Once Upon a Time

The song 'Once Upon a Time' by Toby Fox is a narrative piece that sets the stage for a larger story, likely one that unfolds within a game or a concept album. Toby Fox is known for his work as a video game developer and composer, most notably for creating the indie game 'Undertale'. His music often carries narrative weight and is integral to the storytelling of his games. The lyrics of 'Once Upon a Time' seem to draw from classic fairy tale motifs and serve as a prologue to a story of conflict and adventure between humans and monsters.

The opening lines of the song establish a timeless setting, 'Long ago, Far away,' which is typical of fairy tales. The lyrics recount a history where humans and monsters once coexisted but eventually came into conflict. The humans emerge victorious and banish the monsters underground with a spell. This backstory sets up a world filled with magic, conflict, and a divide between two races. The mention of 'Ebott' and the warning to children about the curse and the dangers of monsters suggest a specific legend within this universe, one that warns of a mountain that harbors a dark secret.

The latter part of the song shifts focus to a 'human child' who, despite the warnings, ventures towards the mountain and falls into the underground world of monsters. The repeated lines 'Oops dropped your heart' and the choice presented between sparing, running, or fighting, hint at a moral dilemma and the importance of choices in the narrative. This could be a metaphor for the loss of innocence or the need to be cautious with one's emotions. The song's structure, with its cautionary tale and emphasis on decision-making, reflects the themes of 'Undertale', where the player's choices have significant consequences on the game's outcome. The song, therefore, not only tells a story but also invites listeners to ponder the implications of their actions in a world where the lines between right and wrong are blurred.