The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
It's the first day of spring
And my life is starting over again
The trees grow, the river flows
And its water will wash away my sins
For I do believe that everyone has one chance
To fuck up their lives
But like a cut down tree, I will rise again
And I'll be bigger and stronger than ever before
For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back
For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back
There's a hope in every new seed
And every flower that grows upon the earth
And though I love you, and you know that
Well I no longer know what that's worth
But I'll come back to you in a year or so
And I'll rebuild, be ready to become
Oh the person, you believed in
Oh the person, that you used to love
For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back
For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back
And my life is starting over again
The trees grow, the river flows
And its water will wash away my sins
For I do believe that everyone has one chance
To fuck up their lives
But like a cut down tree, I will rise again
And I'll be bigger and stronger than ever before
For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back
For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back
There's a hope in every new seed
And every flower that grows upon the earth
And though I love you, and you know that
Well I no longer know what that's worth
But I'll come back to you in a year or so
And I'll rebuild, be ready to become
Oh the person, you believed in
Oh the person, that you used to love
For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back
For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back
Lyrics submitted by stowawaygirl
The First Days of Spring Lyrics as written by Charles Fink
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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there are so many concepts to this song...its so beautiful. its like on one hand, he knows he will rebuild himself, and grow past this big break up, because at some point everyone fucks up. so its like hes starting over, and starting new. but then later it say he will rebuild to be the person 'you' believed in (im guessing laura is you), and the person she loved. so its like he wants to move on, but he still wants to be the person laura loved, maybe he felt he was losing himself, or maybe he wants to get her back, because hes still hoping one day she may come back.
incredibly mindblowing stuff. i cannot possibly begin to explain how beautiful they sounded live. i cried when i heard this for the first time. so happy for the 31st of August. (Y) love you noah' my heroes (L)
I'm probably grasping at straws, but these lyrics... "But like a cut down tree, I will rise again And I'll be bigger and stronger than ever before"
... reminded me of Laura Marling's 'Cross Your Fingers': "You'll be reborn, bigger and stronger And less alive"
Although they are not uncommon sentiments, I wonder if some of the lyrics in this song are intentionally or unintentionally reminiscent of ex-girlfriend/band-mate Laura Marling's previous song in the same way that she uses "I'd be sad that I never held your hand as you were lowered" in 'Blackberry Stone' (see Noah and the Whale's 'Hold My Hand As I'm Lowered').
It's probably nothing, and I don't really know what Laura's song is even about, but I just thought it interesting how artists may or may not influence each other.
P.S. This is one of the most heart-wrenching yet optimistic break-up albums I've ever heard. Brilliance. So, uh, thank you, Laura for the inspiration. I guess.
I'm pretty sure the cut down tree line is a reference to the book of job... I'm positive there is a verse that expresses the same exact sentiment, just not sure of the chapter and verse. It's towards the beginning of the book.
Book of Job . 14:7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.<br /> <br /> <br /> The passage around that reflects the song a lot, actually.<br /> <br /> WARNING a lot of mumbojumbo<br /> <br /> 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 14:3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. 14:5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 14:6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. 14:7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 14:8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 14:9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. 14:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 14:11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 14:12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 14:13 Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 14:15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. 14:16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? 14:17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. 14:18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. 14:19 The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. 14:20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. 14:21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. 14:22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.
that song is magnificent, esp. the second verse
Mindblowing...
The new album is just a heartbreak, but so beautiful...
I think spring is a metaphor for his life starting again. Perhaps his suffering after the breakup was like winter and "first days of spring" means that he's finally alright and confident about the future.
The first days of spring represent regrowth. Like the flowers and trees that begin to grow again on the first day of spring and will soon bloom again, he is starting over after "fucking up his life" with what sounds like also ruined a relationship. He is waiting for the girl that he loves to come back, but he will be ready this time, because he is turning over a new leaf and starting over, becoming a better man.
The posters before are spot on with this being mindblowing. That second verse is so powerful. These guys really do have a magical way of putting feelings and lessons learned into lyrics. They put out one masterpiece after another.
Recently I’ve created a situation for myself in which I’ve hurt my pride and others around me. The first verse of this song gives me hope that even though I’ve fucked up majorly, and I’ve made some bad choices, everyone has the opportunity to re-evaluate and change their life to become a better person. Someone who is honest; someone I’m proud to be.
The tone heavily foreshadows his futile efforts to win back the woman he loved. The song is about life, and the mistakes we make, and how we will try to pick ourselves up. Despite our best efforts, the past doesn't stay in the past, it touches everything we are and everything we'll become.