Brendan Vincent Owens ~ Video

Once Upon This TIme
Words & Music By Brendan Vincent Owens (2005)

Once upon a time you had life, you had laughter

or was it once all in your mind, you had love - seemed ever after.

But it sailed away and tore out you heart with a lifeline.

And it may or may not be true for you ‘cause it's once upon a time

Once upon your heart you had life, you had feelings

or was it only at the start, you had joy that sent you reeling

But that fades away and leaves a void that is endless

And it may or may not be true for you ‘cause it's once upon

Only once upon a time

- - - Tick Tock - - -

Once upon this time, you have life, you have laughter but only

Once the clock has chimed you'll have love ever after

That wont sail away it rocks you secure like a cradle

And it may or may not come true for you

only once upon this time.

- - -Tick Tock - - -

And it may or may not come true for you

It's up to you - only once upon

only once upon

only once upon this time.

Background story on the sound recording and the video

For those of you interested; the recording for this song was done on the day it was written (20 minutes after the song was finished in fact) . I will often record a 'sketch' of the song (so I don't forget it) on a pocket minidisk recorder. I recorded this in the kitchen with one mike into the minidisk so I had to place my voice and guitar judiciously to get the right mix. (you can hear the echo of the kitchen as I turn my head up and away from the mike at the end of the song) As it happens this was the one and only take of this song. (appropriate to the song title -ONCE upon a time) The intention was to record the song 'properly' later. However the simplicity and imediacy of this 'sketch' grew on me. A few days later I visited my family in Dublin. While there my brother John who is a video editor/camera man suggested we put a quick video together. Everything had to be done quickly as we both had work to get back to. That night we made a story board for the outline of the song. The following day we set about collecting what video clips we would need. We recorded everything in one day all around the locations I grew up in Finglas and Glasnevin in Dublin. When it came to synchronising the sound while we were recording, I had my minidisk player in my back pocket playing the song into one of my ears with an earphone so I could hear the recording while trying to sing and play along with it in time. The park scene was awkward as we had to wait for a break in the croads of people walking through. So too was the night scene at the roundabout. Everyone coming home from the pub was stopping in their cars and shouting 'give us a song' etc. But it was a bit of a laugh. I did some animated graphics for the Eye Clock illustrations using Flash (incidentally that eye image is taken from a photo of John's actual eye) and then in one (long) evening we did the editing. So really in one day andone evening the video was made. All that considered I think we didn't do too badly really did we? We certainly learned some really valuable lessons that we can put to good use for the next one - YES there will be a next one - you can take that as a threat or a promise :-)