Once Upon A Time
King Sun Lyrics
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I like the way this is happenin
This's one of them Uptown stories
Just check it out
[ VERSE 1 ]
At once upon a time I was down in the dumps
Wasn't really makin loot, troops played me like a chump
I used to be a star, but I wasn't gettin far
I had a lotta girls, now I don't have none
Even my Undercover Lover said, "Later, Sun"
Whatever happened to the fans that loved me so much?
I didn't fall off, I know I didn't lose my touch
My money got lower and my friends got lesser
My beeper wasn't beepin, so I kept it on the dresser
At home, what's the use, I was dead on juice
But at one time I was kickin like Bruce
What goes up must come down
Jumpin on the 2 train and maintain Downtown
Brothers who ran to me now run from me
My wears was worn out, my kicks looked bummy
I couldn't get a job, yo, they thought I was jokin
Started losin weight and niggas said I was smokin
Never that, but I was livin fat
Then again, I had to tighten up a notch on my hat
Money was a problem, women was a problem
Family couldn't help em, friends couldn't solve em
I hit rock bottom, spent my last dime
Wasn't doin jack once upon a time
[ CHORUS ]
Once upon a, once upon a, once upon a time
Once upon a time not long ago (2x)
[ VERSE 2 ]
Once upon a time things really looked all in
Way back then, but I recall y'all when
Shit got hectic, I didn't lose faith
Before I had ki's, now I couldn't get a eight
Not even on consignment, my game wasn't good
So I snapped outta that, called Boy in the Hood
Big shot, notorious, undercover gangster
Four fly brothers I can really give thanks to
Run my own company, Money Bag Records
Now I'm makin moves like a king in checkers
I'm back with [Name] in the land of milk and honey
So later for the bitches, now it's all about the money
The kids with the cars who couldn't come and get me
Because of what I'm drivin they be strivin to get with me
And ehm, I know the flava, now they caught the vaps'
Gold went the 12 inch, platinum went the tapes
Rappers used to say 'what's up' and keep movin on
Today they want to jock me (Hey yo, what up, Sun Born?)
But when I wasn't makin noise they forgot I emcee
So I flipped it 'strictly business' like EPMD
It doesn't matter what they say about me now, cause I got it good
I'm the man, fuck the Boys in the Hood
Oh, you're my man now, partners in crime?
All that's dead, cause that was once upon a time
[ CHORUS ]
[ VERSE 3 ]
Rich man, poor man, beggar man, door man
Open my door, I'm a star once more, and
Life is twice as nice with juice in my cup
Like the Jefferson's I'm movin on Up-
town in pursuit of the loot and the boots
I'm a one man group, so to hell with the troops
Remembered Sun-Dulah, now they call him Big Willie
Respect came quick I'm like [Name] from _The Bully_
Gettin mad respect, and I collect P.C.
Every week I come around, clowns hit me with a g
The world was yours, now it's mine, cause I took it back
All jeweled up, muthafucka, what you lookin at?
Now I be dissin, before you wouldn't listen
Now you work for me and don't breathe without permission
Once upon a time I was down in the dumps
Today I'm livin large as if my last name was Trump
This piece goes out to my brother J.R. Gumbs
And everybody who shitted on him
And it also goes out to me
And everybody who shitted on me
But understand one thing
Like they can't keep a good man down
Just to let you know
This goes out to the meadow
From strictly ghetto
They shit, dirt
They always gon' be dirt
And they still dirt
Dirt-ass
The song "Once Upon a Time" by King Sun is a powerful narrative about betrayal, hardship, and ultimately redemption. In the first verse, the rapper describes his fall from grace. He used to be a star with money, women, and adoring fans, but now he is broke, alone, and struggling to find work. He feels abandoned by his former friends and frustrated with his current circumstances. However, instead of giving up, he uses his experiences as motivation to turn his life around. In the second verse, he describes how he rebuilt his life from scratch. He started his own record company, worked hard, and eventually became successful again. He no longer cares about his former detractors and is focused solely on his own wealth and success. In the final verse, he reflects on his journey and reminds listeners that they too can overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
The lyrics of "Once Upon a Time" can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on the listener's own experiences and worldview. Some may see the song as a classic rags-to-riches story, while others may relate more closely to the feelings of betrayal and abandonment that King Sun describes. At its core, however, the song is about resilience and the human capacity to overcome adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
At once upon a time I was down in the dumps
There was a time when I hit rock bottom and was in a slump
Wasn't really makin loot, troops played me like a chump
I wasn't making much money back then and people didn't take me seriously
Everybody else had cribs and cars
Others seemed to have it all with their fancy homes and vehicles
I used to be a star, but I wasn't gettin far
I was once famous, but that fame was not translating into success
I had a lotta girls, now I don't have none
I used to have many girlfriends, but now I am alone
Whatever happened to the fans that loved me so much?
I wonder what happened to those who used to adore me so much
My money got lower and my friends got lesser
I became poor and my friends started to drift away
My beeper wasn't beepin, so I kept it on the dresser
I was not receiving any messages on my pager, so I stopped carrying it around
But at one time I was kickin like Bruce
There was a time when I was doing really well
Brothers who ran to me now run from me
Those who used to run towards me are now running away from me
My wears was worn out, my kicks looked bummy
My clothes and shoes were old and scruffy
I couldn't get a job, yo, they thought I was jokin
I struggled to find employment and people thought I was not serious
Started losin weight and niggas said I was smokin
As I lost weight, people assumed I was on drugs
Money was a problem, women was a problem
I had issues with both finances and romantic relationships
Family couldn't help em, friends couldn't solve em
Neither my family nor my friends could assist me in these problems
I hit rock bottom, spent my last dime
I reached my lowest point; I was broke and out of resources
Once upon a, once upon a, once upon a time
There was a time when things were very different for me
Once upon a time not long ago
This is a story from my past
Once upon a time things really looked all in
Things appeared very promising once upon a time
Big shot, notorious, undercover gangster
I became a famous, respected individual in the criminal underworld
Run my own company, Money Bag Records
I own and operate my own successful record label
Now I'm makin moves like a king in checkers
I am making strategic moves like a chess master
So later for the bitches, now it's all about the money
I am no longer focused on women; money is the priority
And ehm, I know the flava, now they caught the vaps'
I know what's popular now and have been successful in adapting to it
Rappers used to say 'what's up' and keep movin on
Other rappers used to disregard me and not acknowledge me
Today they want to jock me (Hey yo, what up, Sun Born?)
Today, those same rappers are trying to befriend me and associate with me
But when I wasn't makin noise they forgot I emcee
When I was not popular or successful, other rappers forgot about me
It doesn't matter what they say about me now, cause I got it good
I do not care what others say about me now because I am successful
Oh, you're my man now, partners in crime?
Others now want to be my friend and work with me
All that's dead, cause that was once upon a time
Those opportunities no longer exist; they are in the past
Rich man, poor man, beggar man, door man
People of all social classes now know who I am
Like the Jefferson's I'm movin on Up-
I am succeeding and moving up in the world
Now I'm livin large as if my last name was Trump
I am now very wealthy like the Trumps
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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@gabagoolovahere5869
Extremely underrated