Mac DeMarco’s “For the First Time” is a heartfelt ballad from his 2017 album This Old Dog. The song captures the emotional complexities of being separated from a loved one, highlighting feelings of longing and anticipation for her return.
Through introspective lyrics and his signature laid-back style, DeMarco conveys the struggles of daily life without his partner, emphasizing how her absence makes everything feel more challenging.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
“For the First Time” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
While she’s been away
Living day-to-day has been tough
Without her at my side
Simply being alive has been rough
The first verse of “For the First Time” by Mac DeMarco expresses the emotional difficulty of being apart from a loved one.
The singer describes how living day-to-day has been challenging and how simply being alive feels rough without the presence of this person.
This section highlights the depth of the singer’s attachment and reliance on their partner for emotional support.
[Pre-Chorus 1]
And though she won’t be gone forever
There are many times I find it feels that way
And I’m not trying to forget her
Just understand how I’ll be feeling on that day
In the pre-chorus, the singer acknowledges that the separation is temporary, yet it often feels permanent.
The singer is not trying to forget their partner but is attempting to understand and process their feelings during this period of absence.
This section reflects the struggle between rational understanding and emotional experience.
[Chorus]
It’s just like seeing her for the first time again
It’s just like seeing her for the first time again
The chorus repeats the phrase “It’s just like seeing her for the first time again,” suggesting that the reunion with the loved one will be as exciting and refreshing as the initial encounter.
This repetition emphasizes the anticipation and emotional renewal that the singer expects to feel upon their partner’s return.
[Verse 2]
The time she’s not around
Somewhere out of town, has been hard
But somehow this old heart
Found time to work it out this far
The second verse continues to describe the hardship of the partner’s absence, mentioning that the time apart has been difficult.
Despite this, the singer notes that their heart has managed to cope with the situation.
This section suggests resilience and the ability to endure emotional challenges.
[Pre-Chorus 2]
No, I know she’s coming home soon
There are times I find it hard to feel that way
It’s not inside me to forget her
Just understand how I’ll be feeling on that day
Similar to the first pre-chorus, the second pre-chorus reiterates the certainty of the partner’s return, although the singer sometimes struggles to feel confident about it.
The singer emphasizes that forgetting the partner is not an option, focusing instead on understanding their emotions during this period.
This reflects a continued effort to reconcile feelings with reality.
Deeper Meaning Behind “For the First Time”
The song “For the First Time” describes the difficulties and emotional toll of being apart from a significant other. The lyrics convey how challenging daily life becomes without the partner’s presence, emphasizing feelings of longing and the struggle to cope with the absence.
The phrase “for the first time” suggests a renewal of feelings, showing that each reunion brings back the same rush of love and joy experienced at the beginning of the relationship.
Throughout the song, the narrator expresses the struggles of daily life without their partner, yet maintains hope and patience for their return. He sings:
No, I know she’s coming home soon
There are times I find it hard to feel that way
It’s not inside me to forget her
Just understand how I’ll be feeling on that day
The anticipation builds up to the moment of reunion, where the feelings will be as powerful as they were initially, as expressed in the repeated line “It’s just like seeing her for the first time again.”
Ultimately, DeMarco’s lyrics reflect the hope and patience required to maintain such a relationship, emphasizing that the feelings experienced upon reunion are akin to the excitement and intensity of seeing the person for the first time again.
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.