Darin was a very special and talented entertainer. He was a Grammy award winning singer ('Mack The Knife'), a respected member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ('Dream Lover', 'Splish Splash', 'If I Were A Carpenter') a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a successful record producer, an Oscar nominated actor and a strong supporter of the American Heart Association. Bobby was married to actress Sandra Dee from 1960-1967. They had one son, Dodd, born in December 1961. As a result of complications from a rheumatic heart, Bobby's life was tragically cut short in 1973.
Darin's mother, Vanina Cassotto, had given birth to him when she was 16, and as a result, her parents raised Darin as though he were their son while Vanina was presented off as his elder sister. Darin did not learn the truth about his parentage until he was 32.
For more on Bobby Darin, watch "Beyond the Sea," in which Kevin Spacey portrays the entertainer.
ONCE UPON A TIME
Bobby Darin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A girl with moonlight in her eyes
Put her hand in mine,
And said she loved me so
But that was once upon a time
Very long ago
Once upon a hill
Counting all the stars
And waiting for the dawn
But that was once upon a time,
Now the tree is gone
How the breeze ruffled through her hair
How we always laughed
As though tomorrow wasn't there
We were young
And didn't have a care
Where did it go?
Once upon a time
The world was sweeter than we knew
Everything was ours
How happy we were then
But somehow once upon a time
Never comes again
The song "Once Upon a Time" by Bobby Darin tells a story of love and nostalgia. The song's opening lines describe a fleeting moment of love shared between the singer and a girl with "moonlight in her eyes." They held hands and she professed her love for him, but this was a long time ago. The singer reminisces about the past, describing a moment when they sat under a willow tree and counted stars while waiting for the dawn. The memory brings a sense of melancholy as the tree is now gone, and the past is irretrievable. The song explores the universal theme of loss and the realization that the happiness of the past cannot be recaptured or even fully remembered.
The lyrics are poignant and poetic, and they capture a sense of longing and nostalgia that is both romantic and painful. The song's melody is melancholic, and the arrangement is sparse, allowing the lyrics to shine. Darin's voice is emotive, and he delivers the lines with a sense of sadness and resignation. The song is a testament to the power of memory and the way in which our past experiences shape who we are.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time
In the past, a long time ago.
A girl with moonlight in her eyes
A girl who looked very beautiful and attractive.
Put her hand in mine
Held my hand.
And said she loved me so
Expressed her love for me.
But that was once upon a time
But that was a long time ago.
Very long ago
A very long time ago.
Once upon a hill
On a hill in the past.
We sat beneath a willow tree
We sat under a tree with long, thin branches and leaves.
Counting all the stars
Counting the shining objects in the sky.
And waiting for the dawn
And waiting for the morning.
But that was once upon a time,
But that was in the distant past.
Now the tree is gone
Now the tree is no longer there.
How the breeze ruffled through her hair
How the wind moved her hair.
How we always laughed
How we always found things amusing.
As though tomorrow wasn't there
As if we did not have to think about the future.
We were young
We were in our youth.
And didn't have a care
And did not have any worries or concerns.
Where did it go?
Where did the time and good moments go?
Once upon a time
In the past, a long time ago.
The world was sweeter than we knew
The world was better than we realized.
Everything was ours
We had everything that we wanted.
How happy we were then
How joyful we were at that time.
But somehow once upon a time
But that time seems to have passed away.
Never comes again
Never returns or happens again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Strouse, Lee Adams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrLaddbob
Bobby's delivery of this song is by far in my opinion ,the best there is, no one did it better..
@steveegallo3384
So true.....except, of course, for Tony Bennett......Cheers from Mexico City!
@TinkerTailor4303
Perry Como...❤
@scottydogism
This is one song that no one else should sing. Nobody sings it like Bobby did. This performance is truly one of his best. Magical ❤️
@johnnyrooks
AMEN YES
@dylanjwebmusic
Have you heard Al Martino's version? IMO just as good
@uralbob1
The voice.
@marilynfosseen1541
Bobby Darin's great for sure, but I loved the song by Tony Bennett too.
@ctafrance
It isn't possible to sing a song, any song, better than this. The time, the circumstances, the style, doesn't matter. This is pure performance. Pure delivery. Pure living the song as fully as it can be lived.
@laurasmallwood5611
You should listen to Steve Perry if you want to hear a song performed purely and fully as it can be