--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once upon a valley There came down From…" description: "\"“Once upon a valley There came down From some goldenblue mountains A handsome young prince Who was riding a dawncolored horse Names Lordsburg. I love y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/richard-brautigan-2765_live-forever_once-upon-a-valley-there-came-down-from_3130696.jpg" --- # Once upon a valley There came down From some goldenblue… ![“Once upon a valley There came down From some goldenblue mountains A handsome young prince Who was riding a dawncolored horse Names Lordsburg. I love you You’re my breathing castle Gentle so gentle We’ll live forever In the valley There was a beautiful maiden Whom the prince drifted into love with…” quote by Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/richard-brautigan-2765_live-forever_once-upon-a-valley-there-came-down-from_3130696.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/richard-brautigan-2765_live-forever_once-upon-a-valley-there-came-down-from_3130696.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/richard-brautigan-2765_live-forever_once-upon-a-valley-there-came-down-from_3130696.jpg) > ““Once upon a valley There came down From some goldenblue mountains A handsome young prince Who was riding a dawncolored horse Names Lordsburg. I love you You’re my breathing castle Gentle so gentle We’ll live forever In the valley There was a beautiful maiden Whom the prince drifted into love with Like a New Mexico made from apple thunder and long glass beds. I love you You’re my breathing castle Gentle so gentle We’ll live forever The prince enchanted The maiden And they rode off On the dawncolored horse Named Lordsburg Toward the goldenblue mountains. I love you You’re my breathing castle Gentle so gentle We’ll live forever They would have lived happily ever after if the horse hadn’t had a flat tire In front of a dragon’s House.”” [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A whimsical, surreal love story uses fantastical imagery to explore devotion and the absurdity of fate. **In simple terms:** A fanciful love tale with odd twists. Key Takeaway Embrace imagination in expressing love. Themes love fantasy absurdity destiny Mood playful dreamy Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - creative writing - art projects - storytelling workshops - relationship counseling Key Concepts surrealism poetic narrative symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What does the “flat tire” symbolize? - How does surreal imagery affect your perception of love? A Different Perspective The narrative’s absurd elements may distract from emotional depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Horse Named](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse-named-1693234/) [Live forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-forever/) [Lordsburg Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lordsburg-love-5536117/) [Maiden Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maiden-prince-5536116/) [Maiden Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maiden-rode-5536118/) [Prince Enchanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prince-enchanted-4212459/) ## Related quotes > [“Prince of the Enchanted Forest. Adopted son of the Fairy Folk. Wild Boy. Your reputation precedes you, child. All of Germany has been talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-daniel-mechling/prince-of-the-enchanted-forest-adopted-son-of-the-fairy-folk-wild-boy/) [Christopher Daniel Mechling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-daniel-mechling/) > [“He’d almost told the princess that she could keep Hellas’s Horse, but there was something to be said about the prospect of charging down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/he-d-almost-told-the-princess-that-she-could-keep-hellas-s-horse-but/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [I'm named after a horse. My mom's best friend had a horse named Brooke, so my dad suggested 'Brooklyn' as a more formal version,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooklyn-decker/i-m-named-after-a-horse-my-mom-s-best-friend-had-a-horse-named-brooke/) [Brooklyn Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooklyn-decker/) > [“FIRE’S HORSE WAS named Small, and he was another of Cansrel’s gifts. She had chosen him over all the other horses because his coat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/fire-s-horse-was-named-small-and-he-was-another-of-cansrel-s-gifts/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Yes, I've just bought a new horse, named Jedi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-boxleitner/yes-i-ve-just-bought-a-new-horse-named-jedi/) [Bruce Boxleitner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-boxleitner/) > [The punters know that the horse named Morality rarely gets past the post, whereas the nag named Self-interest always runs a good race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/the-punters-know-that-the-horse-named-morality-rarely-gets-past-the/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [Your horse is named Small. Yes. Mine is named Big. -Fire and Brigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/your-horse-is-named-small-yes-mine-is-named-big-fire-and-brigan/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [No horse named Morbid ever won a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-horse-named-morbid-ever-won-a-race/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to bear in mind that Mr. Autry's favorite horse was named Champion. He ain't ever had one called Runner Up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-mauch/you-have-to-bear-in-mind-that-mr-autry-s-favorite-horse-was-named/) [Gene Mauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-mauch/) > [“Lady,” he said in greeting. “Lord Prince,” she said quietly. He leaned there for a moment, gaze tilted upward, and Fire wondered if this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/lady-he-said-in-greeting-lord-prince-she-said-quietly-he-leaned-there/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“He and Sully dared each other to go on the Wild Mouse and finally went together, howling deliriously as their car plunged into each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-and-sully-dared-each-other-to-go-on-the-wild-mouse-and-finally/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Why waste your time being around people who drag you down? You don't live forever, at least in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/why-waste-your-time-being-around-people-who-drag-you-down-you-don-t/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“And in your smile, I will live forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-in-your-smile-i-will-live-forever/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Once Louis Wu had sworn to live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/once-louis-wu-had-sworn-to-live-forever/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Contradictory precepts that have guided me for as long as I can remember: 1: I will live forever. 2: I will die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/contradictory-precepts-that-have-guided-me-for-as-long-as-i-can/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) ## More by Richard Brautigan > [I daydream about a high school where everybody plays the harmonica: the students, the teachers, the principal, the janitor and the cook in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/i-daydream-about-a-high-school-where-everybody-plays-the-harmonica/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [“The river loved to tell everybody (everybody being the sky, the wind, the few trees that grew around there, birds, deer and even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/the-river-loved-to-tell-everybody-everybody-being-the-sky-the-wind/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [“I guess some people lived like Reader's Digest, but I hadn't met any and at that time it seemed doubtful that I ever would”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/i-guess-some-people-lived-like-reader-s-digest-but-i-hadn-t-met-any/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [“The Beautiful Poem" I go to bed in Los Angeles thinking about you. Pissing a few moments ago I looked down at my penis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/the-beautiful-poem-i-go-to-bed-in-los-angeles-thinking-about-you/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [I didn't know the full dimensions of forever, but I knew it was longer than waiting for Christmas to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/i-didn-t-know-the-full-dimensions-of-forever-but-i-knew-it-was-longer/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [“Alas, Measured Perfectly" Saturday, August 25, 1888. 