Once upon a time there was an ocean
But now it's a mountain range
Something unstoppable set into motion
Nothing is different, but everything's changed

It's a dead end job, and you gets tired of sittin'
And it's like a nicotine habit you're always thinking about quittin'
I think about quittin' every day of the week
When I look out my window it's brown and it's bleak

Outta here
How am I gonna get outta here?
I'm thinking outta here
When am I gonna get outta here?
And when will I cash in my lottery ticket
And bury my past with my burdens and strife?
I want to shake every limb in the garden of Eden
And make every love the love of my life

I figure that once upon a time I was an ocean
But now I'm a mountain range
Something unstoppable set into motion
Nothing is different, but everything's changed

Found a room in the heart of the city, down by the bridge
Hot plate and TV and beer in the fridge
But I'm easy, I'm open, that's my gift
I can flow with the traffic, I can drift with the drift
Home again?
Naw, never going home again
Think about home again?
I never think about home

But then comes a letter from home
The handwriting's fragile and strange
Something unstoppable set into motion
Nothing is different, but everything's changed

The light through the stained glass was cobalt and red
And the frayed cuffs and collars were mended by haloes of golden thread
The choir sang, "Once Upon A Time There Was An Ocean"
And all the old hymns and family names came fluttering down as leaves of emotion

As nothing is different, but everything's changed


Lyrics submitted by cp8climb

Once Upon a Time There Was an Ocean Lyrics as written by Paul Simon Brian Eno

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Once Upon a Time There Was an Ocean song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    Can't believe no one has commented on all these new PS songs!...I'm pretty sure this song is my new official theme song. I especially love the lines, "But I'm easy, I'm open, that's my gift, I can flow with the traffic, I can drift with the drift"

    Reginaon December 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song so much. I never cease to be amazed by Paul Simon. The lyrics, "It's a dead end job, and you gets tired of sittin' And it's like a nicotine habit you're always thinking about quittin' I think about quittin' every day of the week." are amazing, and just about every one of us can relate to it. "something unstoppable set into motion, nothing is different, but everything's changed."

    angon December 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    But then comes a letter from home The handwriting's fragile and strange Something unstoppable set into motion Nothing is different, but everything's changed

    I find these lines to be so strong, they always remind me of that moment I learnt my father died. Paul Simon is the master of lyrics, his songs are beautiful poems.

    willblakeon March 14, 2010   Link

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