# Songs about the halcyon days of youth **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 21, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318 "2005-10-21T19:25:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/21 "2005-10-22T15:47:04Z")
Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote a song (_“Jubilee”_) with that exact phrase: _“We’ll look back and say Those were halcyon days, Talkin’ 'bout Jubilee.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/22 "2005-10-22T15:49:06Z")
“Those Were The Days” by Mary Hopkin ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/23 "2005-10-22T16:02:46Z")
> [@LiveOnAPlane](#): > > Your confusion is understandable. Various sources say December 1963 (Oh What A Night) was by Frankie Valli, others say it was Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and yet others credit it to The Four Seasons. Many sites also call the song “Oh, What A Night” (notice the comma). > > As I best recall, the song came out in 1975 or 1976. > > Also, Wycleff Jean recorded a song, “Oh What A Night” as well, and it even icluded part of the prior song: > > “Oh, what a night > Late December, 1993 (what happened?) > Who thought he would rule the industry? > What an MC on the grind” > > In this example, only two lines (the first two) were from the original hit. Yes, there is great confusion! The Dells originally released the song _Oh, What A Night_ in **1956** and the song was written by Marvin Junior (an original member of the group that formed in 1954) and John Funches. The song was re-released in 1969 and eventually became a million seller. The Dells were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. The song_December, 1963 (Oh What A Night)_ was released in 1975 by the Four Seasons and the song was written by Bob Gaudio and J. Parker. Completely different songs. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/24 "2005-10-22T16:16:35Z")
Regarding the OP, here are a few others that come to mind:[ul] [li]Bob Seger - _Night Moves_[/li][li]Everly Brothers - _Wake Up Little Susie_[/li][li]Danny & the Juniors - _At the Hop_[/li][li]Silhouettes - _Get a Job_[/li][li]Brian Hyland - _Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini_[/li][li]Drifters - _Save the Last Dance for Me_[/li][/ul] The first one was done in 1969 and the others were all #1 Billboard Songs in the period of 1957-1960. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/25 "2005-10-22T21:24:40Z")
Lots of Beach Boys songs: - [I Get Around](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beach-boys/13911.html) None of the guys go steady cuz it wouldn’t be right. - [Be True to Your School](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beach-boys/13905.html) Like you would to your girl. - [In My Room](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/In-My-Room-lyrics-Beach-Boys/1EF7D28489886FFD4825698200256C15) The teenager, in his room. What’s that under the mattress? - [I’m Bugged at My Old Man](http://www.19.5degs.com/lyrics/I'm%20Bugged%20At%20My%20Ol'%20Man/17316) You really have to hear this paen to overwrought teenaged angst to appreciate it. The Beach Boys were having a bit of fun. - [Wouldn’t It Be Nice](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beach-boys/13925.html) Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true. Outdated but sweet yearnings for 16-year-old girls: - [Venus in Blue Jeans](http://www.lyricsondemand.com/c/clantonjimmylyrics/venusinbluejeanslyrics.html) - [You’re Sixteen](http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/youresix.htm) - [Sixteen Candles](http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/the_crests/sixteen_candles.html) - [Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen](http://www.lovelyrics.com/artists/NEIL%20SEDAKA%20lyrics/NEIL%20SEDAKA%20HAPPY%20BIRTHDAY%20SWEET%20SIXTEEN%20lyrics.php) … and the other side of that party: [It’s My Party](http://er.neoxer.com/lyrics/lesley.html) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/26 "2005-10-23T02:02:30Z")
Gee, but I’d give the world to see [That Ooooold Gang of Miiiine](http://homepages.bw.edu/~rdensmor/EdisonRecordsList/#E141) . . . ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/27 "2005-10-23T04:59:42Z")
**Thin Lizzy** - “Dancing in the Moonlight” (made doubly poignant in the acoustic **Smashing Pumpkins** cover) **The Smiths** - “There is a light that never goes out” **The Magnetic Fields** - “Young and Insane” **Beat Happening** - “Indian Summer” immediately springs to mind, but one could make the point that almost all of their songs were about this very topic. **R.E.M.** - “Nightswimming” ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/28 "2005-10-23T05:01:32Z")
oh, and one of the ultimates - **Big Star** - “In the Street” (you might know it as the theme song to “That 70’s Show” - "Hanging out, down the street The same old thing we did last week Not a thing to do But talk to you Steal your car, and bring it down Pick me up, we’ll drive around Wish we had A joint so bad…" ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/29 "2005-10-23T05:17:31Z")
How about Social Distortion’s “Story of My Life”? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/30 "2005-10-23T06:59:55Z")
> [@laina\_f](#): > > … and the other side of that party: > [It’s My Party](http://er.neoxer.com/lyrics/lesley.html) And the sequel, _Judy’s Turn to Cry_. How about _Seasons in the Sun_ by Terry Jacks? Sure, the narrator is dying, but before that he had joy, he had fun. _I Wanna Rock_, Twisted Sister _It Takes Two_, from the Broadway musical _Hairspray_ _I Can Hear the Bells_, also from _Hairspray_ _Something’s Coming_, from _West Side Story_ ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/31 "2005-10-23T07:41:28Z")
I really like the chatty style of **Nickelback** ’s [Photograph](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nickelback/photograph.html). “And this is where I went to school Most of the time had better things to do Criminal record says I broke in twice I must have done it half a dozen times” ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/32 "2005-10-23T14:20:55Z")
_A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation_ The four Freshmen(?) _We’ll Sing in the Sunshine_ Mary (of Peter, Paul and Mary) _Roundabout_ Yes _That’ll be the Day_ Buddy Holly, and others \*Your my Best Friend \* Queen _Under the Boardwalk_ (don’t recall) - Natural Woman\* Aretha Franklin _The Coca Cola Song_ (_I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing_ _A Tisket, a Tasket,_ Ella Fitzgerald ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/33 "2005-10-23T14:41:54Z")
_A White Sport Coat_ - **Marty Robbins** _We’ll Sing In The Sunshine_ - **Gale Garnett** _Under The Boardwalk_ - **The Drifters** I added the artists so you’d be able to find them if you ever went looking. I thought of “When I Was Young” by The Animals. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/34 "2005-10-23T14:45:07Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > _A White Sport Coat_ - **Marty Robbins** > _We’ll Sing In The Sunshine_ - **Gale Garnett** > _Under The Boardwalk_ - **The Drifters** > > I added the artists so you’d be able to find them if you ever went looking. > > I thought of “When I Was Young” by The Animals. Thanks, I’m old That’s my excuse. my story and I’m stickin’ to it! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318/35 "2005-10-23T23:28:37Z")
MODERATOR SPEAKETH: Just a gentle reminder: do NOT quote entire song lyrics. You can quote a line or two and provide a link. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-the-halcyon-days-of-youth/327318.md?page=1)