Cavalier

I really don't see it the same way. Although I found the mother/child interpretation beautiful.

Speak until the dust Settles in the same specific place Light refused to go Drink it from a cast and iron plate Instead of cold milk Was offered unripe Instead of silence Considered craven

( To me this first part is about repetition. The first two phrase make me think of someone going through the same experience over and over again. And he/she craves something that he/she is not getting.There is a yearning that isn't met. A search for something which can lead to growth, through which one is catered (reference to milk). "light refused to go" is to me the memory of a loved one which he/she can"t escape from)

Nothing made it seem Hidden where the aging soil was pure Pressed against the crease Mountains become fragrant at the source How can you stand this Exotic angle I read it somewhere That they would lie still ( For me this part is about the beginning of a relationship as well as the changes it goes through. First two lines make me think of the innocence that can lead you into a relationship even if deep down you know its not worth it. "exotic angle" to me is about trying something new, Daring yourself to look in different places to find what you're looking for. "They would lie still" Is to me about sex and intimacy

I remember how cloth hung Flexing with the forest clung Half waist and high raised arms Kicking at the slightest form I remember my first love I remember my first love ( First three lines are about intimacy and how the two lovers held each other. "Kicking at the slightest form" to me is about recognition, reciprocity. "I remember my first love" Is self explanatory)

Unrelied I was called Missing teeth out of favour Nickel beach it was all Gathering by the sundial ( To me this part is about dreaming about this first love. "Missing teeth out of favour" In a dream losing a tooth is often associated with loss. So he/she has lost this person, but the "favour" is being able to see the loved one in dream. "Gathering by the sundial" is to emphasize the limited time to the "favour".)

I woke hard I woke heavy For the half way stop Five whole hours in When I woke hard I woke heavy with the live or parts ( This last bit is to me about waking up."I woke heavy with the live or parts" , accepting the time waisted (with the temporary lovers) and moving on (forgetting the first love). Having a hard time to cope. Its like the whole experience starts all over again. Craving, search, realization. A vicious circle that leaves he/she empty The song to me is about a person haunted by the memory of a loved one and searching for them in other people over and over again. The title also makes me think of solitude.

Don't have a single idea what it means, not a single fuck given. Sounds sooo good

I've been listening to this song on repeat for a while it still hasn't gotten old it's beautiful,  I was thinking what in the world is this song about it plays with your emotions but for what meaning?!  I've been getting the vibe of a unborn child and a father/mother  but then again it could just be passionate intimacy that's all I can possibly fathom out of his brilliant choice of words. this is just my interpretation I'd still adore this song even if I'm completely wrong :)

Speak until the dust (magical, mystical dust, matter, child)

Settles in the same specific place (Speak to the mothers stomach until the child stops kicking, comfort sooth the child with your voice)

Light refused to go (baby is inside of the mother, light could be harmful, light wouldn't dare touch the fragile being, or baby's eyes are often closed, child cannot see)

Drink it from a cast and iron plate (instead this light is consumed or poured all over, child is invoked in this light, light could be the mother, cast and iron is considerably heavy, light is light, different from darkness, different environment,  maybe when the child is born and opens it's eyes and it's at an instant where the darkness isn't the only thing the child knows any more)

Instead of cold milk Was offered unripe (mothers breast milk)

Instead of silence Considered craven (mistaken)

Nothing made it seem Hidden where the aging soil was pure (child was referred to as dust now aging soil, quote, we are made of earth, earth is magnificent, beautiful words)

Pressed against the crease (pressed to the mother close to the outside world)

Mountains become fragrant at the source (aging soil, now a mountain, child, mother receives a bump this magnificent moutain is forming)("fragrant at the source" I pick up the idea of the child always being the mothers and the mother always being the childs their scents always drawn to one another because the child is inside of the mother, they are one)

How can you stand this Exotic angle (moutains are towering, this child is a huge part of this mothers life but yet hasn't even been born, exotic, child moves all about upside down side ways diagonal, angles)

I read it somewhere  That they would lie still (Mother and child will both equally have the same amount of precious meaning to one another, big parts of each others lives,the amount of love would even out)

I remember how cloth hung (clothes, intamicy)

Flexing with the forest clung (intamicy with the forest surrounding them)

Half waist and high raised arms (in the water at the waist arms raised taking in the beauty letting the breeze flow through fingertips)(or just full on intamicy)

Kicking at the slightest form (treading water)

I remember my first love (first love lover)

I remember my first love (lover)

Unrelied I was called Missing teeth out of favour (trouble maker fought for lover possibly very unsure lol)

