“Once Upon a December” is a song from the 1997 animated film Anastasia, a story about the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, and the rumors surrounding her purported escape from Communist revolutionaries in 1918 who executed the rest of the Romanov royal family. Inspired by the 1952 play and 1956 film of the same name, in the tale Anastasia is an 18 year-old amnesiac named Anya who is used by former leaders of the White Army during the Russian Revolution. With her likeness to the Grand Duchess, they attempt to swindle a sizable reward for her safe return to the exiled Russian aristocracy, particularly her grandmother the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna, who they must convince of Anya’s royal authenticity.
The song and its lyrics are sung three times throughout the movie by various characters: Angela Lansbury as the Dowager Empress Marie, Lacey Chabert as the young Anastasia, and Liz Callaway as the adult Anastasia. A pop version by Deana Carter was also featured on the film’s soundtrack and released as a music video. The film score was composed, co-orchestrated, and conducted by David Newman, whose father, Alfred Newman, composed the score of the 1956 film.
The animated film has been adapted into a stage musical, premiering on Broadway in April 2017 following a pre-Broadway run in Hartford, Connecticut.
Lyrics
Dancing bears,
Painted wings,
Things I almost remember,
And a song someone sings,
Once upon a December.
Someone holds me safe and warm,
Horses prance through a silver storm,
Figures dancing gracefully across my memory.
Far away,
Long ago,
Glowing dim as an ember,
Things my heart used to know,
Things it yearns to remember.
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December.
Patricia Scheeler
Justin, I must thank you for all the fabulous music you have generously made available. As interminable quarantine set in, I dusted off my keyboard and have fallen in love again with playing music I had put aside for a time. The way you arrange things makes me feel like I can play at a much higher level than I think I can. My daughter caught me playing this and was enthralled. She was 3 years old when the movie came out so it is part of her childhood repertoire. Needs a little polish on my part but it will challenge me for quite some time
Justin
Thank you for the kind words, Patricia, and I’m glad you like the song! The original is such a mesmerizing tune. This is one of those I don’t always play the same way twice, especially during the quick arpeggios, so feel free to skip notes and just play however you feel comfortable. I’ll post accompaniment tracks soon, too.