Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová – Once

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Send "Once" Ringtone to Cell

Part of me had died
Won't return
And part of me wants to hide
The part of me that's burned

Once, once
I knew how to talk to you
Once, once
But not any more

Hear the sirens, call me home
Hear the sirens, call me home
Hear the sirens, call me home
Hear the sirens, call me home

Part of me has died
To watch it burn
And the heart of me has tried
Look what it's become

Once, once
I knew how to look for you
Once, once
But that was before
Once, once
I would have laid down and died for you
Once, once
But not any more

Hear the sirens, call me home
Hear the sirens, call me home
Hear the sirens, call me home
Hear the sirens, call me home
Hear the sirens, call me home
Hear the sirens, call me home

Send "Once" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by steephyn


Once song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • 0
    My Opinion:this is, without a doubt, the utmost delicate composition on the entire soundtrack and perhaps one of the most stunningly beautiful musical compositions i have ever listened to. at this time, for easily discernible reasons, it resonates very deeply within me. it's so candid that it takes my breath away.
    Flag letdownon October 28, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I have to make a small correction:

    Part of me has VIED
    To watch it burn
    And the heart of me has tried
    BUT look what it's become

    to vie = to rival, to struggle for superiority

    I think it makes more sense with 'vie' ... also, you can clearly hear an V, not a D in the song.
    Flag anaelion April 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I have to make a small correction:

    Part of me has VIED
    To watch it burn
    And the heart of me has tried
    BUT look what it's become

    to vie = to rival, to struggle for superiority

    I think it makes more sense with 'vie' ... also, you can clearly hear an V, not a D in the song.
    Flag anaelion April 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I have to make a small correction:

    Part of me has VIED
    To watch it burn
    And the heart of me has tried
    BUT look what it's become

    to vie = to rival, to struggle for superiority

    I think it makes more sense with 'vie' ... also, you can clearly hear an V, not a D in the song.
    Flag anaelion April 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I have to make a small correction:

    Part of me has VIED
    To watch it burn
    And the heart of me has tried
    BUT look what it's become

    to vie = to rival, to struggle for superiority

    I think it makes more sense with 'vie' ... also, you can clearly hear an V, not a D in the song.
    Flag anaelion April 02, 2009   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:well i think this song is about a relationship that has ended.it was like the most amazing of relationships but it eventually just disenegrated and know theyre not even in contact.thay feel like they dont know each other anymore.before everything was amazing and one wouldve given up their life for the other but things change as do people and their feelings towards others.
    Flag YouAreMyLemonadeon October 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Lyriclover81, I'm pretty sure that the sirens aren't referring to the noise-making sirens. They're the sirens from the Odyssey that sing their siren song to lure the sailors in only to kill them when their boats smash on the rocks.
    Flag Kem729on July 14, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:When I saw The Swell Season in concert, Glen said something about the sirens and how your heart hears them calling and the brain says "Don't! There are rocks!" but the heart says "Fuck the rocks!" And that sometimes the brain is right, but sometimes it isn't.
    Flag speakingintongueson May 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:lyriclover81 - I enjoyed reading your thoughts about this, one of my favourite songs, very much!
    Flag niteflite01on November 07, 2007   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:Part of me has died
    And won't return

    Isn't that such a powerful introduction? Isn't just how you feel when you've finally gotten over the hurt of a relationship. The denial and now accepted its time to move on...somehow you just figure out a way to numb the pain. And hide it away, hopefully never to feel that way again.

    I love how this song captures that feeling of disbelief you feel once you've picked yourself back up and realize that you can't go back. You'll never be able to feel the same way again with that person because of what happened.

    Hear the sirens, call me home

    And even though its over, you've suffered, you've learned, you're moving on....you want them to know that if they needed you, that if they hear sirens that you'll come back. because even though you had those feeling once before...and even though its over...you'll always hold them close to you. In a place that won't hurt...but a place that you can stand should they ever "call me home"

    That is what the song means to me!
    Flag lyriclover81on October 30, 2007   Link

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