Costa showed her musical ability at an early age, singing Sunday School solos at the age of six. At 14, she moved to Hollywood with her parents and soon won a Music Sorority Award as the outstanding voice among Southern California High School seniors.
While studying for the concert stage, she performed with Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy on radio, and with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis on stage. In 1952 after attending a party with her future husband, director Frank Tashlin, she found herself auditioning for the part of Disney's Princess Aurora. Walt Disney called her personally within hours of the audition to inform her that the part was hers.
Costa went on to become "one of the most beautiful women to grace the operatic stage," according to The New York Times. She performed in 44 operatic roles on stages throughout the world, including Jules Massenet's Manon at the Metropolitan Opera, and the lead in La Traviata at the Royal Opera House in London.
Jacqueline Kennedy asked her to sing at a memorial service for her husband, U.S. President John F. Kennedy, from the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1963. Nine years later, she starred in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature The Great Waltz, depicting the life of Austrian composer Johann Strauss.
Costa dedicated her later years to inspiring children and teenagers, giving motivational talks at schools and colleges across the country. She is also an Ambassador for Childhelp USA, which ministers to the needs of abused children.
Once Upon A Dream
Mary Costa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I walked with you
Once Upon a dream
I know you
That gleam in your eyes
Is so familiar a gleam
Yet I know it's true
But if I know you
I know what you do
You'll love me at once
The way you did once upon a dream
La da la da la ahahahahah
But if I know you
I know what you do
You'll love me at once
The way you did once upon a dream
I know you
I walked with you
Once Upon a dream
I know you
That gleam in your eyes
Is so familiar a gleam
Yet I know it's true
That visions are seldom what they seem
But if I know you
I know what you do
You'll love me at once
The way you did once upon a dream
The song Once Upon A Dream, sung by Mary Costa and Bill Shirley, is a romantic duet used in the 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty. The song plays during the scenes where Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip meet each other, love at first sight, and dance together in the forest. The opening verse of the song states, “I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream,” implying that the two characters have a connection beyond their initial meeting.
As the song progresses, Aurora and Phillip sing about the familiar gleam in each other's eyes and how they know each other despite only having met once. The lyrics speak to the idea of love at first sight, where two people feel an instant and deep attraction towards each other. Aurora and Phillip's dialogue in the song is both romantic and playful, as they tease each other and sing about the impossibility of knowing who the other person truly is.
Overall, the song Once Upon A Dream is a representation of falling in love and the feelings that come with it. The lyrics of the song explore themes of instant attraction, recognition, and a sense of familiarity. The song has a dream-like quality to it, as the characters sing about the uncertainty of their feelings and the possibility that everything may be just a vivid dream.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you
I am familiar with you
I walked with you
I have spent time with you
Once Upon a dream
In a dream-like state
I know you
I am familiar with you
That gleam in your eyes
The expression in your eyes
Is so familiar a gleam
It reminds me of something familiar
Yet I know it's true
Although it may seem untrue
That visions are seldom what they seem
Dreams can be deceiving
But if I know you
Assuming I know you well
I know what you do
I know how you will act
You'll love me at once
You will immediately love me
The way you did once upon a dream
Just like in a fairy tale
La da la da la ahahahahah
N/A
But if I know you
Assuming I know you well
I know what you do
I know how you will act
You'll love me at once
You will immediately love me
The way you did once upon a dream
Just like in a fairy tale
I know you
I am familiar with you
I walked with you
I have spent time with you
Once Upon a dream
In a dream-like state
I know you
I am familiar with you
That gleam in your eyes
The expression in your eyes
Is so familiar a gleam
It reminds me of something familiar
Yet I know it's true
Although it may seem untrue
That visions are seldom what they seem
Dreams can be deceiving
But if I know you
Assuming I know you well
I know what you do
I know how you will act
You'll love me at once
You will immediately love me
The way you did once upon a dream
Just like in a fairy tale
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Unison Rights S.L., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANK WILDHORN, LESLIE BRICUSSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-tu6bz5xz9q
I think Mary's singing voice is the most beautiful in the world. It ’s just a gold liquid.
@delilahsamsons6503
OMG, this is SO heavenly..the best duet ever in Disney films..
@TerriHollis2424
Sleeping beauty when It was once upon a dream🎼🎵🎶😍😀
@SakuraJade23
Yo, this version should've been the reprise at the end of the movie where they're dancing
@DD-1996
Or the version for the ending credits (cast & crew), something we would’ve liked to have added from those people.
@LeopardGeckoTree
0:19 That C6 is heavenly
@brayden1104
I love Cinderella, but Mary and Bill seriously beat every other Disney prince and princess in terms of singing. So gorgeous and fluid. ✨
@StephenLuke
Mary Costa and Bill Shirley nailed it.
@TerriHollis2424
Once upon a dream when It was
Sleeping Beauty I love It❤😊
@janicemcdonald1881
First of all let me say this, Psalm 139:14 says I will praise thee, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made! Also, James 1:17 says that all good and perfect gifts come from above. To hear Mary Costa and Bill Shirley sing this unpublished version of “Once Upon a Dream” is a dream come true. I agree with @SakuraJade23, this version should have been the reprise at the end of the movie where they are dancing. Furthermore, I understand that Mary Costa is still living at this time (2/21/2024). Not only is her voice so very lovely but she is stunningly beautiful. Just imagine how GOD graced this divine woman to be the voice of Sleeping Beauty/Princess Aurora. This had to be the LORD’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.