Nickel beach it was all Gathering by the sundial (awaiting, time) (Remembering back at nickel beach pretty nice beach possibly with the mother and "unsupervised swimming" child was conceived)

I woke hard I woke heavy  For the half way stop Five whole hours When I woke hard  I woke heavy with the live or parts  (Confusing verse waking up from the memory, realization? Eh)

I remember how cloth hung (remembering)

Flexing with the forest clung (still remembering)

Half waist and high raised arms (child ultrasound)

Kicking at the slightest form (child kicking ever so slightly)

I remember my first love (lover

I remember my first love (child

I remember my first love (his mother

To me, this song is about rembering innocence. As we get older, we loss that inoccence. That overwhelming pure feeling of...just being alive. Experiencing things, new things; for the first time. How amazing those things feel for the first time. We grow and we get harder, we walk harder. We don't feel as much. We don't experience as much. We don't live as much. The pain of life..starts to take a toll on us. He's reflecting on all these things.

I am not sure what the song actually means, but I had to say that the first time I actually listened to the lyrics I thought about the crucifixion of Jesus. I consider myself to be a very spiritual person but not overly religious. I will try my best to interpret some of the lyrics that made think of the crucifixion of Jesus. Now if you feel like I am reaching, so be it. LOL. I don't really want to debate on religion, it's not my focus. Just explaining what comes to mind when listening to this song. Ok here we go.

Speak until the dust Settles in the same specific place (Jesus prophesied his death and it came to fruition just as he said)

Light refused to go (He refused to give in to the pain & torture)

Drink it from a cast and iron plate Instead of cold milk Was offered unripe (Jesus said he thirsted and the soldiers gave him sour vinegar wine)

Instead of silence Considered craven (Jesus was taunted by the soldiers and the crowd)

Nothing made it seem Hidden where the aging soil was pure Pressed against the crease Mountains become fragrant at the source (This is when Jesus and the other two criminals made it to Mount Calvary, ready to be mounted)

How can you stand this Exotic angle (the visual of the 3 crucifixes tormented the loved ones, believers, and followers of Jesus.)

I read it somewhere That they would lie still (In the bible, they describe the deaths of the criminals and Jesus)

I remember how cloth hung Flexing with the forest clung Half waist and high raised arms Kicking at the slightest form (Visualizing Jesus only baring a cloth around his waist and nailed to the cross with his arms stretched out. Wincing and flinching due to the excruciating pain.)

I remember my first love I remember my first love (Jesus died for our sins because he loved us but we had yet to even know it. Making him our first love)

Unrelied I was called Missing teeth out of favour (I believe this is from the point of view of the criminal crucified beside Jesus that asked to be forgiven and Jesus promised him a place in Paradise (The Kingdom of Heaven).) Or it could even Simon that was called upon by a soldier to help Jesus carry his cross.)

Nickel beach it was all Gathering by the sundial (Jesus’ loved ones watched and waited for his last breath)

I woke hard I woke heavy For the half way stop Five whole hours in (It is said that the crucifixion lasted 5-6 hours (don’t quote me). When I woke hard I woke heavy with the live or parts (When he died there was an Earthquake and ancient prophets had risen from the dead. This is when they finally admitted that Jesus has to be the Son of God)

I remember how cloth hung Flexing with the forest clung Half waist and high raised arms Kicking at the slightest form I remember my first love I remember my first love

I remember how cloth hung Flexing with the forest clung Half waist and high raised arms Kicking at the slightest form I remember my first love I remember my first love

I remember my first love

I want to start this comment by saying that I agree with all of you in that this is a beautiful song. Deep, passionate, and (obviously) thought-provoking. However, I'm going to take it a different way with my interpretation of the song. I look at the lyrics and hear pain in his voice.

Take "I Remember My First Love" as the overarching theme and think darkly about every lyric. After that tell me what you think. Watch the music video that James McMorrow put out for the song:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/10/31/241894445/first-watch-james-vincent-mcmorrow-cavalier

When I watched that music video I was paralyzed with chills running down my spine and along every limb of my body. To me, this song is about love being lost in a tragic accident or by a horrible breakup or betrayal. The drinking, recklessness, and "Cavalier" manner of the main character in the music video really resonate with what I think this song is about. "I Remember My First Love" but I'm trying to forget her. Or, "I Remember My First Love" and I want to feel that way again not matter what I have to do to get there. Or "I Remember My First Love" and I can't stand not having it, so I'll numb myself. I strongly believe the imagery in the video tells the tale of a wounded, once-loved-now-lost, bright-but-now-dark individual and presents a different meaning of this song.

I love this song no matter the meaning. And it's open to everyone's interpretation. I only wish we could find out from the artist.