☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics are about nostalgia and longing, symbolized by remembering a past time
- Metaphor for a past loving relationship through the description of a warm sleigh ride
- The turning of the couples and the music fading in the wind symbolize the fleeting nature of time and memories
- The 'royal voices' could refer to the protagonist's royal lineage and the voices of her ancestors
- The deep longing for home and the past is made evident through the desperate call of her heart for her home
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Once Upon a December" from
Disney's Anastasia tell a story of nostalgia, longing, and love.
In the first section, the singer talks about a past time, symbolized by the 'last leaf on the calendar'. She hears a song that reminds her of that time: 'Once upon a December'.
The next section describes emotional and physical warmth, even though she is on a cold sleigh ride. This could be a metaphor for a loving relationship she had in the past: 'Tell me, who is holding me tightly? Sleigh ride - and yet I feel warm'.
The spinning couples and the music blowing in the wind could represent the fleeting nature of time and memories.
In the third section, there is mention of 'royal ghostly voices', which could possibly refer to her royal heritage and the voices of her ancestors.
In the fourth section, her longing for home and the past becomes even more evident: 'Far, so far, long ago, fairytale dream in December. Longing calls my heart back home, across seas and lands!'
The song ends with the leitmotif 'Once upon a December', which again emphasizes her nostalgia and longing for the past and her home.