"Those were the days my friend" song

[Gary James]

Gary
The version which was sung in the pubs in the 80s and 90s was definitely

"In 1963 we fell into division 2
The Stretford End Cried out aloud, it;s the end of the sky blues".

Now this may be different to the original 60s song, but this is unquestionably the version which was sung in the pubs around every away game throughout that entire period.

That's when i was singing it - I didn't go on to the Kippax until 1983, but used to stand in chanters corner (top section, above tunnel, near away fans - second half I'd move down to in front of the tunnel to make sure I could get to the 53 bus quickly after the game).

I think, like almost everything to do with City, there are different versions. You're right about "Farewell To Maine Road" I put '62 again in '63. Really bizarre that.

What I do remember is that the first few lines were often mumbled by the majority of fans until the 'Joe Mercer came' line, so I guess there had to be confusion even in the 80s. We need someone who was stood on the Kippax c.1970-71 to tell us what the original words actually are. All of us who started chanting in the 80s onwards seem to have different views.

 

[levets]

I always thought we shouted "and won" after the "bin to europe too" bit?

That not the case?

Not originally..... It was added much later...

 

[Anonymous]

Defintitive version:

In 1963 we fell into division two
The Stretford End cried out aloud 'that's the end for you, sky blue'
Joe Mercer came, we played the game, we went to Rotherham
We won 1-0 and we were back into Division 1
Since then we've won the league, we've won the cup
We've been to Europe too (AND WON!)
And when we win the league again, we'll sing this song to you
CITY, CITY, CITY, CITY

 

[mike o]

I always thought we shouted "and won" after the "bin to europe too" bit?

That not the case?

Not originally..... It was added much later...

ah o.k,cheers

some people do it and some dont so ive never known

 

[levets]

Why do so many Blues get this wrong? Maybe because Gary James got it wrong in "Manchester The Greatest City".

"In 1963 we fell into division two" is the correct opening.

I actually got part of it wrong in a programme piece for the Kippax Last Stand when the year was printed as '62 not '63 (not "Manchester The Greatest City" - I'll have to check but I'm pretty certain I don't refer to it at all in that, but it's a few years now so I'd have to review it).

There's a thread which talks about the wording:

<a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=162431&start=20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">viewtopic.php?f=1&t=162431&start=20</a>

Part of that thread included:

Ah, I thought the 4th line (as written above) was: "Joe Mercer came, we played the game"

That was the version I used in the original version of my book on Joe Mercer and also what I remember singing, but I may have been wrong. I thought the fact came and game rhymed was why it worked. I'll have to correct this in the new version of the book.

Also, in later years, the line that says 'been to Europe to' was added to with a shout of 'and won!' before the rest of the song carried on.

Shouldn't line one be: In 63 the Boys In Blue fell into Division Two.

The tune for this song/chant was "Auld Lang Syne" though it is sometimes hard to tell.

There were several comments from others on that thread and I also got a few PMs & emails. Taking it all into consideration it's clear there is a lot of debate about the opening lines. My view (and I remember singing this but obviously I could have got the wording wrong) is that the words are:

In '63 the boys in blue fell into Division Two,
The Stretford End cried out aloud, 'it's the end of the Sky Blue',
Joe Mercer came,
We played the game,
We went to Rotherham,
We won one-nil and we were back into Division One.
Since then we've won the League,
We've won the Cup,
We've been to Europe too (and won!),
And when we win the League again we'll sing this song to you... CITY!

Like I say, I could be wrong, but as the tune is "Auld Lang Syne" the longer opening line works properly with the scan of the tune (not that I'm musical in any way!). A short opening line simply doesn't work.

I'd like to hear more views on this because I think this is one of our most important chants. It's more of an anthem than most and it should be properly recorded. I'm happy to go with the majority view on the opening lines.

A short opening line simply doesn't work.
=====

'in nineteen sixty three we went into division two'... fits perfectly and from someone who was around back then... this is what was sang.. Incidentally... the part of Auld lang Syne that the song is sung to... is the chorous... for allllllll langs syne my dear...

 

[Gary James]

Defintitive version:

In 1963 we fell into division two

Are you sure we actually sang/sing in nineteen-sixty-three? Surely it's sixty-three?

 

[Anonymous]

Absolutely sure.

 

[bri an t]

here is a old one, daisy,daisy, give us your answer do, i am all craze o for the love of you, it wont be a stylish marriage i cant afford a carriage but you look sweet on the street on a bike made for 2 4 6 8 who do we appreciate city.another old one, we hate man utd, we hate Liverpool to, we hate Nottingham Forrest, but city we we love, you, i the good old days.

 

[levets]

Defintitive version:

In 1963 we fell into division two

Are you sure we actually sang/sing in nineteen-sixty-three? Surely it's sixty-three?

YEP... 100% Positive.. absolutely! try it... 'In nineteen sixty three we went... into division two'.. get the emphasis right and you'll see it fits exactly... and that was exactly the opening line...

 

[nw42]

well I feel compelled to add to this debate, the way I see it the fella Dave is right on this one regarding the opening lines.

In 1963 we fell, into division 2
The stretford end cried out aloud, it's the end of you/the sky blues.


As for the rest of it, my memory of it is,


Joe Mercer came, we played the game
We went to Rotherham, we won 1-0 and we were back into Division 1
Since then we've won the league, we've won the cup, we've been to Europe too (and won)
And when we win the league this year, we'll sing this song for you....

The other versions dont scan properly, was also going to make the point about the part of the tune, it being the "chorus" bit "for auld lang syne my dear" ,
but Levets beat me to it.
The only difference from what I remember and how Levets calls it on the opening is either "fell" or "went"

Interesting thread this, as someone pointed out earlier that song is definitely one of THE City songs, it should be kept going.