ONCE UPON A TIME
Pearls Before Swine Lyrics
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You know I don't mean here
Well, the old men shook with fear as the water rose.
Doo bop dop ...
The fishes knew the sign that there is a tide
The children they called it change
What they did not know
They called it sin and so
The water rose.
Doo wah da ...
All across the land, the old men thundered
'Pile stone on stone'
'A wall's our only hope'
But the children, they only laughed.
Ha ha ha ...
The moral of this song, this made-up story
Don't build a wall of stone
You only have to learn to float.
Well I guess the fishes told
The children, 'cause they know.
Doo dah doo dah ...
The song "Once Upon a Time" by Pearls Before Swine is a cautionary tale about climate change and the consequences of not taking action. The lyrics describe a faraway land where the water is rising and the old men are afraid. While the children understand that this is a sign of change, the old men are stuck in their ways and cannot see the bigger picture. They believe that the rising water is a result of sin and try to build a wall to protect themselves. However, the children know that this wall will not help and instead laugh at the old men. The moral of the story is that instead of trying to resist change or build walls, we must learn to adapt and find ways to float.
The song is rich in imagery and uses simple but effective metaphors to convey its message. The references to water and the rising tide are a clear allusion to climate change, while the old men represent the traditional ways of thinking that have prevented progress. The children, on the other hand, represent the new generation who are more aware of the challenges facing the world and are more willing to embrace change.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time in a faraway land
In a place and time far removed from here, a story unfolded.
You know I don't mean here
The singer addresses the listener, clarifying that the story isn't taking place in their current location.
Well, the old men shook with fear as the water rose.
As the water level began to rise, elderly individuals expressed terror at the impending danger.
The fishes knew the sign that there is a tide
The sea creatures recognized the signs of the changing tide and were prepared to adapt to the incoming water.
The children they called it change
The youth acknowledged the situation as a natural transformation occurring in their environment.
But the old men in their chains.
Despite experiencing the same event, the older generation was stuck in their ways and unable to accept the reality of the situation.
What they did not know
The elderly lacked knowledge about the ongoing transition.
They called it sin and so
They mistakenly viewed the natural occurrence as a punishment for wrongdoing.
The water rose.
The rising water level continued to pose a threat to the inhabitants of the land.
All across the land, the old men thundered
Individuals of an older age group expressed loud, forceful opinions throughout the territory.
'Pile stone on stone'
The older generation advocated for building a barrier to protect against the water.
'A wall's our only hope'
They believed the only solution was to construct a wall.
But the children, they only laughed.
The youth found the older generation's beliefs laughable, realizing that walls would not solve the issue at hand.
The moral of this song, this made-up story
The singer emphasizes the lesson to be learned from the tale they've recounted.
Don't build a wall of stone
The ultimate message discourages the construction of physical barriers that fail to address the underlying issue.
You only have to learn to float.
Instead of resisting change, adapt to the situation by embracing new methods of survival.
Well I guess the fishes told
The artist notes that the sea creatures became the ones to pass on the lesson of flexibility and adaptation to the youth.
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.