Once Upon A Time
Foster Lyrics


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Once upon a time
A boy with moonlight in his eyes
Put his hand in mine
And said he loved me so
That was once upon a time
Very long ago

Once upon a hill
We sat beneath a willow tree
Counting all the stars
And waiting for the dawn
That was once upon a time
Now the tree is gone
How the breeze ruffled through his 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.

Overall Meaning

The song "Once Upon A Time" by Foster is a poignant reflection on fleeting youth and lost love. The lyrics describe a moment when the singer was young and in love with a boy who loved her back, but that was a long time ago. The first verse describes the moment when the boy professed his love to her, and the moonlight in his eyes made her heart flutter. The second verse takes the listener to a hill where the couple would watch the stars together and laugh without a care in the world. The memories are bittersweet because the willow tree they used to sit under is gone now, and the boy has long since moved on.


The chorus laments "once upon a time" because everything was so much sweeter then. The world was full of possibilities, love was new and exciting, and nothing could hold them back. But the passage of time has dulled the magic of that time, and the singer wonders where it all went. The song is a reminder to savor the fleeting moments of youth and love because they may never come again.


Overall, "Once Upon A Time" is a heart-wrenching ballad that captures the essence of lost youth and love. The imagery of moonlight, willow trees, and starry skies creates a dreamy atmosphere that transports the listener to that magical time. The melancholic melody underscores the nostalgia and longing of the lyrics, making for a truly emotional experience.


Line by Line Meaning

Once upon a time
Introducing the beginning of the storyful memory that will be told.


A boy with moonlight in his eyes
Describing the appearance of the boy who is/was a part of the memory.


Put his hand in mine
Portraying the physical action that represents the emotional connection between the two individuals in the memory.


And said he loved me so
Expressing the emotional state of the boy, and the fact that he openly shared his feelings for the artist.


That was once upon a time
Putting emphasis on the fact that the memory being recalled occurred in the past, and may no longer be valid.


Very long ago
Solidifying the idea that the memory being recalled is distant, and likely not recent.


Once upon a hill
Introducing a new location, where a further aspect of the memory will be revealed.


We sat beneath a willow tree
Describing the physical environment where the two individuals were located, further cementing the memory in a specific time and place.


Counting all the stars
Explaining an activity the two individuals engaged in to pass the time, and build upon their relationship.


And waiting for the dawn
Suggesting that the two individuals spent a lengthy amount of time enjoying each other's company, waiting for the sun to rise.


Now the tree is gone
Revealing that the location where the two individuals spent their time is no longer present, signalling further change in the memory.


How the breeze ruffled through his hair
Recalling a specific detail about the boy in the memory, which likely stands out as a fond memory for the artist.


How we always laughed as though
Recalling a shared aspect of the two individuals in the memory, suggesting that they had a specific way they interacted with each other.


Tomorrow wasn't there
Suggesting that in the moment of the memory, the two individuals were present and living in the moment, not worrying about the future.


We were young
Describing the age of both individuals in the memory, likely much younger than the singer is now.


And didn't have a care
Further conveying the idea that the two individuals were living in the moment, and not worrying about life's problems.


Where did it go?
Posing the question of where this carefree mentality went, and likely questioning why the artist can no longer experience the same feelings.


Once upon a time
Bringing the story of the memory full circle, and bookending it with the same line as the opening.


The world was sweeter than we knew
Reflecting on the past, and expressing how the singer didn't fully appreciate how good they had it at the time.


Everything was ours
Describing a sense of ownership and belonging that the artist had with the boy in the memory.


How happy we were then
Recalling the overall emotional state of the artist and the boy in the memory, likely a time of great joy and bliss.


But somehow once upon a time
Acknowledging a bittersweet realization that the memory being recalled is no longer a current reality.


Never comes again.
Ending the song with a sad but truthful statement that the past cannot be changed, and sometimes the best memories are those that cannot be relived.




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
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