First love
●The Maccabees Lyrics
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Only love, it's only love
First love, Last love
Only love, it's only love
Do you miss home?
Do you miss home?
Symmetrical?
Oh Oh Oh
Let's get married
And tick the boxes
Oh lets get married
And tick the boxes
Do you wanna be alone?
Do you wanna be alone?
And are you cool?
Symmetrical,
Analytical
Hypocritical
So critical
Nothing's perfect, I'm hoping I'll do
Oh nothing's perfect; I'm hoping I'll do
My mistake
And no mistake
And I would take it back if I could
So stay with me tonight
I'll make my bed, I'll lie in it
Enticing with its leopard print
I'll make my bed, I'll lie in it
Enticing with its leopard print
And matching velvet duvet
First love, Last love
Only love, it's only love
First love, Last love
Only love, it's only love
It's only love
It's only love
It's only love
The Maccabees' song "First love" is a layered exploration of themes of love, homesickness, insecurity, and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. The repeated chorus of "First love, Last love, Only love, it's only love" seems to emphasize the complexities of love - how one can feel all-encompassing emotions that may be hard to define or contain. The questioning in the verses, "Do you miss home? And are you cool? Symmetrical?" reflects an insecurity and longing for belonging and acceptance. The repetitiveness of the chorus, with slight variations, accentuates this nostalgia and longing.
The second half of the song delves into the character's inner thoughts and struggles with self-doubt. The line, "Nothing's perfect, I'm hoping I'll do" encapsulates the pressure to live up to high standards and the fear of falling short, but still striving to be the best they can be. The imagery of the leopard print bed and velvet duvet adds a sensual, yet slightly kitschy, touch to the song.
Overall, "First love" seems to be a poignant portrayal of the complexities and messiness of love and life, and the desire to find stability and acceptance within it.
Line by Line Meaning
First love, Last love
The love that comes first and the love that lasts the longest are the same; they're the only true love.
Only love, it's only love
The only love that really matters is love itself.
Do you miss home?
Do you long for a sense of belonging?
And are you cool?
And are you calm and collected?
Symmetrical?
Do you seek balance in your life?
Oh Oh Oh
Expressing excitement and anticipation.
Let's get married
Let's commit to each other.
And tick the boxes
And satisfy society's expectations for us.
Do you wanna be alone?
Do you fear being alone?
Analytical
Do you overthink things?
Hypocritical
Are you a hypocrite?
So critical
Are you overly judgmental?
Nothing's perfect, I'm hoping I'll do
Perfection is unattainable, but I'll strive to be the best I can be.
My mistake
I regret what I did wrong.
And no mistake
And I won't make the same mistake twice.
And I would take it back if I could
I wish I could undo what I did wrong.
So stay with me tonight
Please don't leave me alone tonight.
I'll make my bed, I'll lie in it
I'll take responsibility for my actions and their consequences.
Enticing with its leopard print
My bed looks attractive with its bold pattern.
And matching velvet duvet
And it's complemented by a matching soft cover.
It's only love
In the end, all that really matters is love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FELIX WHITE, HUGO WHITE, ORLANDO THOMAS PENHALE WEEKS, ROBERT DYLAN THOMAS, SHEPHERD RUPERT ALEXANDER J. JARVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind