Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Not The First” by Man Overboard
Man Overboard’s song “Not The First” tells the story of someone who has never felt quite at home and has been searching for a place to belong since they were a child. The protagonist has moved from place to place, searching for that feeling of home, but finding that it is always just out of reach.
The title “Not The First” implies that this is not the first time the protagonist has had this feeling of displacement and loneliness. This has been a recurring theme throughout their life, from childhood into adulthood. This suggests that the protagonist has struggled with identity issues and feelings of disconnection for a long time, and the search for a sense of belonging has been a recurring journey that never seems to bring the fulfilment they seek.
The chorus most clearly expresses the protagonist’s feelings of being alone and an outcast: “Not the first, always the same old thing/At some point started feeling like a stranger/ Not the first, always the same old dread/But I never been the one who’d find a way to break out of their head”. These lyrics suggest that the protagonist has come to terms with the fact that they will never truly belong anywhere, and they are constantly on the outside looking in.
The overall message of “Not The First” is that though our journeys in life might not go as planned, we will overcome them if we find strength to persevere. Although the protagonist feels isolated and disconnected, the song also offers a glimmer of hope with the promise that “better days will come” if we keep trying to make the best of our lives.