In an interview for the Independent, Hozier called this a song of “reconciliation”, like he’s discovered, after a long journey down, that even hell has a way out.
For EW, he has also revealed that the song is about "Coming out the other side and having a new relationship with light as something you don’t want to hide from or disappear from. It’s something you can celebrate — as if you’re seeing it for the first time — for its brilliance, as opposed to something that is blinding".
First Light
Hozier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Soft and easy as your breathing
You wake
Your eyes open at first a thousand miles away
But turning shoot a silver bullet point-blank range
And I can scarce believe what I'm believing in
Could this be how every day begins?
The gold and the rust
The colour erupts
You filling my cup
The sun coming up
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
One bright morning goes so easy
Darkness always
Finds you either way
It creeps into the corners as the moment fades
A voice your body jumps to calling out your name
But after this I'm never gonna be the same
And I am never going back again
The sky set to burst
The gold and the rust
The colour erupts
You filling my cup
The sun coming up
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
The lyrics of Hozier's song "First Light" depict a transformative experience that occurs on a bright morning. The song captures the feeling of awakening, both physically and metaphorically. The opening lines suggest that something significant is about to take place, as the morning brings about a profound change. The imagery of a silver bullet being aimed directly at the singer's belief system highlights the sudden and impactful nature of this awakening.
As the song progresses, the lyrics describe the beauty and intensity of the sunrise. The sky is described as bursting with color, with gold and rust hues. This imagery conveys a feeling of vibrant and overwhelming energy, as if the world is being illuminated in a new and extraordinary way. The imagery continues with the metaphor of filling a cup, symbolizing the singer being filled with joy and positivity.
The chorus further emphasizes the transformative nature of this experience, suggesting that the singer feels like they have lived their entire life before this moment. This implies that their previous existence was lackluster or unfulfilling, and this awakening has brought them a new sense of purpose and understanding.
In the second verse, the lyrics touch on the inevitability of darkness and the transient nature of the moment. Darkness is depicted as always finding its way, even as the sunrise fades. The mention of a voice calling out the singer's name signifies a new direction or calling in life. The final lines indicate a vow to never go back to the way things were before this awakening, as the experience has forever changed the singer.
Overall, "First Light" is a song that captures the profound impact of a transformative awakening, highlighting the beauty and intensity of the moment and the lasting impact it has on the individual.
Line by Line Meaning
One bright morning changes all things
A single morning with its brightness has the power to alter everything, bringing about transformation and new beginnings
Soft and easy as your breathing
The changes brought by that morning are gentle and effortless, just like the ease of your breath
You wake
You awaken from slumber, becoming aware of the world around you
Your eyes open at first a thousand miles away
Initially, as your eyes open, your focus is distant and far-reaching, as if your thoughts are elsewhere
But turning shoot a silver bullet point-blank range
Suddenly, your attention sharply shifts and hits its target directly, with precision and intensity
And I can scarce believe what I'm believing in
I can hardly comprehend or believe the reality of what is happening before me
Could this be how every day begins?
Is it possible that this extraordinary experience is how every new day starts, filled with wonder and possibility?
The sky set to burst
The sky is ready to explode with vibrant energy and life
The gold and the rust
The colors of gold and rust symbolize the mixture of beauty and imperfection that accompanies the breaking of dawn
The colour erupts
The vibrant colors of the sunrise burst forth, creating a spectacle for the eyes to behold
You filling my cup
You, by merely existing and being present, bring joy and fulfillment into my life
The sun coming up
The sun rises, illuminating the world and bringing warmth and light to everything it touches
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
The experience of witnessing this sunrise feels as if I have lived an entire lifetime before this moment, as if everything previously was insignificant in comparison
One bright morning goes so easy
Another bright morning passes by effortlessly, without resistance or difficulty
Darkness always
Finds you either way
Regardless of the circumstances, darkness inevitably finds its way into your life
It creeps into the corners as the moment fades
As time passes and the present moment fades, darkness slowly infiltrates the unnoticed corners of your existence
A voice your body jumps to calling out your name
When a certain voice calls out to you, it instantly triggers a physical reaction within your body, causing you to respond with immediate attention
But after this I'm never gonna be the same
After experiencing what I have witnessed, I know that I will be forever changed, unable to revert to who I was before
And I am never going back again
I have made a firm decision never to return to the person I used to be, to the life I left behind
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Similar to the previous chorus, the intensity of the experience feels as if a lifetime has been lived before the arrival of the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Reiteration of the sentiment expressed in the previous line, emphasizing the profound impact of witnessing the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Continuing to stress the transformative nature of the experience, as if a complete existence existed prior to the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Final repetition of the same idea, underlining the magnitude of the impact and the feeling of an entire lifetime lived before that pivotal moment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Hozier Byrne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zz1180
One bright morning changes all things
Soft and easy as your breathing
You wake
Your eyes open at first a thousand miles away
But turning shoot a silver bullet point-blank range
And I can scarce believe what I'm believing in
Could this be how every day begins?
The sky set to burst
The gold and the rust
The colour erupts
You filling my cup
The sun coming up
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
One bright morning goes so easy
Darkness always
Finds you either way
It creeps into the corners as the moment fades
A voice your body jumps to calling out your name
But after this I'm never gonna be the same
And I am never going back again
The sky set to burst
The gold and the rust
The colour erupts
You filling my cup
The sun coming up
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
Like I lived my whole life
Before the first light
@icequeen9
"Like I lived my whole life before the first light" what a fucking line.
@pixel6726
This is ridiculous. It’s not an album, it’s a collection of masterpieces.
@mikeluongo537
You hit the nail!
@shrekisloveshrekislife4312
Absolutely
@SJLamb-te3dt
I have never disliked a single Hozier song. I love a fair few and really like most the rest but I honestly haven’t found a single song I outright disliked.
@user-lo5lu9rc4n
I can't believe this album was not showered with Grammys!!!
@noellethomas2589
Genuinely made me sob. This man came for our throats with this entire album and casually closed it with one of the best songs he’s ever written 😭
@stevejennings
Absolutely incredible track, blew me away on the first and now the tenth listen. This track and Francesca are off the scale awesome.
@katiahann2502
The best songs he's ever written YET
@KamisatoElias
He’s literally never released a better song than this masterpiece