First Love
Downsyde Lyrics

I knew this girl, she was my black birth mother
The singer had a close relationship with his biological mother.

A pearl I was in love for as well, we found each other
He deeply loved and appreciated his mother as much as she loved and appreciated him.

Through heaven and hell
They went through tough and good times together.

Like a brothers show and tell
A strong bond was formed between them.

She raised me from three years old
His mother was responsible for raising him from a young age.

Brought peace to my wondering, travelling soul
She provided comfort and security for him.

I never left her, everywhere I went she was there with me
He felt her presence with him wherever he went.

She kept me down to earth, she was my gravity
His mother kept him grounded.

A passionate mist drift of the breese
His mother had a sweet and gentle nature.

Until she fell down, down, down on her knees
His mother faced hardships.

Just to please these Yanks who borded her shores
The arrival of Americans had a negative impact on his mother's life.

Overnight she became a whore
She was exploited and became desperate to make a living.

A street walker, a sweet talker
She resorted to prostitution to make ends meet.

But I understood her pain
He sympathized with his mother's struggles.

It was due to the days of the Queens reign
He believed that the exploitation was a result of historical events.

From the ships of convicts, the crims, rapers, sinners
He referred to the criminals who were transported to Australia when it was a penal colony.

The chip erased her native memory
He suggested that her identity and culture were erased due to colonization and assimilation.

Made her religious and now the rest is history
She was forced to adopt a new religion and way of life, and this had long-term consequences.

Fly high baby
He wished his mother peace and happiness, wherever she was.

You know you need me like tomorrow needs the sun
He believed that his mother relied on him.

Trust in your lady
He was supportive of his mother and wanted her to trust him.

You know that I get things done
He was competent and capable of helping his mother.

I used to see it all
He used to have a positive outlook on life.

I used to see it fill hope
He used to see potential for a better future.

But now I don't, lost that faith - look how many people be broke
He lost hope due to the high level of poverty.

It used to be the land of the free, the Croc Dundee
He referred to a time when Australia was seen as a land of opportunity and an embodiment of Crocodile Dundee's free spirit.

Now we're backing Bush and Blair on the war for the green
He criticized Australian involvement in the Iraq War and the motives behind it.

A dollar bill opens a wall, man you know that's all false
He suggested that money was the root of corruption and inequality.

Howard sits there in agreement and just waits to be told
He criticized then-Prime Minister John Howard's compliance with American foreign policy.

She was my love, my belief, now the hatred runs deep
He had loved and respected his country before but now felt disillusioned and resentful of it.

Can't even holiday in Indo cause it's West versus East
He described the conflict between Western and Eastern nations and the repercussions it has for travel and tourism.

What happened to peace, what happened to the happy go lucky
He lamented the loss of peace and carefree attitudes.

Girl I used to know, but now she's acting all funny
He felt like his country had changed drastically.

My lifes love, still had pride for the people of Oz
Despite his criticisms, he still had love and respect for his country and its people.

And I'm proud of these soldiers but their lives should't be lost
He was proud of the sacrifices made by soldiers but was critical of the reasons behind the war.

To some cause that's not our fight, it's not anyones
He believed that the war was unjustified and didn't concern Australia or any other nation, and that the loss of life was unnecessary.

And it's never gonna end, it's gonna effect everyone
He believed that the war would have far-reaching and long-lasting implications.

Look at your children and the kids, this world ain't the same
He felt pessimistic about the state of the world and its impact on future generations.

It's like the ignorance against religion, against race
He observed that there was growing intolerance and prejudice in the world.

"I'm a war President, I've got war on my mind" "I am the Pyramis" "I'm a war President" "Cause I blow up spots like the World Trade Centre"
These lines are a critical commentary on former US President George W. Bush's militaristic foreign policy and the 9/11 attacks.

Yeah, born and raised I was praised at a young age
The singer was raised in a positive environment.

I got this lady, she was around me everyday
His mother was a constant presence in his life.

She told me the laws and physics of my life
His mother taught him important lessons.

And whenever I ran amuck she stalked me in the night
His mother was protective of him and looked out for him even when he misbehaved.

She was all that govern, the western commandments
His mother instilled Western values and beliefs in him.

The swings and see-saws, the parks that ran abundant
He reminisced about childhood memories of playing in the park.

I thank her for the toy she had made
He was grateful to his mother for shaping him into the person he is today.

She was the education system at the first grade
He emphasized the importance of his mother's role in his early education.

But as I grew older I saw her as a snake
His view of his mother changed as he matured.

A business head only concerned with financial gain
He believed that his mother prioritized making money over everything else.

Destroyed my mother, drilling holes in her stomach
He felt that his mother was exploited and harmed for financial gain.

So she could absorb the oil and get a fatter pocket
He believed that greed was a motivating factor behind the exploitation.

She never cared about us, betrayed us for wars
He believed that his mother's actions had negative consequences for him and his community.

So she could control Dad and settle some old scores
He felt that there were ulterior motives behind his mother's actions.

A coniving slut that breaks her own laws
He expressed anger and frustration towards his mother.

She's a gold-digger bitch and now I hate the whore
He felt extreme contempt towards his mother.