The Hat
I. Michaelson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I knitted you a hat all blue and gold
To keep your ears warm from the Binghamton cold.
It was my first one and it was too small.
It didn't fit you at all, but you wore it just the same.

I remember the first time we danced.
I remember tunneling through the snow like ants.
What I don't recall is why I said,
"I simply can't sleep in this tiny bed with you anymore.".

I should tell you that you were my first love.

So it's Christmas time, it's been three years.
And someone else is knitting things for your ears.

I have come to learn I'll only see you interrupting my dreams at night
And that's alright. And that's alright. And that's alright. And that's alright.

I should tell you that you were my first love.

And it's alright. And it's alright. And it's alright.

(And it's alright.) We were seventeen again together.
(And it's alright.) We were seventeen again together.
(And it's alright.) We were seventeen again together.

I should tell you that you were my first love.
I should tell you that you were my first love.

We were seventeen again.




We were seventeen again.
We were seventeen again.

Overall Meaning

In "The Hat," Ingrid Michaelson reflects on a past relationship, through the lens of a blue and gold hat she knitted for her former significant other. The hat is a tangible symbol of their time together during their college years in Binghamton, New York. Michaelson reminisces about the first time they danced and tunneled through the snow like ants, but acknowledges that there are parts of their story that are fuzzy, like why she couldn't sleep in their tiny bed anymore. The song is a bittersweet ode to first love, and the acceptance of moving on.


The blue and gold hat serves as a symbolic reminder of a love that once was but is now gone. The hat is too small and doesn't fit anymore, but the significant other wears it anyway, perhaps as a way to hold onto the past, or to acknowledge that a part of them will always belong to Michaelson. The hat represents the nostalgia and longing that often accompany memories of first love, and the hope that maybe someday, they'll be able to find their way back to each other, even if it's just for a moment.


Overall, "The Hat" is a poignant reflection on first love and the bittersweet acceptance of moving on. Through a simple object, like a hand-knit hat, Michaelson is able to capture the complexity of emotions that come with the end of a relationship, and the lessons that we learn along the way.


Line by Line Meaning

I knitted you a hat all blue and gold
I made you a hat in shades of blue and gold to keep your ears warm in the cold weather of Binghamton.


To keep your ears warm from the Binghamton cold.
The purpose of the hat was to protect your ears against the cold climate of Binghamton.


It was my first one and it was too small.
I made the hat myself, and it turned out to be too small for you.


It didn't fit you at all, but you wore it just the same.
Even though the hat didn't fit you properly, you still wore it because it was made with love and affection.


I remember the first time we danced.
I have fond memories of the first time we danced together.


I remember tunneling through the snow like ants.
I recall a time when we were tunneling through the snow together, like ants do.


What I don't recall is why I said, 'I simply can't sleep in this tiny bed with you anymore.'
Although I remember many things about us, I can't seem to remember why I once said I couldn't sleep in the same small bed as you.


I should tell you that you were my first love.
I feel the need to share with you that you were the first person I ever loved.


So it's Christmas time, it's been three years.
As it's Christmas time again, it's been three years since we parted ways.


And someone else is knitting things for your ears.
I'm aware that someone else is now making things for you, like hats to keep your ears warm.


I have come to learn I'll only see you interrupting my dreams at night
I have realized that I only see you in my dreams, when you appear to interrupt my thoughts and feelings during the night.


And that's alright. And that's alright. And that's alright. And that's alright.
I have accepted that it's okay to experience these feelings, and that everything will be alright in the end.


(And it's alright.) We were seventeen again together.
I'm comforted by the thought that we were able to be together again, even if only in my mind.


We were seventeen again.
In my memories, we were young and carefree, living as we did when we were seventeen.


We were seventeen again.
The same thought is repeated, emphasizing the power of memories to bring us back to simpler times.


We were seventeen again.
A final repetition of this idea, drawing attention to how strongly our past experiences can stay with us, even after many years have passed.


I should tell you that you were my first love.
The song ends with a repeated statement of something that's likely very important to the songwriter: you were the first person I ever loved, and that is significant enough that I feel the need to share it with you.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

Karime

This song reminds me of a very bittersweet time in my life. It is a song I hold dear to my heart. Thank you Ingrid. This song- no, this entire album, does not get the praise it deserves

SlupitaB

Karime Coletta same here, such a important time and also showed me true love. Best wishes to u

Spaghetti.meat¿

Im so sad I only get to share the beauty of this song with 31 thousand other people

Rachel Fay

Almost 50k :)

Angel

no pensé nunca q una canción de un álbum guardado hace más de 10 años en un disco duro viejo iba a pegar tan duro

Abi Simmons

This song always takes me back to fourth grade (I'm in 9th now and still a huge fan!)

Tuden Jamir

I love this song, I love the entire album. This song inspired me to write my song "About a hat".

T P

I love - The Hat, all blue and gold, and the tiny bed. Thanks for your song Ingrid.

erin h

oh my god, this brings me back. it's my favorite song off girls and boys.

SlupitaB

This song brings me bitter sadness and truth. Looking over the Hollywood freeway at my ex to pass by and eventually it it go and just be happy for the memories

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