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I have a lover
A lover like no other
She got soul, soul, soul, sweet soul
And she teach me how to sing
Shows me colors when there's none to see
Gives me hope when I can't believe
That for the first time
I feel loved
I have a brother
When I'm a brother in need
I spend my whole time running
He spends his running after me
When I feel myself going down
I just call and he comes around
But for the first time
I feel love
Ho ho ho ho ho ho
Ho
My father is a rich man
He wears a rich man's cloak
Gave me the keys to his kingdom coming
Gave me a cup of gold
He said I have many mansions
And there are many rooms to see
But I left by the back door
And I threw away the key
And I threw away the key
Yeah, I threw away the key
Yeah, I threw away the key
Ho ho
For the first time
For the first time
For the first time
I feel love
A lover like no other
She got soul, soul, soul, sweet soul
And she teach me how to sing
Shows me colors when there's none to see
Gives me hope when I can't believe
That for the first time
I feel loved
I have a brother
When I'm a brother in need
I spend my whole time running
He spends his running after me
When I feel myself going down
I just call and he comes around
But for the first time
I feel love
Ho ho ho ho ho ho
Ho
My father is a rich man
He wears a rich man's cloak
Gave me the keys to his kingdom coming
Gave me a cup of gold
He said I have many mansions
And there are many rooms to see
But I left by the back door
And I threw away the key
And I threw away the key
Yeah, I threw away the key
Yeah, I threw away the key
Ho ho
For the first time
For the first time
For the first time
I feel love
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I think this song isn't about one person, but three different cases of people who once suffered or are suffered from feelings hopelessness, depression and guilt/shame/regret finally finding Love in different forms... for the first time. Also, I noticed the framing of time in each case as it regresses the point where which the narrator(s) reflects:
First, there's the man who feels love for the first time from a Lover. Even despite his persistent feelings of hopelessness, his Lover continuously re-affirms that it truly is Love he feels. This story is framed after the narrator felt love for the first time.
"Gives me hope when I can't believe that for the first time [from so long ago] I feel love."
Second, there's another person who feels love for the first time from a brotherly figure. During their bouts with depression and "going down", they realizes their 'brother' has always been there for them. However, "but" now, he feels love for the first time. The story is framed in the present tense. It takes place at the point where he understand he feels love for the first time.
"When I feel myself going down, I just call and he comes around; but for the first time [this time] I feel love"
The final story is referring to a person who feels guilt and shame despite the love of their 'father' and is presently living in crippling regret for their actions; notice how the narrator "left by the back door' as one would who flees in shame. The narrator is feels he is irredeemable "and I throw away the key". The song then plays like the passage of time, when some time in the future he truly feels love for the first time - and is redeemed by his father.