Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Not The First (Live)” by Man Overboard
Released in 2018, Man Overboard’s song “Not The First (Live)” speaks to the complexity of relationships, the ups and downs of heartbreak, and the roller coaster of processing emotions. It commences with the line “you can’t just leave me on the shelf” highlighting a feeling of desperation that is felt when a former lover is no longer interested. The lyrics alone convey the desire for someone that has left to return and the eternal wait for that possibility.
The song continues to reveal deep emotions and past experiences with chance encounters. The line “you were the star of every past fling” speaks to someone that still lingers in a person’s thoughts and memories. The music itself conveys a turbulent feeling of loss and regret. This is felt in both the lyrics and the aching guitar tones, accented with the occasional incorporation of a somber keyboard.
The singer’s voice backs up this tumultuous emotional roller coaster by conveying raw pain and anguish in every phrase. The rhythm quickly changes to suit the transformation of emotion, represented by the lyrics. This is felt when the chorus hits and the phrase “i know you’re not the first one to take me for a spin” is introduced. The emphasis on the word “spin” conveys feelings of dizziness and chaos from a whirlwind of emotions, felt after someone that has come and gone.
The bridge of the song reveals a sense of acceptance and courage in the lyrics. The singer takes control and makes it known that they will no longer wish for someone to return or for things to stay the same. They are now aware of the cycle of understanding and accepting that somebody is not the first one to take you for a spin.
The song is ultimately a ballad of heartbreak and acceptance, in which Man Overboard uses strong lyrics and emotions to truly capture the bittersweet journey and understanding that relationships come and go.