Once Upon a Time - The Musical

In 'Once Upon a Time - The Musical' by Patty Cake, the lyrics weave a rich tapestry of characters each grappling with their pasts, their destinies, and their desires for a better future. Emma Swan's verses reflect a deep-seated yearning for a sense of belonging and purpose. She speaks of a memory that glows like an ember, hinting at a past she can't fully recall but feels intrinsically connected to. This longing is a powerful force driving her forward, despite her attempts to escape it. Her journey is one of self-discovery and reclaiming her 'once upon a time,' a metaphor for finding her true place in the world.

Snow White and Prince Charming's duet embodies the classic fairy tale resolution of good triumphing over evil. They sing of setting things right and uniting their kingdoms, symbolizing the hope for a peaceful and harmonious future. Their love and commitment to each other are portrayed as the foundation for this new beginning, a future as bright as the sun. Their story is one of overcoming adversity and achieving a happy ending, a common theme in fairy tales that resonates with the desire for justice and love to prevail.

In stark contrast, the Evil Queen, Captain Hook, and Rumplestiltskin represent the darker side of the fairy tale world. Their verses are filled with themes of vengeance, loss, and the desire to rewrite their fates. The Evil Queen's lines about a stolen happy ending and her determination to tip the scales in her favor highlight the destructive power of bitterness and the lengths to which one might go to reclaim what they believe is rightfully theirs. Captain Hook and Rumplestiltskin's stories of love lost to vengeance and magic gone awry add layers of tragedy and complexity to their characters, showing that even villains have their own tales of woe and longing for redemption.

The song as a whole explores the duality of light and darkness, hope and despair, and the universal quest for a place to belong. Each character's journey is a reflection of the human experience, filled with trials, triumphs, and the enduring hope for a 'once upon a time' where they can find peace and happiness.