Performing Songwriter calls Hutchinson, "...A master of introspective ballads filled with understated yearning and an exquisite sense of metaphor." The twenty-six year old describes her style as "lyric-based, folk-pop, with a whole lot of small town idealism and one devastating break up thrown in for good measure." Among her influences she is quick to include poet Mary Oliver along with the likes of David Grey, Patty Griffin, Greg Brown and Shawn Colvin. Her songs are characterized by a weathered but unselfconscious optimism, a love of language and of the natural world. Having grown up in a town of 5,000 people, "just outside the National Historic District," her songs possess all the charm of Lake Wobegon, tempered by a sweet and timeless voice.
At First It Was Fun
Meg Hutchinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I flew up toward the sun, never getting too warm
At first the great thrill, finally the big top
I walked the high wire, never looking down
Until the day, it all fell away
Oh I miss the ride
Oh I miss the ride sometimes
At first it was grand, I led the whole band
At first it was love, some sign from above
And all of the prizes were mine to be won
Until the day, it all fell away
Oh I miss the ride
Oh I miss the ride sometimes
But I promise to stay, yeah I promise to stay on the living side
I wouldn't trade it all in
How high how low I've been
Broken bones aside, I miss the edge sometimes, I miss the edge
At first it was fun, I glued my feathers on
I flew up toward the sun never getting too warm
The lyrics to Meg Hutchinson's song At First It Was Fun narrate the story of an individual who initially finds tremendous satisfaction and pleasure in their ascent to success. The singer first takes flight by gluing feathers onto themselves and soaring towards the sun. They go on to lead their band to greatness, basking in the glory of the spotlight, believing that it is all due to some higher power who has blessed them with good fortune. It is a ride of thrilling highs, with the world at their feet, and the prizes for the taking.
However, everything comes crashing down one day, and the singer must face the harsh reality that their world is not as perfect as it once seemed. The sudden fall takes them by surprise and leaves them yearning for the thrill of the ride. They miss the adrenaline rush, the ecstatic high that came with being at the top, and even the edge where everything calculated is yet intimately wild. Although the singer is resolved to stay on the living side and not give up, they miss the life they once had. It's almost as if the singer had been on a rollercoaster, and now the ride was over.
Although Meg Hutchinson's lyrics in "At First It Was Fun" seem to be vague, void of any specifics or context, it can be argued that the song symbolizes life's journey. The highs and lows, the successes and fails, the good and the bad, are all a part of this journey. The song teaches that life is not perfect, and even when it seems as though everything is going smoothly, the fall can come suddenly. It is easy to embrace the thrills of life and forget that life, in reality, is uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
At first it was fun, I glued my feathers on
I was thrilled to try something new and took risks to achieve my dreams.
I flew up toward the sun, never getting too warm
I pursued my ambitious goals with care and caution, avoiding the potential risks and dangers on my way.
At first the great thrill, finally the big top
I achieved a significant milestone in my journey and felt immensely grateful for it.
I walked the high wire, never looking down
I kept my focus on my goals and didn't allow my fears and worries to interfere with my progress.
Until the day, it all fell away
Eventually, my success was short-lived, and I faced setbacks, challenges, and disappointments.
Oh I miss the ride
I sometimes feel nostalgic for the highs and lows of my past experiences.
At first it was grand, I led the whole band
I was the leader, the star, and the center of attention, and it felt fantastic.
I felt the bright lights, shining just for me
I enjoyed the fame, recognition, and rewards that came from my hard work and dedication.
And all of the prizes were mine to be won
I had a sense of entitlement and felt that all the good things in life should come to me without much effort or sacrifice.
But I promise to stay, yeah I promise to stay on the living side
Despite my past failures and losses, I choose to keep going, to stay alive, and to find new meaning and purpose in life.
I wouldn't trade it all in
I value my past experiences, both good and bad, and wouldn't want to erase them or forget them entirely.
How high how low I've been
I have faced many ups and downs, highs and lows, triumphs and adversities in my life.
Broken bones aside, I miss the edge sometimes, I miss the edge
Despite the pain, scars, and wounds of my past, I still crave the excitement, challenge, and thrill of taking risks and pushing myself to the limit.
Contributed by Logan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.