Joel Landy, 'These Are the Days' / 5C Cafe, March 30, 2025

Welsh singer Mary Hopkin had a hit with "Those Were the Days", her debut single in 1968. It was produced by Paul McCartney. You probably know it.
Fast forward to 2025 and we sing the song again with different words and a different title.
THESE are the days where democracy is in peril.
THESE are also the days when we will organize to save our country, our personal future and the future of our children.
Sing along and take action.
In Solidarity,
Joel Landy

Here are the words.

These Are the Days (2025)
Original song, “Those Were the Days” by Boris Fomin and Gene Raskin.
New words: Joel Landy

Once this country had a Constitution defending everybody living here
A Bill of Rights offered us protection from criminals who’d have us live in fear
Those were the days, my friends, we thought they’d never end
And there was freedom in things we’d do and say
Our kids and savings grew. We’d vote. It counted too.
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days.

But then the corporations took it over. A court said they are human just like me.
They buy the Congress and every election. What has become of our democracy?
Those were the days, my friends, we thought they’d never end
And there was freedom in things we’d do and say
Our kids and savings grew. We’d vote. It counted too.
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days.

And what about our leadership and the separation of powers? Our President and corporate media tell us stories about what is legal and who is to blame for higher prices, government irresponsibility, our afflicted poor and our disappearing middle class.
They talk. Congress talks, but what do those Republicans say? Who do they represent? And what does Donald Trump do every time he opens his mouth?

Lie lie lie lie lie lie… and lie.

Citizens United, Musk, and Bezos, and the billionaires who run this crooked game …
“We, the People” recognize our power. From now on things will not be the same.

These are the days, my friends, when sleeping silence ends
We claim our future. We’re fighting for our lives.
Around the world we rise, occupy, organize.
These are the days, oh yes, these are the days.

The 1% and their monied friends will resist this, of course. Corporate and social media will advertise opinions and attempt to control and co-opt the conversation about all of this. But we know what they are up to. It is all part of one …big…never ending…
all consuming…fear and chaos… … Lie, lie, lie…

These are the days, oh yes, these are the days.