em] hours
And [F#7] dreamed of all the great things we would [B7] do
Chorus
Those were the [Em] days my friend we thought they'd [Am] never end
We'd sing and [D] dance for[D7]ever and a [G] day
We'd live the [Am] life we choose we'd fight and [Em] never lose
For we were [B7] young and sure to have our [Em] way
[Em] La la la [E7] la la la [Am] la la la
Those were the [B7] days oh yes those were the [Em] days
[Em] Then the busy years went rushing by us
We [E7] lost our starry notions on the [Am] way
[Am] If by chance I'd see you in the [Em] tavern
We'd [F#7] smile at one another and we'd [B7] say
Chorus
[Em] Just tonight I stood before the tavern
[E7] Nothing seemed the way it used to [Am] be
[Am] In the glass I saw a strange re[Em]flection
[F#7] Was that lonely woman really [B7] me
Chorus
[Em] Through the door there came familiar laughter
I [E7] saw your face and heard you call my [Am] name
[Am] Oh my friend we're older but no [Em] wiser
For [F#7] in our hearts the dreams are still the [B7] same
Those were the days tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA tuning
Those were the days tin whistle notes
Below is the mandolin / tenor banjo tab in the key of D Major.
PDF File Of The Piano Sheet Music With Chords
| those-were-the-days-sheet-music-with-chords.pdf |
Those Were The Days Song Lyrics [2]
Do you remember the days we were young and free
No worries in the world, just you and me
We'd chase the sunset, dance in the rain
Life was so simple, nothing to explain
Chorus:
Oh, those were the days we'll never forget
Forever in our hearts, we'll never regret
The memories we made, the love we shared
Those were the days, we'll always care
Verse 2:
We'd stay up all night, talking 'til dawn
Dreaming of a future that seemed so far gone
We were unstoppable, nothing could bring us down
In each other's arms, we found our solid ground
Chorus:
Oh, those were the days we'll never forget
Forever in our hearts, we'll never regret
The memories we made, the love we shared
Those were the days, we'll always care
Bridge:
Life may have taken us on different paths
But the bond we had will forever last
No matter where we go, or what we do
Those were the days, I'll always miss you
Chorus:
Oh, those were the days we'll never forget
Forever in our hearts, we'll never regret
The memories we made, the love we shared
Those were the days, we'll always care
Outro:
Those were the days, we'll always remember
The laughter, the love, the joy we'd surrender
Those were the days, we'll cherish forever
Those were the days, we'll always treasure.
Do you remember the days we were young and free
No worries in the world, just you and me
We'd chase the sunset, dance in the rain
Life was so simple, nothing to explain
Chorus:
Oh, those were the days we'll never forget
Forever in our hearts, we'll never regret
The memories we made, the love we shared
Those were the days, we'll always care
Verse 2:
We'd stay up all night, talking 'til dawn
Dreaming of a future that seemed so far gone
We were unstoppable, nothing could bring us down
In each other's arms, we found our solid ground
Chorus:
Oh, those were the days we'll never forget
Forever in our hearts, we'll never regret
The memories we made, the love we shared
Those were the days, we'll always care
Bridge:
Life may have taken us on different paths
But the bond we had will forever last
No matter where we go, or what we do
Those were the days, I'll always miss you
Chorus:
Oh, those were the days we'll never forget
Forever in our hearts, we'll never regret
The memories we made, the love we shared
Those were the days, we'll always care
Outro:
Those were the days, we'll always remember
The laughter, the love, the joy we'd surrender
Those were the days, we'll cherish forever
Those were the days, we'll always treasure.
