buy brown besoms buy them when they're new
buy broom bessoms better never grew

once upon a time we had a lead to follow
well respected men used to show the way
folks would follow on 'cause they believed the promise
well respected men would never betray
now look around it's hard to see integrity
you ask for direction and they don't know
once upon a time the sun was shin’n brightly
but once upon a time was a long time ago

once upon a time we built a revolution
big steel wheel roll around the world
ten ships sailed and whaled and delivered
all the food necessary for the boys and girls
then one day came a man with a mission
to take away everything they know
once upon a time was a land for heroes
but once upon a time was a long time ago

once upon a time things were oh so simple
you did a day's work you got a day's pay
it didn't come to much but it kept a wife and children
burned in the lantern that’ld light the way
now all's left is the story of a memory
the real thing fades with a dying glow
once upon a time this was a land of plenty
but once upon a time was a long time ago