Once Upon A Time In The West lyrics

[Love Expresso]

I have absolutely no idea what this song is about. Each of the three verses has a) no relation the the Once Upon A Time .. line, also (to me) there is absolutely no connection between the verses. What is the meaning of this? Where is the meaning of the  "Once Upon A Time In The West" line, apart from that Mark was drunk when he watched the movie? Is there a clue to crack the code? Please enlighten me!

LE

[wayaman]

I have absolutely no idea what this song is about. Each of the three verses has a) no relation the the Once Upon A Time .. line, also (to me) there is absolutely no connection between the verses. What is the meaning of this? Where is the meaning of the  "Once Upon A Time In The West" line, apart from that Mark was drunk when he watched the movie? Is there a clue to crack the code? Please enlighten me!

LE

I always thought that it reflected the wildness of a big city, with thousands and thousands of people, each to their own, I always thought about the typical scenes of Manhattan avenues with lots of people crossing each others at high speed, and all the cars, taxis, buses etc, the noise... A comparation betwen the big city and the wild west.

This is the general idea that always had about the song, but never thought about the exact meaning of the different parts of the lyrics.

[Rolo]

I have absolutely no idea what this song is about. Each of the three verses has a) no relation the the Once Upon A Time .. line, also (to me) there is absolutely no connection between the verses. What is the meaning of this? Where is the meaning of the  "Once Upon A Time In The West" line, apart from that Mark was drunk when he watched the movie? Is there a clue to crack the code? Please enlighten me!

LE

I always thought that it reflected the wildness of a big city, with thousands and thousands of people, each to their own, I always thought about the typical scenes of Manhattan avenues with lots of people crossing each others at high speed, and all the cars, taxis, buses etc, the noise... A comparation betwen the big city and the wild west.

This is the general idea that always had about the song, but never thought about the exact meaning of the different parts of the lyrics.

Yep.
Parking everywhere, no driver license, sunday drivers doing crazyness hahaha. Oh yes, Once Upon A Time In The West

In Brazil there are cities with such a caotic traffic that people usually say: "There is a no man's land" or "no law land" or even better: "This is Babylon" or "this is a Wild West"

[dustyvalentino]

I have absolutely no idea what this song is about. Each of the three verses has a) no relation the the Once Upon A Time .. line, also (to me) there is absolutely no connection between the verses. What is the meaning of this? Where is the meaning of the  "Once Upon A Time In The West" line, apart from that Mark was drunk when he watched the movie? Is there a clue to crack the code? Please enlighten me!

LE

I always thought that it reflected the wildness of a big city, with thousands and thousands of people, each to their own, I always thought about the typical scenes of Manhattan avenues with lots of people crossing each others at high speed, and all the cars, taxis, buses etc, the noise... A comparation betwen the big city and the wild west.

This is the general idea that always had about the song, but never thought about the exact meaning of the different parts of the lyrics.

Yeah, I guess more likely the West End of London (again) than Manhattan, but the reality probably is that the lyrics are just cool sounding nonsense that fit the track as opposed to some profound statement. And that's absolutely fine

[Chris W]

I am also assuming 'West End' - the main busy part of London. Dire Straits being based in the East End for years (Deptford).

[JF]

the line "Even the hero gets a bullet in the chest" is clearly linked to the movie with the Bronson/Harmoncia chraacter in the first scene at the the train station

[Chris W]

Well yes it's a play on the movie 'Once Upon A Time In The West' but also the West End of London (the entertainment, restaurant and shopping district of London).

[dmg]

the line "Even the hero gets a bullet in the chest" is clearly linked to the movie with the Bronson/Harmoncia chraacter in the first scene at the the train station

Also the "Mother Mary your children are slaughtered" line came from the massacre of the McBain family, I had always assumed.

[dustyvalentino]

the line "Even the hero gets a bullet in the chest" is clearly linked to the movie with the Bronson/Harmoncia chraacter in the first scene at the the train station

Eh... were they the heroes?

Again, my feeling is that we are looking for more than is actually there. Didn't MK say he wrote it when the film was on the TV and he was drunk on wine?!

[Ingrained]

Does anyone know the time signature and are there any other well known songs that use that? I think it’s 3 bars of 4/4 and then a bar of 2/4 for the verses?

[Love Expresso]

Thanks all for the input. You all are mirroring some of my thoughts, although West End never came to my mind. I agree with Dusty that there might be a big part "cool sounding fun lyrics" in it. Funny you should say that.

Also the "wildness of a big city" idea is very striking.

LE

[Rolo]

Does anyone know the time signature and are there any other well known songs that use that? I think it’s 3 bars of 4/4 and then a bar of 2/4 for the verses?

It's in 7/4
However have this 4/4 feel

[Ingrained]

Does anyone know the time signature and are there any other well known songs that use that? I think it’s 3 bars of 4/4 and then a bar of 2/4 for the verses?

It's in 7/4
However have this 4/4 feel

Wow, that's bought up loads of search results for me now with the 7/4 time. Thank you Rolo 

[Ingrained]

I think it’s all loosely based around driving and lawlessness in The West or The West End as others have said.

Look at Bowie using the “cut up technique” method to see really non linear stuff….

[Rolo]

Does anyone know the time signature and are there any other well known songs that use that? I think it’s 3 bars of 4/4 and then a bar of 2/4 for the verses?

It's in 7/4
However have this 4/4 feel

Wow, that's bought up loads of search results for me now with the 7/4 time. Thank you Rolo 

You are welcome.
Actually, the song have a mixture of 7/4 and 4/4.
If you count on 4/4 or 2/4 you will note that the strong tempo (aka 1) will change.

And Pick's drumming in this song is flawless.

(Edited)
Ha!
From Alchemy is a implícit 4/4 and 2/4 Groove. But is on 7
3 times 4/4 And 1 time 2/4 = 14 (2 Of 7/4)

Sorry my baaaaad english