While born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, they currently live in Vancouver, BC.
Tegan performed solo twice in 2008, once at the Juno Songwriters' Circle in Calgary, and also at the SPIN Liner Notes event at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in New York City with Augusten Burroughs.
Also in 2008, Tegan appeared in the music video for Born on the FM waves of the heart by Against Me!, in which she also sang vocals. She also appeared on the Spinner interface with Alkaline Trio who covered Tegan and Sara's Wake Up Exhausted.
The First
Tegan Quin Lyrics
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Gonna be a formal dress down hay day
We decide why not go downtown
How about you and me we go get wasted
(You'll have, you'll have to excuse me)
Why don't we get wasted
(Please please, please excuse me)
Hey, lets get wasted
This'll be my first time
By definition from grade school to English 30
We quietly become strong so early
Take it or leave it
They can't believe it
They go from kindergarten to killing sprees
They go from heartache to inner peace
100 foot ceilings, 100 percent deceit
He said, let's leave this between you and me
My cats watch my stuff leave my house
(Take it or leave it, I can't believe it)
Between you and me the cat burglars are
What did you see, what did you steal
Tell me baby how does it feel
Yeah, how do you feel
It's a top ten list of things that move me the most
It's a top ten list of things that bother me the most
A top ten list of things that scare me the most
I'd have to say that the future
Wasting time in the fast food line
I decide to walk the fine line, and
Celebrate life
Celebrate death
I choose to celebrate the first
I celebrate the first
We decide to go out walking
Whole time that we're talking
Convinced that we're living
Whole time that we're dying
We decide to go out walking
Whole time that you're talking
Convinced that you're living
Whole time that I'm dying
Keeps me on my toes, where did the time go
You keep me on my toes, where did the time go
On the edge of town where the gravel's thin
They're gonna wear you down until you're thin and
Tired, tired, tired
Of wasting time in the fast food line
I decide to walk the fine line and
Celebrate life
Celebrate death
I choose to celebrate
The first to come
The first to go
The first to say yes
The first to say no
I'm gonna seize this moment
The first to come
The first to go
The first to say yes
First to say no
We decide to go out walking
Whole time that we're talking
Convinced that we're living
Whole time that we're dying
Keeps me on my toes, where did the time go
Keeps me on my toes, where did the time go
You keep me on my toes, where did the time go
You keep me on my toes
You keep me on my toes
Tegan Quin's song The First ft. Dallas Green is an introspective and contemplative song that deals with the complexities of life. The song starts with the singer urging someone to join her for a night out, to get dressed up and go downtown to get wasted. She acknowledges that it will be her first time, indicating that she is inexperienced or perhaps just innocent.
The song then delves into a series of musings and observations about life. The lyrics mention growing up and becoming strong early on, and how people go from heartache to inner peace. There is also a mention of deceit and secret lives, with the singer wondering what someone has seen or stolen.
The chorus of the song is an affirmation of choosing to celebrate life and the firsts that come with it. Whether it's the first to come or the first to say yes or no, the singer is going to seize the moment and make the most of it. The song ends with the singer pondering where the time has gone, with someone keeping her on her toes and moving forward.
Overall, The First ft. Dallas Green is a song about the inevitability of time passing, and the importance of making the most of the moments we have.
Line by Line Meaning
Stand up, sit down baby
Let's have a fun, carefree day and switch things up
Gonna be a formal dress down hay day
We're dressing down in a formal way to celebrate and have fun
We decide why not go downtown
We've made the decision to go downtown and have a good time
How about you and me we go get wasted
Let's have a wild night and forget our worries
(You'll have, you'll have to excuse me)
I apologize in advance if I act differently than usual
Why don't we get wasted
Let's forget our problems and indulge in some drinks
(Please please, please excuse me)
Please forgive me if I do anything out of the ordinary
Hey, lets get wasted
I suggest we have a good time and get drunk
This'll be my first time
I haven't done this before and I'm eager to experience it
By definition from grade school to English 30
From childhood to adulthood, we learn and grow
We quietly become strong so early
Despite our youth, we develop resilience and strength
Take it or leave it
Accept it or reject it, it's up to you
They can't believe it
Others may doubt our abilities or choices
They go from kindergarten to killing sprees
Some people take a dark turn in life
They go from heartache to inner peace
Others find healing and peace amidst turmoil
100 foot ceilings, 100 percent deceit
Success and power can be coupled with deception and lies
He said, let's leave this between you and me
He wants to keep something secret between us
My cats watch my stuff leave my house
My pets observe as I depart from my home
(Take it or leave it, I can't believe it)
I offer this option, but it's surprising to me too
Between you and me the cat burglars are
Just between us, the thieves are like sneaky cats
What did you see, what did you steal
What have you done or taken without revealing it
Tell me baby how does it feel
How does it feel to keep secrets and deceive
It's a top ten list of things that move me the most
These are the things that deeply impact me emotionally
It's a top ten list of things that bother me the most
These are the things that truly disturb or upset me
A top ten list of things that scare me the most
These are the things that terrify and intimidate me
I'd have to say that the future
The future is what concerns me most
Wasting time in the fast food line
Spending too much time waiting for fast food
I decide to walk the fine line, and
I choose to balance my indulgences and be more mindful
Celebrate life
We should appreciate and enjoy our lives
Celebrate death
We should honor and remember those who have passed away
I choose to celebrate the first
I choose to cherish and recognize new beginnings
The first to come
The earliest arrival or beginning
The first to go
The earliest departure or end
The first to say yes
The earliest agreement or affirmation
The first to say no
The earliest refusal or denial
I'm gonna seize this moment
I'm determined to take advantage of this opportunity
On the edge of town where the gravel's thin
In the outskirts where the terrain is rough
They're gonna wear you down until you're thin and
They'll exhaust and weaken you until you're almost gone
Tired, tired, tired
Exhausted and weary of the challenges in life
Of wasting time in the fast food line
Weary of spending too much time on insignificant things
Keeps me on my toes, where did the time go
It keeps me alert and attentive, but time has passed quickly
You keep me on my toes, where did the time go
You have the same effect on me, and time has flown by
We decide to go out walking
We choose to take a walk together
Whole time that we're talking
While we're conversing and spending time together
Convinced that we're living
We believe that we're alive and enjoying life
Whole time that we're dying
At the same time, we're slowly approaching death
Whole time that you're talking
While you're speaking and engaging with me
Convinced that you're living
You believe that you're alive and thriving
Whole time that I'm dying
However, I'm also experiencing the inevitable decay of life
Keeps me on my toes, where did the time go
Staying aware and alert, but time has passed without me noticing
Keeps me on my toes, where did the time go
Continuing to stay alert, but still shocked by how fast time has gone by
You keep me on my toes
You keep me attentive and aware
You keep me on my toes
You have the same effect on me
Contributed by Wyatt N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.