ONCE UPON A TIME
Vic Damone Lyrics


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Once upon a time, a girl with moonlight in her eyes
Put her hand in mine and said she loved me so
But that was once upon a time, very long ago

Once upon a time, we sat beneath the willow tree
Counting all the stars and waiting for the dawn
But that was once upon a time; now the tree has gone
How the breeze ruffled through her hair
How we always laughed as though tomorrow wasn't there
We were young and didn't have a care
Where did it go?

Once upon a time, the world was sweeter than we knew




Everything was ours; how happy we were then
But, somehow, once upon a time never comes again

Overall Meaning

The song "Once Upon a Time" by Vic Damone is a ballad about reminiscing on past love and the good times shared. The opening lyrics describe a girl with moonlight in her eyes who confesses her love. The singer reflects on this moment and acknowledges that it was a long time ago. The second verse describes sitting beneath a willow tree, counting stars and waiting for dawn. This, too, was a long time ago and the tree is now gone. The singer then muses on the memories of how the breeze would ruffle through her hair, how they always laughed as though tomorrow wasn't there and how carefree they were. He questions where it all went and laments that the happy times of the past cannot be relived.


The song "Once Upon a Time" is a reflection on nostalgia, a common theme in music. The singer is looking back on a time of innocence and joy, but recognizes that it cannot be recaptured. The lyrics are simple but impactful, and the melody is somber yet beautiful. The choice of instrumentals, such as the soft piano and strings, adds to the emotional weight of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Once upon a time, a girl with moonlight in her eyes
In the past, there was a girl who had an alluring presence about her.


Put her hand in mine and said she loved me so
She grabbed my hand and expressed her affection for me.


But that was once upon a time, very long ago
That happy time happened in the distant past and is no more.


Once upon a time, we sat beneath the willow tree
There was an instance in which we found solace under a specific willow tree.


Counting all the stars and waiting for the dawn
During that time, we occupied ourselves with counting the stars and awaiting the dawn.


But that was once upon a time; now the tree has gone
Unfortunately, that time was so long ago that the tree has since disappeared.


How the breeze ruffled through her hair
I recall how the wind would gently twirl through her hair.


How we always laughed as though tomorrow wasn't there
Back then, we found joy in ignoring the future and just enjoying the moment with laughter.


We were young and didn't have a care
As it usually goes with youth, we had no worries or burdens at the time.


Where did it go?
I'm left wondering where that beautiful time had vanished to.


Once upon a time, the world was sweeter than we knew
In the past, the world seemed much more pleasant and inviting than we currently perceive it.


Everything was ours; how happy we were then
During that period, everything seemed to be in our possession and we were extremely happy.


But, somehow, once upon a time never comes again
Unfortunately, that happy time will never return and is just a memory that we can treasure.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Strouse, Lee Adams

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Nacho-Mamma

This is one of my longtime favorites. I'm pushing 60, and I've loved this song for as long as I can remember. Vic Damone had the best voice to deliver such a beautiful rendition.

@RobertSilvestri86

Vic was one of the best. Right up there with Frank and Tony.

@johncollins2798

How could this music ever go out of fashion.

@RobertSilvestri86

Don't think it has. It's just harder to find for people who prefer music to noise..

@michaelterrell5061

@@RobertSilvestri86 Strongly agree.

@witnigel50

What singer what a song My once upon a time a memory of youth love and heart break

@RobertSilvestri86

Yes. Glad you like it. Vic is up there with Frank, and Tony, IMHO.

@TomSpeaks-vw1zp

No one sang this better than Vic.

@RobertSilvestri86

Vic had the pipes Sinatra admired.

@TomSpeaks-vw1zp

@@RobertSilvestri86
Agreed. All the greats have passed. Thank God for records & downloads.

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