Once Upon A Long Ago....

I went to England. To be specific, it was twenty years ago this fall that I spent a semester as a student of Queen Mary College, University of London. It was a great experience, and perhaps I'll write a series of posts about it - but for now there's one aspect of it I want to talk about.

While I was there the song 'Once Upon a Long Ago' by Paul McCartney hit the top of the charts. You couldn't help hearing this song everywhere - on the radio - in the stores - all over. And I loved this song.

I thought about buying the tape and bringing it home with me - but opted not to. This was a well thought out decision. The stock market had crashed while I was there, and I (as well as my fellow American students) had been told by parents that the money we had already exchanged was all we'd be getting - because the exchange rate had tanked. So, economically, it made little sense to buy the tape there, when I was sure I could get it at home. After all, this was Paul McCartney - not some obscure singer. And the song was Number One. And had been for weeks.

So, I get home and find that no one over here has ever heard of the song. It's not playing on the radio. It's as if it doesn't exist. But, that's okay. I did know which album it was on, so all I had to do was wait for the album to be released in the states. And it was a 'best of' album. And it was Paul McCartney. All I had to do was wait, and I'd get my song.

I waited. And finally one day I saw the album "All the Best" in the stores. I picked it up, and turned it over - and checked the list of songs. 'Once Upon a Long Ago' was not on the album. I couldn't believe it. It was a number one song by Paul McCartney and I couldn't get my hands on it.

After that I began a fruitless quest to get this album. If someone was going to England - I'd ask them to look for me - but somehow things never quite worked out.

Then a few years later my friend and I were on vacation in Holland. We were eating breakfast in the hostel we'd stayed at and I became aware of music playing. And it was that song. I hadn't thought about trying to buy the song in Holland - but now the quest began anew.

And I was successful. I bought the tape, I was able to listen to the song again. All was right with the world.

Then last year, I was telling my children about this song, and the saga behind obtaining it. I wanted to play it for them. I found the tape. Found a tape player that worked and inserted tape. I fast-forwarded to right before the song, and hit play. We listened to the end of the previous song and 'Once Upon A Long Ago' started playing. And then stopped.

No matter how many times we tried, or on what player we used, my tape refused to work - when it got to that song.

So, once again, I didn't have the song. With the internet it's a bit easier now - you can order things from far and wide - so I knew all I had to do was find the CD and purchase it - but I hadn't got to it yet. Then the other day my mother reminded me about iTune - perhaps I could purchase just that song.

And then it hit me. Youtube. And I checked. And sure enough, there were actually two video versions of the song. Now, I can listen whenever I want, and I can share it with you - for Poetry Friday.

Once Upon a Long Ago
by Paul McCartney

Picking up scales and broken chords
Puppy dog tails in the House of Lords
Tell me darling
What can it mean?

Making up moons in a minor key
What have those tunes got to do with me?
Tell me darling
Where have you been?

Once upon a long ago
Children searched for treasure
Nature's plan went hand in hand
With pleasure
Such pleasure.

rest of lyrics here.

Poetry Friday is being hosted by Whimsy.