"Once I Was" is a 1967 song by singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, and the sixth track from his album Goodbye and Hello.
[2] The song prominently features harmonica played by folk musician and rock photographer Henry Diltz.
[3][4] The song reflects the point of view of someone who used to be the lover of an unknown subject, but continues to ponder if the subject ever reflects on the experience similarly.
[5] Tim Buckley's son, Jeff, recorded a cover of this song for a tribute concert to Tim in 1991.
[8][9] The song was used during Bruce Dern's final sequence in the film Coming Home about Vietnam War veterans dealing with the conflict of trauma long after the war has ended.