5:20 P.M. is the name of a photograph of two old women in a front yard, beside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/alas-measured-perfectly-saturday-august-25-1888-5-20-p-m-is-the-name/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [“Congratulations," I said. "It's so wonderful to write a book." "I walked all the way here," she said. "I started at midnight. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/congratulations-i-said-it-s-so-wonderful-to-write-a-book-i-walked-all/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [“My Name “I guess you are kind of curious as to who I am, but I am one of those who do not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/my-name-i-guess-you-are-kind-of-curious-as-to-who-i-am-but-i-am-one/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [I had become so quiet and so small in the grass by the pond that I was barely noticeable, hardly there. I sat there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/i-had-become-so-quiet-and-so-small-in-the-grass-by-the-pond-that-i/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [“I’m haunted by all the space that I will live without you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/i-m-haunted-by-all-the-space-that-i-will-live-without-you/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [Once upon a time there was a dwarf knight who only had fifty words to live in and they were so fleeting that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-dwarf-knight-who-only-had-fifty-words-to/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [“I feel horrible. She doesn't love me and I wander around the house like a sewing machine that's just finished sewing a turd to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/i-feel-horrible-she-doesn-t-love-me-and-i-wander-around-the-house/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [Like some kind of strange vacuum cleaner I tried to console him. I recited the same old litanies that you say to people when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/like-some-kind-of-strange-vacuum-cleaner-i-tried-to-console-him-i/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [This morning I saw a coyote walking through the sagebrush right at the very edge of the ocean ― next stop China. The coyote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/this-morning-i-saw-a-coyote-walking-through-the-sagebrush-right-at/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [Love Poem ـــــــــ It's so nice to wake up in the morning all alone and not have to tell somebody you love them when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/love-poem-it-s-so-nice-to-wake-up-in-the-morning-all-alone-and-not/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) [Explore all 145 Richard Brautigan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) ## More Live forever quotes > [Contradictory precepts that have guided me for as long as I can remember: 1: I will live forever. 2: I will die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/contradictory-precepts-that-have-guided-me-for-as-long-as-i-can/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [“Once Louis Wu had sworn to live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/once-louis-wu-had-sworn-to-live-forever/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“And in your smile, I will live forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-in-your-smile-i-will-live-forever/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Why waste your time being around people who drag you down? You don't live forever, at least in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/why-waste-your-time-being-around-people-who-drag-you-down-you-don-t/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“He and Sully dared each other to go on the Wild Mouse and finally went together, howling deliriously as their car plunged into each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-and-sully-dared-each-other-to-go-on-the-wild-mouse-and-finally/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-a-lawson/we-exist-temporarily-through-what-we-take-but-we-live-forever-through/) [Douglas A. Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-a-lawson/) > [“People may have to die, but morbidity will live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/people-may-have-to-die-but-morbidity-will-live-forever/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [“Oh my God. For most of eternity, I won't exist. That leaves two options: live forever or destroy the universe. Hm... I may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-weiner/oh-my-god-for-most-of-eternity-i-won-t-exist-that-leaves-two-options/) [Zach Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-weiner/) > [“death is predestined for all mortals. Souls live forever, but the body does not. Unless you are immortal, both the soul and body are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yelle-hughes/death-is-predestined-for-all-mortals-souls-live-forever-but-the-body/) [Yelle Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yelle-hughes/) > [“It is a remarkable fact that we must die, and yet we live as if we were to live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guicciardini/it-is-a-remarkable-fact-that-we-must-die-and-yet-we-live-as-if-we/) [Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guicciardini/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear; The brave may not live forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [One is given to self-dramatization from time to time. I intend to live forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/one-is-given-to-self-dramatization-from-time-to-time-i-intend-to-live/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“Why live once when you can live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-delgado/why-live-once-when-you-can-live-forever/) [Gerardo Delgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-delgado/) > [“― The Viking Prayer “Lo, there do I see my father. Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters, and my brothers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-alexander/the-viking-prayer-lo-there-do-i-see-my-father-lo-there-do-i-see-my/) [Michael Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-alexander/) > [If what Billy Pilgrim learned from the Tralfamadorians is true, that we will all live forever, no matter how dead we may sometimes seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-what-billy-pilgrim-learned-from-the-tralfamadorians-is-true-that/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Browse all 850 Live forever quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-forever/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Once upon a valley There came down From some goldenblue mountains A handsome young prince Who was riding a dawncolored horse Names Lordsburg. I love you You’re my breathing castle Gentle so gentle We’ll live forever In the valley There was a beautiful maiden Whom the prince drifted into love with Like a New Mexico made from apple thunder and long glass beds. I love you You’re my breathing castle Gentle so gentle We’ll live forever The prince enchanted The maiden And they rode off On the dawncolored horse Named Lordsburg Toward the goldenblue mountains. 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