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Cover Art

He Once Was Lyrics by Pattern-Seeking Animals

Spooky Action At A Distance

2023

[Verse 1]
I met a man in town today
Where he's from he did not say
Told his story sad but true
He once was like me and you
He once was like me and you
[Verse 2]
Said he wished the truth away
On that autumn day
People came and gathered by the tracks
Some held signs, some turned their backs
As the train he rode passed by
Bowed his head he knew the reason why
[Chorus 1]
Morning songs the free birds sing
He yearned to hear them, yearned to hear them
Warnings dire the caged birds bring
He learned to fear them, learned to fear them
Born to lead but bred to follow
Hollow rang the words that he belonged
[Verse 3]
White feathers clutched within his hand
As he walked alone along the strand
Women wearing red scarves knelt to pray
He didn't know quite what to say
Fate was rarely fair or kind
To God's poor souls who languish on the lines
[Chorus 1]
Morning songs the free birds sing
He yearned to hear them, yearned to hear them
Warnings dire the caged birds bring
He learned to fear them, learned to fear them
Born to lead but bred to follow
Hollow rang the words that he belonged
[Instrumental Break 1]
[Verse 1 - Reprise]
I met a man in town today
Where he's from he did not say
Told his story sad but true
He once was like me and you
He once was like me and you
[Verse 4]
A ragged book in jagged hands
His diary of a life unplanned
Held together with wire and glue
He once was like me and you
[Chorus 2]
He went down to the water with those who had fallen
Those who can't stand on their own
In the arms of their brothers, sisters and mothers
They're on their way home
They're on their way home
[Verse 5]
Once a soldier battle-worn
Bible bred now body torn
A living hell that he lived through
He once was like me and you
He once was like me and you
[Instrumental Break 2]
[Chorus 2]
He went down to the water with those who had fallen
Those who can't stand on their own
In the arms of their brothers, sisters and mothers
They're on their way home
They're on their way home
They're on their way home
They're on their way
[Verse 6]
His voice grew soft, his words did stray
He bid farewell then walked away
A restless soul with thoughts askew
He once was like me and you
Credits
Pattern-Seeking Animals

Pattern-Seeking Animals

About “He Once Was” by Pattern-Seeking Animals

Read the complete lyrics to "He Once Was" by Pattern-Seeking Animals from the album "Spooky Action At A Distance" in 2023. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Progressive Rock, Rock.

"He Once Was" is performed by Pattern-Seeking Animals. from the album "Spooky Action At A Distance" in 2023 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "He Once Was", explore more songs by Pattern-Seeking Animals using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"He Once Was" is credited to Pattern-Seeking Animals. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"He Once Was" appears on "Spooky Action At A Distance" in 2023.

Visit the Pattern-Seeking Animals artist page at /artist/pattern-seeking-animals for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.