Once Upon Another Time
Sara Bareilles Lyrics

Once upon another time
Long ago, in another life.

Somebody's hands who felt like mine
Someone who felt familiar and comfortable to me, who might have been me in another time or place.

Turned the key and took a drive
Started the car and went for a ride, without a particular destination in mind.

Was free
Felt at liberty to go wherever I pleased, without any obligations or responsibilities holding me back.

I recall the sun sank low
I remember the sun setting in the sky, casting a warm glow over everything.

Buckley on the radio
Jeff Buckley's music was playing on the car radio.

Cigarette was burning slow
I was smoking a cigarette, which was slowly burning down to ash.

So breathe
Just relax and focus on my breathing, taking in the fresh air around me.

Just yellow lines and tire marks
All I could see were the painted yellow lines on the road and the marks left by car tires.

Sun-kissed skin and handle bars
The warmth of the sun on my skin, combined with the feeling of gripping the motorcycle handles.

And where I stood was where I was
I was content in my current location, without the desire to be anywhere else.

To be
Just existing, in the moment, without any further purpose or objective.

No enemies to call my own
I had nobody in my life who I considered to be a true enemy or adversary.

No porch light on to pull me home
There was no symbolic 'home' or safety net to return to--I was completely out on my own.

And where I was is beautiful
My current surroundings and state of being were peaceful and aesthetically pleasing.

Because I was free
All of these positives are due to the fact that I was in control of my own life with no external boundaries or obligations.

Before I knew which life was mine
Before I figured out what kind of person I was or what path I wanted to follow in life.

Before I left the child behind
Before I grew up and left behind the carefree innocence of childhood.

Be
Exist, simply and without any further complication.

I saw myself in summer nights
I pictured myself in my mind, enjoying the warm weather and starry nights of summertime.

And stars lit up like candle lights
The sky was full of bright, flickering stars, resembling the glow of a warm, flickering candle.

I made my wish but mostly I
I made a wish upon the stars, but more importantly, had the conviction to believe that my dreams could come true.

Believed
Had faith in myself and my ability to make positive changes in my life.

Deciding nothing good in dying
I came to the realization that there is no inherent good or purpose in an early death or sudden end to one's life.

So I would just keep on driving
Therefore, I resolved to keep moving forward, living my life without fear or hesitation.

Because I was free
Once again, the primary reason for my contentment was my freedom to choose my own path without any external constraints.