Once In A While
John Foxx Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Once in a while
She comes through the walls of my apartment
And once in while she says:
"Come on let's blow it all"

She's amnesia
She's walking out in shattered times
She's a movement
She's a motion
She's moves like smoke before my eyes

Once in a while
I feel somebody move beneath my skin
And once in while I feel that smile
She says: "Come on, let's begin"

She's amnesia
She's walking out in shattered times
She's a movement
She's a motion
I let that smoke get in my eyes

Once in a while

Once in a while
I turn a corner and I feel that
Once in a while
I take a break from everybody's expectations

She's amnesia
She's walking out in shattered times
She's a movement




She's a motion
You know how smoke gets in your eyes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of John Foxx's song Once in a While convey a sense of longing and mystery. The singer of the song seems to be haunted by a woman who appears in his life only occasionally, and yet has a profound impact on his mood and perspective. The opening lines describe how she "comes through the walls" of his apartment, suggesting an otherworldly or ethereal quality to her presence. When she appears, she urges the singer to "blow it all" - to abandon his worries and responsibilities and live in the moment.


The woman is described as "amnesia," which could suggest that she represents forgetfulness or the ability to escape from the past. She is also depicted as a "movement" and a "motion," suggesting a sense of fluidity or constant change. The line "She moves like smoke before my eyes" further reinforces this imagery. The singer's attraction to her is evident in the way he describes feeling her presence "beneath [his] skin" and being drawn in by her smile.


Throughout the song, the singer seems to be grappling with a sense of uncertainty and disillusionment. The repeated lines "once in a while" suggest that the moments of joy or escapism that the woman represents are fleeting and rare. The final lines - "You know how smoke gets in your eyes" - hint at a sense of fragility or transience. Ultimately, the song creates a dreamlike, haunted atmosphere that speaks to the power of memory and the longing for an idealized, unattainable experience.


Line by Line Meaning

Once in a while
Occasionally, but not frequently


She comes through the walls of my apartment
I have intense feelings of desire for someone who is not actually with me


And once in while she says: "Come on let's blow it all"
Sometimes, my intense desire to be with her leads her to suggest doing something wild or reckless


She's amnesia
She makes me forget everything else


She's walking out in shattered times
She exists in a tumultuous world, full of chaos and confusion


She's a movement She's a motion
She is constantly changing, always in motion, always in flux


She's moves like smoke before my eyes
I can't quite grasp her, like smoke that slips through your fingers


Once in a while I feel somebody move beneath my skin
Every so often, I have an overwhelming physical reaction to thoughts of her


And once in while I feel that smile She says: "Come on, let's begin"
Sometimes, the thought of her smile and the idea of being with her becomes too much to resist


I let that smoke get in my eyes
I become blinded by my desire for her


Once in a while I turn a corner and I feel that
At times, I encounter something unexpected that reminds me of her


Once in a while I take a break from everybody's expectations
Intermittently, I give myself permission to step away from societal pressure and be true to my own desires


You know how smoke gets in your eyes
It's difficult to see clearly when your emotions are clouded




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JESSE HARRIS, LARRY KLEIN, MADELEINE PEYROUX

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions