Meaning of "Once Upon a Time" by Jim Reeves

The lyrics of "Once Upon a Time" by Jim Reeves depict the bittersweet emotions that arise from reminiscing about a past relationship that has ended. The speaker longs for the days when life was lovely and the skies were blue, but now finds themselves in a dark and stormy emotional state, feeling unprepared for the weather. Despite the gloominess of the present, the speaker tries to hold on to the memories of happier times and pretend that they are still together with their past lover. The absence of the rainbow and sunshine symbolizes the lack of hope for a happy ending or reconciliation. The reference to the moon and clouds casting shadows represents the speaker's desire to conceal their pain and avoid being reminded of the loss they have experienced. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of longing, nostalgia, and heartache over a lost love.