Once Upon a Time In America
The London Starlight Orchestra and Singers Lyrics
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Faithful were Johanna and Epiphanes,
True believers in the Word of God,
Faithful to their Lord, Jesus Christ.
Richest of all folk in Patara were Johanna and Epiphanes,
But they always humbly showed their gratitude.
For their riches they were thankful, Thankful to their Lord for His grace.
How we are blessed, richly blessed.
Gracious is our Lord. We give thanks.
Thankful are we for every gift that we’ve received.
They are blessed (so richly blessed),
They are blessed (richly blessed)
And they’re thankful for all they’ve received,
All they’ve received.
And most of all we give our thanks
That God gave to us our precious son.
Precious son, their precious son, Nicolas their son.
Such a blessing the day he was born.
Then one fateful day in Patara, poor Johanna and Epiphanes
They succumbed to pestilence and died,
When poor Nicolas he was just eighteen. .
Oh what sorrow now, what sorrow now.
Just one thing brought hope to his grieving
They had left him vast inheritance.
Though it did not compensate for losing them
Good Saint Nicolas found his calling there,
Bringing others joy with gifts to share.
I shall not store my treasure upon this earth
Where moth and rust corrupt,
Where thieves break in to steal.
I shall place all my treasure in heav’n above;
It’s where my heart lies, yes, it’s where my heart lies.
He brought truth, he brought love,
He brought joy with his gift from above
Amen!
We are blessed, so richly blessed.
We are blessed, richly blessed,
And we’re thankful for all we’ve received!
Blessing the day he was born.
The lyrics of "Once Upon A Time In America" tell a story about Johanna and Epiphanes, two faithful believers in the Word of God who lived in the town of Patara. Despite being the richest people in Patara, they remained humble and expressed gratitude for their blessings, always acknowledging that their wealth came from God's grace. The lyrics emphasize the importance of being thankful for the gifts received.
The second paragraph continues to emphasize their gratitude and blessings. The repetition of the phrase "They are blessed (so richly blessed), they are blessed (richly blessed)" reinforces their gratefulness for everything they have received. The lyrics also mention their precious son, Nicolas, as a significant blessing in their lives.
Unfortunately, tragedy strikes when Johanna and Epiphanes fall victim to a pestilence and dies when Nicolas is only eighteen years old. The sorrow caused by their loss is immense, but there is a glimmer of hope for Nicolas. The lyrics reveal that his parents left him a vast inheritance, which becomes his only solace in their absence.
However, Nicolas decides that material possessions are not where true happiness lies. Understanding the transient nature of earthly treasures, he commits himself to placing his treasures in heaven, where they will never fade or be stolen. Nicolas becomes Saint Nicolas, known for his generosity and spreading joy through his gifts. The lyrics highlight his chosen path and the fulfillment he finds in bringing joy to others.
The concluding paragraph once again underscores the overriding theme of gratitude. It acknowledges that despite the hardships faced, including the loss of loved ones, there is still a reason to be thankful. The lyrics proclaim that they are blessed and grateful for all they have received, especially on the day Nicolas was born, which symbolizes the hope and redemption he brings to others through his selfless acts.
Overall, the lyrics of "Once Upon A Time In America" weave a tale of faith, gratitude, and the transformative power of giving. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing blessings, finding purpose in tragedy, and spreading joy and love to others.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time in Patara lived Johanna and Epiphanes.
In the past, Johanna and Epiphanes resided in Patara.
Faithful were Johanna and Epiphanes,
Johanna and Epiphanes were devoted and loyal individuals.
True believers in the Word of God,
They had complete faith in the teachings of God.
Faithful to their Lord, Jesus Christ.
They remained steadfast and committed to Jesus Christ.
Richest of all folk in Patara were Johanna and Epiphanes,
Johanna and Epiphanes were the most affluent individuals in Patara.
But they always humbly showed their gratitude.
Despite their wealth, they consistently displayed humility and thankfulness.
For their riches they were thankful,
They expressed gratitude for their wealth.
Thankful to their Lord for His grace.
They were grateful to God for His benevolence.
How we are blessed, richly blessed.
We are incredibly fortunate, abundantly blessed.
Gracious is our Lord. We give thanks.
Our Lord is kind and merciful, and we express our gratitude.
Thankful are we for every gift that we've received.
We are appreciative of each and every gift bestowed upon us.
They are blessed (so richly blessed),
Johanna and Epiphanes are highly favored and fortunate.
They are blessed (richly blessed)
Their blessings are abundant.
And they're thankful for all they've received,
They express gratitude for everything they have been given.
All they've received.
Every single thing that has come their way.
And most of all we give our thanks
Above all, we express our gratitude.
That God gave to us our precious son.
We are grateful to God for blessing us with our beloved son.
Precious son, their precious son, Nicolas their son.
Nicolas, their son, who is cherished and dear to their hearts.
Such a blessing the day he was born.
The day of his birth was a tremendous blessing.
Then one fateful day in Patara, poor Johanna and Epiphanes
Tragically, on a destined day in Patara, unfortunate events unfolded for Johanna and Epiphanes.
They succumbed to pestilence and died,
They fell victim to a deadly epidemic and passed away.
When poor Nicolas he was just eighteen.
At the time, poor Nicolas was merely eighteen years old.
Oh what sorrow now, what sorrow now.
The immense grief and sadness that accompanies this loss is overwhelming.
Just one thing brought hope to his grieving
Amidst his mourning, there was one source of hope that emerged.
They had left him vast inheritance.
Johanna and Epiphanes had bequeathed him a significant inheritance.
Though it did not compensate for losing them
While it could never fully make up for their absence
Good Saint Nicolas found his calling there,
Saint Nicolas discovered his purpose through this inheritance.
Bringing others joy with gifts to share.
By bestowing gifts upon others, he brought happiness to their lives.
Nicolas, good Saint Nicolas, he made a vow:
Nicolas, the virtuous Saint Nicolas, made a solemn promise:
I shall not store my treasure upon this earth
I will not hoard my riches in this earthly realm.
Where moth and rust corrupt,
Because they can be destroyed or decayed by moths and rust,
Where thieves break in to steal.
And can be easily stolen by thieves.
I shall place all my treasure in heav'n above;
Instead, I will invest all my wealth in the heavenly realm;
It's where my heart lies, yes, it's where my heart lies.
That is where my true devotion and love reside.
He brought truth, he brought love,
Nicolas brought honesty and affection;
He brought joy with his gift from above
Through his divine gift, he brought forth happiness and delight.
Amen!
So be it! It is affirmed!
We are blessed, so richly blessed.
We are immensely favored, abundantly blessed.
We are blessed, richly blessed,
We are filled with blessings, and they are plentiful.
And we're thankful for all we've received!
We express gratitude for everything we have been given!
Blessing the day he was born.
Celebrating the day of his birth, a true blessing.
Lyrics © Starshine Music
Written by: Martin Neill, Ruth Kenward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind