This is the first day of my life
Swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed
They're spreading blankets on the beach

Yours was the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
And I don't know where I am, I don't know where I've been
But I know where I want to go

And so I thought I'd let you know
Yeah, these things take forever, I especially am slow
But I realized that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home

Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning?
And I thought it was strange, you said everything changed
You felt as if you'd just woke up

And you said
"This is the first day of my life
I'm glad I didn't die before I met you
But now I don't care, I could go anywhere with you
And I'd probably be happy"

So if you wanna be with me
With these things there's no telling
We just have to wait and see
But I'd rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery, ah-ha, mm-hmm

Besides, maybe this time is different
I mean, I really think you like me


Lyrics submitted by oh,and_theblues., edited by valiargentina

First Day Of My Life Lyrics as written by Conor Oberst

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave

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First Day of My Life song meanings
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    General Comment

    It appears I'm rather late to this but that's all right. This song really wierded me out at first because it perfectly described what at the time I thought was the biggest mistake of my life, falling in love with my best freind. "I went out in the rain/suddenly everything changed/they're spreading blankets on the beach." and at the end "I'd rather be working for a paycheck than waiting to win the lottery." If that's not love, then what is? I've been with her for four months now and this is, for lack of a better term, our song.

    Bluemaskon September 30, 2005   Link

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