Rain falls, you know it’s got to rain
The sky lifts it up and lets it down again
And it’s alright you must accept your part
Being the first to finish and the last to start

And when you meet me on the ledge, we’ll all be singing art again
And if you must the job away, I’m not afraid
We’ll meet another day

Flame burns, it burns its fuel away
It lights up the dark night and warms a cold, cold day
But if you burn too strong, you might expend your heart
Being the first to finish and the last to start
The first to finish and the last to start
The first to finish
And the last


Lyrics submitted by ruben

First To Finish, Last To Start song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    good song, just about kinda life and karma sorta. i like it. short and sweet

    wilcokidon February 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about young death. The title "first to finish; last to start" basically is about being born young and dying young. The lines "Rain falls you know it's got to rain. The sky lifts it up and lets it down again" Is, I think relating the cycle of water to life. You know you're bound to die, as you know it's bound to rain. But, the cycle keeps going, because there's always new life, as there's always a new death. The line "when you meet me on the ledge, we'll all be singing out again" is i think relating to what comes after death, and how we're all united again. Also the line "i'm not afraid we'll meet another day" is about how we're all united in death.

    The flame at the end is i think a symbol of life, and how if you live intensely, and very emotionally you're bound to die young, because you "expend your heart"

    This is an amazing song, and i can't help but get goosebumps whenever i hear it, becuase of ted's singing.

    Televisedon March 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about young death. The title "first to finish; last to start" basically is about being born young and dying young. The lines "Rain falls you know it's got to rain. The sky lifts it up and lets it down again" Is, I think relating the cycle of water to life. You know you're bound to die, as you know it's bound to rain. But, the cycle keeps going, because there's always new life, as there's always a new death. The line "when you meet me on the ledge, we'll all be singing out again" is i think relating to what comes after death, and how we're all united again. Also the line "i'm not afraid we'll meet another day" is about how we're all united in death.

    The flame at the end is i think a symbol of life, and how if you live intensely, and very emotionally you're bound to die young, because you "expend your heart"

    This is an amazing song, and i can't help but get goosebumps whenever i hear it, becuase of ted's singing.

    Televisedon March 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about young death. The title "first to finish; last to start" basically is about being born young and dying young. The lines "Rain falls you know it's got to rain. The sky lifts it up and lets it down again" Is, I think relating the cycle of water to life. You know you're bound to die, as you know it's bound to rain. But, the cycle keeps going, because there's always new life, as there's always a new death. The line "when you meet me on the ledge, we'll all be singing out again" is i think relating to what comes after death, and how we're all united again. Also the line "i'm not afraid we'll meet another day" is about how we're all united in death.

    The flame at the end is i think a symbol of life, and how if you live intensely, and very emotionally you're bound to die young, because you "expend your heart"

    This is an amazing song, and i can't help but get goosebumps whenever i hear it, becuase of ted's singing.

    Televisedon March 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about young death. The title "first to finish; last to start" basically is about being born young and dying young. The lines "Rain falls you know it's got to rain. The sky lifts it up and lets it down again" Is, I think relating the cycle of water to life. You know you're bound to die, as you know it's bound to rain. But, the cycle keeps going, because there's always new life, as there's always a new death. The line "when you meet me on the ledge, we'll all be singing out again" is i think relating to what comes after death, and how we're all united again. Also the line "i'm not afraid we'll meet another day" is about how we're all united in death.

    The flame at the end is i think a symbol of life, and how if you live intensely, and very emotionally you're bound to die young, because you "expend your heart"

    This is an amazing song, and i can't help but get goosebumps whenever i hear it, becuase of ted's singing.

    Televisedon March 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    God help us if we were born old Televised...

    ashaon November 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is amazing, gives me chills

    blacksheepgirlon November 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is, for me anyways, a soothing and beautiful lullaby. personally, it doesnt give me goosebumps or the chills.

    it just comforts me.

    ted leo and the pharmacists do amazing things with music.

    Twenty5HourDayson July 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I do believe "When you meet me on the ledge" is a reference to Fairport Convention's "Meet on the Ledge," which is a lovely song.

    Aleafofgrasson December 12, 2007   Link

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