First Time
Hozier Lyrics

Remember once I told you 'bout
Recall the instance when I previously informed you about

How before I heard it from your mouth
In what way my name, before being uttered by you

My name would always hit my ears
The sound of my own name would consistently affect my hearing

As such an awful sound
Serving as a terribly unpleasant noise

And the soul, if that's what you'd call it
Furthermore, the essence, if it can be labeled as such

Uneasy ally of the body
A restless companion to the physical self

It felt nameless as a river undiscovered underground
It appeared without a name, like a subterranean river yet to be found

And the first time that you kissed me
During the initial occasion when your lips touched mine

I drank dry the river Lethe
I metaphorically consumed the river Lethe, depleting its entirety

The Liffey would have been softer on my stomach all the same
Nevertheless, the river Liffey would have been gentler on my digestive system

But you spoke some quick new music
However, you expressed swift, unfamiliar melodies

That went so far to soothe this soul
Which greatly alleviated the uneasiness within my essence

As it was and ever shall be
In its existing and perpetual state

Unearth without a name
An unearthing without a given identity

Some part of me must have died
A certain aspect of myself surely experienced death

The first time that you called me baby
When you initially addressed me with the endearment 'baby'

And some part of me came alive
Yet simultaneously, another element of myself became vivified

The first time that you called me baby
During the initial instance when you referred to me as 'baby'

These days I think I owe my life
Presently, I believe I am indebted to my existence

To flowers that were left here by my mother
To the flowers that were previously left behind by my maternal figure

Ain't that like them, gifting life to you again
Isn't it characteristic of them, granting life once more to you

This life lived mostly underground
This existence primarily experienced beneath the surface

Unknowing either sight nor sound
Unaware of both vision and auditory sensations

'Til reaching up for sunlight
Until the moment of stretching toward the rays of sunlight

Just to be ripped out by the stem
Only to be forcibly severed from the stem

Sensing only now it's dying
Perceiving solely at this moment its imminent demise

Drying out then drowning blindly
Growing arid, subsequently submerging in darkness without vision

Blooming forth its every colour
Flourishing and displaying its vibrant hues

In the moments it has left
During the limited time it possesses

To share the space with simple living things
To coexist within the environment alongside uncomplicated living beings

Infinitely suffering
Enduring ceaseless anguish

But fighting off like all creation
Yet resisting, akin to the entirety of creation

The absence of itself
The void of its own presence

Anyway
Regardless

Some part of me must have died
A certain aspect of myself surely experienced death

Each time that you called me baby
Every instance when you addressed me with the endearment 'baby'

But some part of me stayed alive
However, another element of myself remained alive

Each time that you called
Every time that you called

C'mere, ooh-la-la
Come here, expressing excitement or desire

Ooh-la-la
Expressing enthusiasm or admiration

Whatever keeps you around
Regardless of the reason for your continued presence

it keeps you around
That very reason ensures your presence

The last time it was heard out loud
The final instance it was audibly perceived

The perfect genius of our hands and mouths were shocked
The flawless brilliance of our physical connection was taken aback

To resignation as the arguing declined
Leading to acceptance as the quarreling subsided

When I was young I used to guess
During my youth, I used to speculate

Are there limits to any emptiness?
Are there boundaries to the voidness within oneself?

When was the last time?
At what point in time was it finally?

C'mere to me, when was the last time?
Come here closer to me, when exactly was it?

Some part of me must have died
A certain aspect of myself surely experienced death

The final time you called me baby
During the ultimate occasion when you referred to me as 'baby'

But some part of me came alive
Yet simultaneously, another element of myself became vivified

The final time you called me baby
During the ultimate instance when you addressed me as 'baby'