- published: 06 Jul 2014
- views: 1173003
"Once upon a time" is a stock phrase that has been used in some form since at least 1380 (according to the Oxford English Dictionary) in storytelling in the English language, and seems to have become a widely accepted convention for opening oral narratives by around 1600. These stories often then end with "... and they all lived happily ever after", or, originally, "happily until their deaths". These are examples of the narrative form, and occur most frequently in the narratives produced for children aged between 6 and 8.
The phrase is particularly prevalent in fairy tales for younger children, where it is almost always the opening line of a tale. It was commonly used in the original translations of the stories of Charles Perrault as a translation for the French il était une fois, and of Hans Christian Andersen as a translation for the Danish "der var engang", and the Brothers Grimm as a translation for the German es war einmal (literally "it was once").
The phrase is also frequently used in oral storytelling, such as retellings of myths, fables, and folklore.
Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut in 1990 under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and released her self-titled debut studio album, Mariah Carey. The album went multi-platinum and spawned four consecutive number one singles, on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Following her marriage to Mottola in 1993, a series of hit records, including Emotions (1991), Music Box (1993) and Merry Christmas (1994), established her position as Columbia's highest-selling act. Daydream (1995), made music history when the second single, "One Sweet Day" a duet with Boyz II Men, spent a record sixteen weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100, and remains the longest running number one song in US chart history. During the recording of the album Carey began to deviate from her pop background, and slowly traversed into R&B and Hip-hop. After her separation from Mottola, this musical change was evident with the release of Butterfly (1997).
Can we get back to the basics?
Back where we came from?
When we didn't have no worries
We were basking in the sun
Sometimes the least of my problems feel like the biggest ones
When you said that you were leaving, felt like we had just begun
It would be so easy
Oh, if it was that easy
I can't sleep tonight
So tell me one more time
When I dream, it will be you that's on my mind
It's my heart you hold, so never let it go
I still love you like I loved you long ago
Saw you out on the freeway, and later at the show
It could be my imagination, but I know I'm not alone
All the lights in the city are burning out with time
But there's a light that hangs above, and it's keeping us in line
All this time that's running by won't stop until we stand still
'Cause we are incomplete until we finally breathe
Let's take a look at the future
See where we left off
I'm so grateful that I found you