About The Song
The second No. 1 single from Earl Thomas Conley’s hits collection is a great example of how a strong vocalist can elevate middling material.
“Once in a Blue Moon” has its heart in the right place, but it’s heavy on self-degradation and light on self-awareness. The narrator is beating himself up for being a bad partner who only delivers what his woman needs every “once in a blue moon,” yet he seems oblivious to the solution being entirely in his own hands. Just stop being a jerk, dude.
It works overall because Conley’s interpretation of the material is enough to suggest that such an epiphany is on the horizon. He aches and breaks in all of the right places, adding a sense of self-loathing that makes it feel like we’re meeting him at rock bottom and that he’s ready to turn the corner and treat his partner with the love and respect that she deserves throughout the entire lunar cycle.
It’s a remarkable feat of singing because none of that is on the page. Conley is able to create it through his innate sense of empathy and his remarkable interpretive gifts.
Video
Lyrics
Nine times of ten, she’s right and I am wrong,
When I won’t give in she just goes along
Standing by my side, sitting home alone
I’ll never know what keeps her hanging on
When anybody else would be long gone
But once in a blue moon I’ll do something right
And Once in a blue moon I’ll make her feel so fine
I can make her laugh, And make her cry
She hates the way she loves me sometimes
Once in a blue moon I’ll do something right
She’s starving for affection, so hungry for loves touch
But she only hears ‘I love you’ when we’re making love
Lord, I’ll always wonder why she love me so much
And the best I’ll ever do won’t be enough
So I’ll just thank my lucky stars above
But once in a blue moon I’ll do something right
And Once in a blue moon I’ll make her feel so fine
I can make her laugh, And make her cry
She hates the way she loves me sometimes
Once in a blue moon, once in a blue moon
Every once in a blue moon
I’ll do something right
Once in a blue moon…