"'Once in a Lifetime Love" is the title of a song written by Jason M. Greene who co-wrote the single with and was recorded by American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 country music singer Clay Walker

Clay Walker

Ernest Clayton "Clay" Walker Jr. is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single "What's It to You," which reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, as did its follow-up, 1994's "Live Until I Die." Both singles were included on...

. It was released on May 9, 2000 as the fourth and final single to his album Live, Laugh, Love

Live, Laugh, Love

-Critical reception:Paul Verna of Billboard wrote "Clay Walker is quietly establishing himself as one of today's leading men in country. He has always had a strong live act, and that quality has been increasingly evident on his albums." Verna also listed "Holding Her and Loving You" and "If a Man...

. It peaked at #50 on the Billboard

Billboard (magazine)

Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

Hot Country Singles & Tracks becoming his lowest charting single of his career as well as his first to miss the top forty.

Background

In an interview with The Virginian-Pilot

The Virginian-Pilot

The Virginian-Pilot is a daily newspaper based in Norfolk, Virginia, and serving the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, southeastern Virginia, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The flagship property of Landmark Media Enterprises, The Pilot is Virginia's largest daily...

, Walker stated that Once in a Lifetime Love was one of his favorite songs and said, "It's probably the best vocal performance I've ever given. I was listening to Whitney Houston's version of I Will Always Love You - man, I want to write something like that."

During an interview with Billboard

Billboard (magazine)

Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

, Walker mentioned that producer Doug Johnson was crucial for the performance. Walker stated, "I think he got everything there is to get out of me."

Content

The song is about a man who asks his lover if their love is a once in a lifetime experience and what would happen if they never had a chance at it. He ponders what would happen if he never told his lover he loves her.

Reception

Lance Ringel of the Lakeland Ledger praised the song by writing, "Citing Whitney Houston and Toni Braxton as role models, Walker crafts a near-flawless power balled in "Once in a Lifetime Love". The production builds the song perfectly, and when the singer hits an unexpected high note near the end, the effect is electric. Greg Crawford of the Detroit Free Press

Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...

wrote, "If he doesn't quite raise the roof with the power ballad "Once in a Lifetime Love," he at least pushes himself to some new vocal and emotional heights."

Chart positions

"Once in a Lifetime Love" entered the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart at number 74 for the week of July 24 1999 as an album cut. The song peaked at #50 for the week of September 2 2000 after spending eighteen weeks on the chart.

Charts

Chart (2000)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks	50