Once in a While
Richard O'Brien Lyrics


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Once in a while, she don't want to call you
Speaking on the telephone
And once in your life, she won't want to know you
You look around
The one you've found, she is gone

And that's all the time that it takes
For a heart to turn to stone
The sweeter the wine
The harder to make the break
You hear something about someone
You'd thought you'd known

So baby don't cry like there's no tomorrow
After the night there's a brand new day
And there'll be no pain, and no more sorrow
So wash your face
And phone my place, it'll be OK

And that's all the time that it takes
For a heart to beat again
So give me a sign
That a lover makes




You look around
The one you've found is back again

Overall Meaning

The song “Once in a While” by Richard O’Brien is a melancholic presentation of the feeling of being left behind by a loved one. The opening line, “Once in a while, she don't want to call you,” suggests that despite the consistency of the relationship, there are times when one partner might prefer to be away. The subsequent line, “And once in your life, she won't want to know you” amplifies this feeling, with O’Brien emphasizing that losing someone you love is painful.


O’Brien infers that relationships do not remain constant and that people change over time. The verse, “The sweeter the wine, the harder to make the break,” highlights that the stronger the bond between the two partners, the more challenging it becomes to sever that connection entirely. The line, “You hear something about someone you'd thought you'd known,” suggests that people are not always the person they portray themselves to be, which leads to a loss of trust in a relationship.


However, O’Brien asserts that it is essential to believe in new beginnings and that one should not despair over a lost relationship. The chorus, “So baby don't cry like there's no tomorrow, After the night, there's a brand new day, And there'll be no pain, and no more sorrow, So wash your face, And phone my place, it'll be okay” encourages the listener to pick themselves back up after the heartbreak and embrace the concept of change. The final verse, “So give me a sign that a lover makes, You look around, the one you've found is back again” indicates that with time, healing, and acceptance, one can rediscover love and happiness.


Line by Line Meaning

Once in a while, she don't want to call you
Occasionally, she doesn't feel like talking to you over the phone.


And once in your life, she won't want to know you
At some point, she may not want to associate with you anymore.


You look around. The one you've found, she is gone
You realize that the person you thought you knew is no longer around you.


And that's all the time that it takes for a heart to turn to stone
Emotional wounds can result in becoming emotionally distant or hardhearted.


The sweeter the wine, the harder to make the break
It's harder to detach from something or someone that once brought happiness.


You hear something about someone you'd thought you'd known
You discover information about someone that contradicts who you thought they were.


So baby don't cry like there's no tomorrow
You shouldn't worry endlessly about the future.


After the night there's a brand new day
A new day brings new opportunities and a fresh start.


And there'll be no pain, and no more sorrow
The future will be free from pain and suffering.


So wash your face, and phone my place, it'll be OK
Simply freshen up and call me, and things will improve.


And that's all the time that it takes for a heart to beat again
It doesn't take long to heal emotional wounds and feel love once more.


So give me a sign that a lover makes
Show me something that indicates romantic attraction.


You look around. The one you've found is back again
The person you thought you lost is now back in your life.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DIAMOND

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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