Week 3 - Once Upon a Time
Welcome to week three. I’ve got a new song to share with you, but first I’ll give you a little bit of background information on last week’s song, Say The Word. This song was written about 6 years ago and it started with a melody. Often times, my husband will come up with a melody first. This song’s melody was kind of bluesy and so the lyrics came out of that. My husband likes to say that some melodies have stories locked up in them. And sometimes you get it right and sometimes you don’t. I think he got it right on this one.
Also, while I have your attention, how do you feel about the once a week postings? Is it a little too infrequent? For me, it feels like forever getting from one Monday to the next. Would you like to hear from me more than once a week? I could go on and on about the music industry and about my husband’s experiences, but that might muddy the experiment. But then again, I’m not really a white lab coat, petri dish kind of girl, so I’d be ok with it if you are.
Now, about this week’s song. I think you’re gonna want to let the kids hear this one. It’s more country sounding, so if you’re not into country, well, just go ahead and listen. You might like it. And in case you’re wondering, it’s one that was recorded in Nashville with studio musicians.
Once Upon a Time
Once upon a time there was this girl of mine
And she was pretty as an angel
And so one night upon a dream she flew away
Up to the Milky Way
There were stars up there and they said, “Oh my dear
She must’ve fallen down from heaven”
When old Mr. Moon came ’round he said, “Well, well
This here’s a real angel”
“No” she said with a laugh and a smile “I’m just my daddy’s girl”
Once upon a time there was this boy of mine
And he was brave and tough as leather
And so one day in our back yard
He came upon cowboys and indians
The cowboys needed help they were all out of shells
And so with just his daisy rifle, he sent those braves a runnin’
The cowboys jumped for joy
They hollered, “Thank you, Roy”
“No” he said as he galloped away “I’m just my daddy’s boy”
Once upon a time there was this wife of mine
And she was shopping at a big mall
While lookin’ for a bathroom walked right through a door
Onto a big stage floor
It was a beauty show
The judges all said, “Whoa”
And they declared she was the winner
And all the other women cried and hugged her tight
Music and flashing lights
“No” she said with a blush and a smile “I’m just my husband’s wife”
Another great story!! I really enjoyed this one. Family is so important and to include yours in such a beautiful way…it was precious. Are the others in the song your wife and children? Even if they aren’t, it brought a special touch to the song. Great job. This is fun way to hear new music. Thanks so much for sharing. God bless!!
I loved this song, it brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart!!!! I enjoy listening every monday to the new song, and would LOVE to hear more songs each week….
I loved this one also, you could feel the love of family. Ya know, I think I liked the unplugged sound of the 1st two songs better if that makes any sense!!
I vote for more than once a week, I’m thinking Monday, Wednesday Friday or more!!! LOL
Loving what I hear!! Wish there was a CD we could buy!
This song harkens back to some 1950’s imagery that just doesn’t work for me.
The tune is lovely-and I like the sort of back and forth conversation with the Dad and his family-but the fantasies he is evoking for each of them is outdated.
I don’t know a boy who wants to shoot Indians, nor a woman that wants to win a beauty contest. It is just way too old school for me to think of in any serious way-and just seems silly.
I think it could work with some updated imagery. But this one reminds me of Burl Ives or something…sorry.
I’m back…just wanted to add something…does your husband ever write any worship songs?? I’d love to hear something like that.
Great set of changes.
You know, I want to like this song. I like the family feel to it. I like the sweetness of it. The sound is good. And the gentle chatter of the family members between verses is nice. But the story itself fell a little flat for me. I don’t know of too many women who would want to say “I’m just my husband’s wife.” We’re all more than just one thing to one person, aren’t we?
Loved it. Wonderful lyrics, great family theme and nice beat. Reminded me of something Chris Ledoux would have song.
I agree with Karen — the “unplugged” sound of the last two songs appealed to me more than this one. But, that’s just me…
I’ve been listening, and trying to figure out exactly what I dislike about this piece. I think it’s the music, since the tune is nice enough. I guess I would like this one better if it just had maybe piano or violin, making it sound more… loving/romantic instead of bouncy.
I love the “I’m just my husband’s wife” part, along with the rest of the “happy family” parts… but I am blessed with a wonderful, close family. While I understand Dollymama’s point about being more than one thing to one person, I feel honored and privileged to be my husband’s wife! That is probably more of a Christian approach to family, though.
I don’t and never have, however, had any desire to win a beauty show — though I suppose it is sweet that the husband in the song thinks that his wife would win one so easily!
So… there you go. I wish I could be more positive… I’ve even listened to this song a number of times through the past few days, to see if it would grow on me. Not really.
I will be eagerly awaiting a new piece next Monday, though!
I like the melody of this song. It’s catchy. I like the idea behind this song. The bedtime scene is sweet, with the voices added in it’s a wonderful little story. I just don’t like the stories the daddy makes up. I see my parting words to them at bedtime and the stories I make up with them as the main character as extensions of my highest hopes for them.
More substance - from what you have shown us this far, you have it in you.
I just wanted to clarify my comment in light of what Tammy L had to say. I am a Christian married woman, so my dislike of the phrase “I’m just my husband’s wife” is not for lack of Christian values.
I love and appreciate my husband. To me, to say, “I’m *just*my husband’s wife” does not sound like a person feels honored by that relationship. It almost sounds dismissive.
Also, to say I’m *just* my husband’s wife is just as wrong as if I were to say I’m *just* my six children’s mother, or I’m *just* my mother’s daughter, or whatever. I’m not *just* anything. And I’d venture to guess that neither are you.
It has nothing to do with not valuing the various relationships we have or roles we play in life. And, as far as Christianity goes, God has so many different names because there isn’t JUST one role God plays. This isn’t an issue of Christian values. 
I just don’t think that the phrasing is very positive. It makes the man who tells the stories sound very self-centered. Everyone in his stories is JUST something that relates to himself. I don’t think that is a positive thing and I don’t think that it would be well received by the general public.
Your Talented Hubby obviously wrote this one for you and the kids, and I respectfully suggest that you and the kids are the most appropriate audience for it. Maybe the ONLY appropriate audience. To all us cynics out here in Listenerland, this tune might seem, by turns, self-absorbed, puerile, sophomoric, saccharin-sweet. And the chatter, to outside ears, is rather inane and intrusive.
But I *love* the sentiment, and applaud him for writing a song in which he so tenderly expresses his love and admiration for y’all.
I REALLY like this one!
I thought this song was really, really sweet. Much better than some of the cheesy country songs I’ve been hearing lately.