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A Painter Passing Through Lyrics
Once upon a time, I was on my own
Once upon a time, like you've never known
Once upon a time, I would be impressed
Once upon a time, my life would be obsessed
Once upon a time, once upon a day when
I was in my prime, once along the way
If you want to know my secret
Don't come running after me
For I am just a painter
Passing through in history
Yesterday is gone, yesterday's allright
Yesterday belongs, in my dreams at night
Yesterday is swell, yesterday is great
Yesterday is strong, remembering can wait
Once upon a time, once upon a day when
I was in my prime, once along the way
If you want to know an answer I can't turn your life around
For I am just a painter passing through the underground
I was in my stride, always at my game
Here comes Mister Cool, along the walk of fame
I was in demand, always in control
The world was in my hands, my touch had turned to gold
Once upon a time, I was in a daze when
I was in my prime, once along the ways
If you want to know my secret don't come running after me
For I am just a painter passing through in history
Once upon a time, like you've never known
Once upon a time, I would be impressed
Once upon a time, my life would be obsessed
Once upon a time, once upon a day when
I was in my prime, once along the way
If you want to know my secret
Don't come running after me
For I am just a painter
Passing through in history
Yesterday is gone, yesterday's allright
Yesterday belongs, in my dreams at night
Yesterday is swell, yesterday is great
Yesterday is strong, remembering can wait
Once upon a time, once upon a day when
I was in my prime, once along the way
If you want to know an answer I can't turn your life around
For I am just a painter passing through the underground
I was in my stride, always at my game
Here comes Mister Cool, along the walk of fame
I was in demand, always in control
The world was in my hands, my touch had turned to gold
Once upon a time, I was in a daze when
I was in my prime, once along the ways
If you want to know my secret don't come running after me
For I am just a painter passing through in history
Song Info
Submitted by
karnasaur On Mar 11, 2002
More Gordon Lightfoot
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I see him as an observer. TO quote, "Let it be known, that throughout all of these years, I have been wearing....Polka dot underwear..."
The jokes on you. We think he's got all the answers and wisdom, but Gordy is just as baffled as us...He just notices things and comments on them, but we all go through them. He doesn't have all the answers, he's just the painter showing us what he sees as time goes by.
@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNY
@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNY
@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNY I’m struck by his observations about himself as well as his “don’t ask me”. Such as he was “obsessed” at one time or he was walking around like “Mister Cool”. There’s humility in this song.
@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNY I’m struck by his observations about himself as well as his “don’t ask me”. Such as he was “obsessed” at one time or he was walking around like “Mister Cool”. There’s humility in this song.
I love this song so much...and I LOVE GL!!! anyway...to me this song is like the "painter" is actually looking in on an unchangable world. Like everything around him is already planned out and he cant change it which is why he's "passing through history" - thats already written and can't be changed. So thats wut this song means to me and I lvoe it because all too often, as a teen, life seems so suffocating like there's nothing u can do to stop bad shit from happening or to get out of harm's way. and then u can look back and realize that yesterday was better...but "remembering can wait" because tomorrow may be brighter and all u can to is anticipate the future because u cant change the past...if u try u r merely a "painter passing through in history".