Once Upon A Time in The West
- Dire Straits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scaring the pedestrians for a minute
Crossing up progress driving on the grass
Leaving just enough room to pass
Sunday driver never took a test
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Yes it's no use saying that you don't know nothing
Sitting on a fence that's a dangerous course
Oh, you could even catch a bullet from the peace-keeping force
Even the hero gets a bullet in the chest
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Mother Mary your children are slaughtered
Some of you mothers ought to lock up your daughters
Who's protecting the innocents
Heap big trouble in the land of plenty
Tell me how we're gonna do what's best
You guess once upon a time in the west
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
(Once upon) once upon a time in the west
Once upon a time in the west
Once upon a time in the west
Once upon a time in the west
Once upon a time in the west
Once upon a time in the west
Once upon a time in the west
Once upon a time in the west
Once upon a time in the west
The lyrics of "Once Upon a Time in the West" by Dire Straits touch on themes of recklessness, danger, and the need for action in a society that is becoming increasingly chaotic.
In the first verse, the song portrays a society where some individuals find pleasure in breaking the law and causing chaos. They speed, scare pedestrians, and disregard rules. This behavior is seen as a hindrance to progress, crossing up the advancements society is trying to make. The reference to the Sunday driver who never took a test suggests that even those who do not actively break the rules are still part of this chaotic environment. The phrase "once upon a time in the west" captures a sense of nostalgia for a time when things were simpler and more orderly.
The second verse emphasizes the importance of taking action and not remaining ignorant or passive. The lyrics imply that pretending to be clueless or sitting on the fence is dangerous. The line "It's still gonna get you if you don't do something" indicates that society's problems will eventually catch up to those who do nothing to address them. The mention of catching a bullet from the peace-keeping force suggests that even those who try to maintain peace can still face dire consequences.
The third verse takes a darker turn, addressing the slaughter of innocent children and the need for protection. The reference to mothers locking up their daughters implies that women are particularly vulnerable in this chaotic society. The phrase "heap big trouble in the land of plenty" suggests that even in a prosperous society, there are significant issues to be addressed. The question of how to do what's best for everyone remains unanswered, leaving it up to interpretation.
The repetition of "once upon a time in the west" throughout the song emphasizes the nostalgic longing for a simpler and more peaceful time. It serves as a reminder that society has changed and evolved to become more dangerous and complex. The lyrics as a whole highlight the need for action and awareness in the face of chaos and the importance of protecting the vulnerable in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people get a cheap laugh breaking up the speed limit
Certain individuals find amusement in exceeding the speed limit to provoke a small, insignificant laugh
Scaring the pedestrians for a minute
Their actions startle pedestrians only momentarily
Crossing up progress driving on the grass
Obstructing forward movement by driving off-road
Leaving just enough room to pass
Allowing only a small amount of space for others to maneuver past
Sunday driver never took a test
An inexperienced driver who never underwent proper testing and training
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Referring to a past era in the western region
Yes it's no use saying that you don't know nothing
Claiming ignorance will not be of any help
It's still gonna get you if you don't do something
Consequences will inevitably catch up to you if no action is taken
Sitting on a fence that's a dangerous course
Remaining indecisive in a critical situation can lead to perilous outcomes
Oh, you could even catch a bullet from the peace-keeping force
Even those trying to maintain peace might harm you inadvertently
Even the hero gets a bullet in the chest
Even the singer faces danger and harm in their quest
Mother Mary your children are slaughtered
Metaphorically depicting the pain and tragedy of innocent lives lost
Some of you mothers ought to lock up your daughters
A plea for protective measures to safeguard vulnerable individuals
Who's protecting the innocents
Questioning the absence or inadequacy of safeguards for the pure-hearted
Heap big trouble in the land of plenty
Considerable unrest and turmoil in a supposedly affluent region
Tell me how we're gonna do what's best
Asking for solutions to determine the optimal course of action
You guess once upon a time in the west
Reflecting on the uncertainty and complexity of past times in the western region
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Reiterating the reference to a bygone era in the western region
Once upon a time in the west
Recalling a specific historical period in the western region
Once upon a time in the west
Revisiting a particular time in the past of the western region
Once upon a time in the west
Reflecting on a specific era from the western region's history
Once upon a time in the west
Harkening back to a nostalgic period in the western region
Once upon a time in the west
Reminiscing about a time long ago in the western region
Once upon a time in the west
Eliciting memories of a past epoch in the western region
Once upon a time in the west
Evoking a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era in the western region
Once upon a time in the west
Reflecting on the historical past of the western region
Once upon a time in the west
Recalling a significant period in the western region's history
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Mark Knopfler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnsmith-hk3pd
Some people get a cheap laugh breaking up the speed limit
Scaring the pedestrians for a minute
Crossing up progress driving on the grass
Leaving just enough room to pass
Sunday driver never took a test
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Yes it's no use saying that you don't know nothing
It's still gonna get you if you don't do something
Sitting on a fence that's a dangerous course
Oh, you could even catch a bullet from the peace-keeping force
Even the hero gets a bullet in the chest
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Mother mary your children are slaughtered
Some of you mothers ought to lock up your daughters
Who's protecting the innocents
Heap big trouble in the land of plenty
Tell me how we're gonna do what's best
You guess once upon a time in the west
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Once upon a time in the west
@380_pound_black_womans_sto3
Used to do the same thing with 4 Advents. Here's a list to try:
Maggot Brain .. Funkadelic
Have You Heard .. Moody Blues
Sway .. Rolling Stones
Stone Believer . Iron Butterfly
Free Four .. Pink Floyd
Have A Heart .. Bonnie Raitt
Long Long Time .. Linda Ronstadt
That should get you started.
@klm7858
Thanks for the terrific sound on this!! It's almost like playing the original recording! I only wish you had put the whole album on here. :-)
@garrick7076
Might be on spotify.
@anthonylambjr.7666
Their best and one of my top 20 of all time.
@lucrichard3539
Phill Collins
@hans-kristianarnestad2469
we wanna know
@suepitman3826
Luc Richard c=
@henrydowney1174
Dire Straits - the gift that keeps on giving - even in 2023
@naturesfinest4871
Same as the herps.....but Dire Straits much more enjoyable.....lol
@aleksandardjukic1060
2024
@jaythornton9929
I used to get in my car and drive around listening to this song over and over. The whole album is fantastic