Once upon a time in the southeast was a girl
She got sick from the monkeys teaching her to spell the words
She dreamed of turning eighteen singing songs we never heard
But she became a dancer fighting cancer on her own

Her daddy was a miner in those mountains near the road
Her mommy kept her secrets in a jar she never showed
He's drinking by the river stealing silver from his mine
Secrets turn to regrets when they try to cross the line

No matter what you try, you will die
Life will get you like once upon a time
No matter what you try, you will die
Life will get you like once upon a time

Once upon a time in the southeast was a girl
Shot dead by the voices making noises in her mind
She sang for pretty horses, for the trees and butterflies
She fought the city forces and she always won the fight
She laid down in the borders then she slowly closed her eyes
& Sang for silly soldiers what she called 'the final fight'

No matter what you try, you will die
Life will get you like once upon a time
No matter what you try, you and I
I'll forget you like once upon a time

Maybe I'm just sinning for people who hate me
Maybe I'm just singing for people who hate me
Maybe I'm just sinning for people who hate me
Maybe I'm just singing for people who hate me

Once upon a time in the southeast was a girl
She got sick from the monkeys teaching her to spell the words
She dreamed of turning eighteen singing songs we never heard
But she became a dancer fighting cancer on her own.