Vaughn began his professional music career in 1952, forming the vocal quartet the Hilltoppers with Don McGuire, Jimmy Sacca, and Seymour Speigelman. From 1952 to 1957, the Hilltoppers had numerous hit singles, beginning with Vaughn's song "Trying." He left the group in 1955 to join Dot Records as a musical director.
Vaughn was responsible for most of Dot's biggest hits of the '50s as he rearranged popular rock & roll and R&B songs for white, mainstream groups. His first success was with the Fontane Sisters, who sang with his orchestra on all their singles, including their 1954 breakthrough hit "Hearts of Stone." However, Dot's biggest success was Pat Boone, who had a series of hits with Vaughn's cleaned-up arrangements of rock & roll songs.
Once In A While
Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra Lyrics
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One little thought to me
Though someone else may be
Nearer your heart?
Once in a while will you dream
Of the moments I shared with you
Moments before we two
In love's smoldering ember
One spark may remain
If love still can remember
That spark may burn again
I know that I'll be contented
With yesterday's memory
Knowing you think of me
Once in a while
In love's smoldering ember
One spark may remain
If love still can remember
The spark may burn again
I know that I'll be contented
With yesterday's memory
Knowing you think of me
Once in a while
The lyrics to Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra's "Once In a While" express the hopes and desires of a person who is no longer with their former love but still has fond memories of the time they spent together. The singer is asking their former partner to occasionally think about them, even though they may have moved on with someone else. The lyrics speak to the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia, and the hope that love can reignite even after time has passed.
The first two lines of the song set the stage for the rest of the lyrics. The singer is asking their former love to "try to give one little thought" to them, even though they may be with someone else. The use of the word "try" indicates that the singer knows that it may not be easy for their former love to think about them, but they still hold onto the hope that they will.
The rest of the lyrics expand on this hope, asking if their former love ever dreams of the moments they shared together before they "drifted apart". The lines "In love's smoldering ember, one spark may remain" suggest that even though the relationship may have ended, there is still a chance for love to reignite. The singer is contented with the thought that their former love may think of them "once in a while", indicating a sense of acceptance and resignation to the situation.
Overall, the lyrics to "Once In a While" express a deeply emotional longing for a lost love, while also acknowledging the reality that people move on and relationships end. The song’s melancholic yet hopeful tone has made it a timeless classic in the American Songbook.
Line by Line Meaning
Once in a while will you try to give
I am wondering if you can spare a thought for me and try to reach out, once in a while
One little thought to me
Just a small moment of reflection about me would suffice
Though someone else may be
Although there might be someone else who holds your affections currently
Nearer your heart?
Even if they are closer to your heart than I am, can you still think of me from time to time?
Once in a while will you dream
I wonder if you ever dream of the times when we were together
Of the moments I shared with you
Do you ever reflect on the memories that we created together
Moments before we two
The moments we shared before we parted ways
Drifted apart?
When we slowly became distant in our relationship
In love's smoldering ember
In the remains of our once-passionate relationship
One spark may remain
There is a chance that something small, but meaningful, still exists between us
If love still can remember
If the love that we once shared can remember our connection
That spark may burn again
Then that small, meaningful connection can rekindle our passion once more
I know that I'll be contented
Even if we do not rekindle our passion, I am happy knowing that you remember me fondly
With yesterday's memory
Remembering the past is enough for me to find contentment
Knowing you think of me
Simply having the knowledge that you occasionally think of me brings me peace
Once in a while
Even if it is not often, just knowing that you think of me every now and then brings me happiness
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Written by: BUD GREEN, MICHAEL EDWARDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind