“First Day of My Life” is a song from the album “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” by the American band Bright Eyes. It was released on February 7, 2005.
Conor Oberst is the main songwriter for Bright Eyes, and his lyrics are often filled with emotion, often leaning towards sadness, and deep self-reflection.
“First Day of My Life” is a song that beautifully captures how romantic relationships can have a transformative effect. The lyrics talk about a person realizing that meeting his partner has completely changed his life for the better. It’s now considered a classic choice for weddings.
You can hear this song in the 2007 film “Elvis and Anabelle” and in the movie “The Bubble.” It also made an appearance in the TV show “The Sarah Silverman Program” in season 3, episode 8 titled “Just Breve” (2010). Additionally, it was featured in an episode of NBC’s “Chuck” in season 4, episode 23, titled “Chuck Versus the Last Details.”
In this article, we’ll delve into the meaning behind the lyrics of this beautiful song.
“First Day of My Life” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
This is the first day of my life
Swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed
They’re spreading blankets on the beach
Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
Now I don’t know where I am, I don’t know where I’ve been
But I know where I want to go
In Verse 1, the singer describes a significant moment in his life. He feels like he was reborn when he met someone special. The singer steps out into the rain, and everything in his life suddenly changes. The lyrics mention people spreading blankets on the beach, and the singer’s first sight was the face of the person he met, suggesting a deep connection.
The singer expresses that meeting this person made him feel alive and fulfilled, as if he were blind to the beauty of life before this encounter.
The lines “Now I don’t know where I am, I don’t know where I’ve been, But I know where I want to go” in the song suggest that the singer is so deeply in love that he feels somewhat disoriented or lost in the present moment. But what he’s certain about is his strong desire to be with the person he loves in the future.
It conveys the idea that love has become the guiding force in the singer’s life, giving him a clear sense of direction and purpose.
[Chorus]
And so I thought I’d let you know
Yeah, these things take forever, I especially am slow
But I realize that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home
Mhm, mhm
In the Chorus, the singer acknowledge that some things, like building a connection and love, take time, and he specifically mention that he might be slow in this regard.
However, he’s come to realize that he needs the person he’s singing to, and he expresses a desire to be with her.
He sings, “And I wondered if I could come home,” because being with this person feels like coming home, a place of comfort and emotional connection.
[Verse 2]
Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning?
And I thought it was strange, you said everything changed
You felt as if you’d just woke up
And you said, “This is the first day of my life
I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you
But now I don’t care, I could go anywhere with you
And I’d probably be happy”
Verse 2 describes a moment when the protagonist drove all night to meet his lover in the morning.
In the lines “Remember the time you drove all night/Just to meet me in the morning?/And I thought it was strange, you said everything changed,” his lover is recalling how she felt strange at that moment.
He only told her that he had just woken up to a new life. Since he was in love, he suddenly became afraid of death and wanted to cherish every moment he had with his love. He says, “I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you.”
The line “This is the first day of my life” signifies that their meeting has brought a fresh start and new meaning to his life, and he’s willing to go anywhere with her because it brings him happiness.
[Chorus]
So if you wanna be with me
With these things there’s no telling, we just have to wait and see
But I’d rather be working for a paycheck than waiting to win the lottery
Aha, mhm
Besides, maybe this time it’s different
I mean, I really think you like me
In the second chorus, the singer reflects on the idea that some things, like building a relationship, take time and can’t be rushed. He acknowledges his own slow pace in matters of love.
However, he’s willing to work on it. The line, “But I’d rather be working for a paycheck than waiting to win the lottery,” suggests that he prefers to put effort into a relationship rather than relying on luck or chance.
The chorus ends with the singer stating, “Besides, maybe this time it’s different; I mean, I truly believe that you like me,” which reveals a newfound confidence in his connection with the person he loves.
Deeper Meaning Behind “First Day of My Life”
“First Day of My Life” is a love song often played at weddings. It beautifully captures how relationships can profoundly affect our lives.
In the song, someone realizes that his life truly began when he met his partner. The songwriter Conor Oberst described it as waking up from a long nightmare. This means falling in love and starting a meaningful relationship felt like a rebirth for him.
Some people might think this song goes beyond romance and reminds us of the importance of human connections in reshaping our lives. But I wouldn’t suggest playing it to your friend; it can feel quite odd.
I see it as a love song where someone expresses romantic love to another person, regardless of gender. Throughout the song, Conor Oberst uses common romantic phrases and scenes, like a person driving to see his newly loved one and feeling like life has just started, like coming home.
But what’s great about the song is that it also mentions that building a long-lasting relationship takes time, as seen in the lyrics “With these things, there’s no telling, we just have to wait and see.”
So, it doesn’t encourage diving headfirst into love at first sight but emphasizes the need to work hard to make the relationship meaningful, rather than relying on luck. That’s what the line “But I’d rather be working for a paycheck than waiting to win the lottery” truly means.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.