Once I walked through the halls of a station
Someone called your name
In the street I heard children laughing
They all sound the same
Wonder, could you ever know me
Know the reason why I live
Is there nothing you can show me
Life seems so little to give

Once I climbed up the face of a mountain
And ate the wild fruit there
Fell asleep until the moonlight woke me
And I could taste your hair
Isn't everybody dreaming!
Then the voice I hear is real
Out of all the idle scheming
Can't we have something to feel

Once upon a time leaves me empty
Tomorrow never comes
I could sing the sound of your laughter
Still I don't know your name
Must be some way to repay you
Out of all the good you gave
If a rumour should delay you
Love seems so little to save

Overall Meaning

Karen Dalton's song "In a Station" is a bittersweet tune about the emptiness that someone feels when they are experiencing a moment of solitude. The song starts with a memory of someone walking through the halls of a station, hearing someone call out your name. Then they proceed to describe how they can hear children laughing in the street and wonder if the person they want to know could ever understand who they are and why they live. They seem to feel that there is nothing about them that they can show the other person that would make them understand, and life seems like such a meager thing to offer.

The second verse talks about climbing a mountain and eating the wild fruit there, falling asleep and waking up to the taste of someone's hair. The singer seems to be telling us of an idyllic, almost surreal moment that they can't believe is real. They declare that everyone is dreaming, but the voice they hear is real, and out of all the idle scheming, they want something to feel. The third verse seems to lament the fleeting nature of time, where "once upon a time leaves me empty" and "tomorrow never comes." They can sing the sound of someone's laughter, but they still don't know their name, and must find a way to repay the good they gave. If love is endangered by rumors, it is too little to save.

Line by Line Meaning

Once I walked through the halls of a station
Once upon a time, I strolled down the corridors of a station.

Someone called your name
I heard your name being called out by someone.

In the street I heard children laughing
While walking in the street, I heard the laughter of children.

They all sound the same
All children's laughter seemed the same to me.

Wonder, could you ever know me
I wonder if you could ever truly understand me.

Know the reason why I live
Do you know the purpose of my existence?

Is there nothing you can show me
Is there nothing you can present to me?

Life seems so little to give
Life appears to have so little to offer.

Once I climbed up the face of a mountain
At one time, I ascended the slopes of a mountain.

And ate the wild fruit there
While there, I consumed the indigenous produce.

Fell asleep until the moonlight woke me
I nodded off till the moonlight stirred me from slumber.

And I could taste your hair
I sensed a distinct aroma akin to your hair.

Isn't everybody dreaming!
Doesn't everyone fantasize?

Then the voice I hear is real
But then I heard an authentic voice.

Out of all the idle scheming
Amidst all the pointless machinations.

Can't we have something to feel
Can't we possess something tangible to experience?

Once upon a time leaves me empty
Once upon a time, it leaves me feeling hollow.

Tomorrow never comes
We can never quite seem to reach tomorrow.

I could sing the sound of your laughter
I can sing the melody of your laughter.

Still I don't know your name
Despite that, I remain uninformed of your name.

Must be some way to repay you
I must find some method to repay you.

Out of all the good you gave
Among all the kindness you rendered.

If a rumour should delay you
In the event that speculation hinders you.

Love seems so little to save
Love appears to have so little power to rescue.

Contributed by Caroline O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@lastrada52

13y↑9

This is excellent. Karen Dalton doing a song written by The Band. This recording captured Karen wonderfully. I don't know if it's remastered but it's pristine. The instruments are clear. Karen's emotional rendering is intense. This would be a good introduction to Karen Dalton for the unfamiliar listener.