Lyric discussion by Starchild91 

Cover art for First Day lyrics by Futureheads, The

To me, this song is, so obviously, about life:

"Welcome to your new job, hope you have a wonderful first day". It's simple: welcome to life. Hope you have a wonderful time here.

"We are so happy to have you join the team, you are so lucky on your first day". The team who are welcoming us are the rest of the human kind. And we are being told everyday since we're little kids that we are very lucky to be here, and that life is a blessing.

"This is the job that people die for" - of course, no one survives life. Everyone dies in this job.

"I hope you're ready for the next stage". Ever since we're little we are being pushed and pushed into growing up. Whether we want to or not. We have to learn how to walk. We have to learn how to speak. We have to learn maths. We have to learn to drive a car. All these things can be interpreted as a stage, or the stages can simply be the different stages of life. Baby, toddler, child, teenager, adult, elderly, death...

"A lot of people work in the same place, don't let them get in your way". The world is crowded with people. Unless you don't make your way through, pushing others aside and really making an effort, you won't even be seen.

"You like to talk when you're eating, but today you listen to him". You've been taught to push other's aside (like above) but today you'll make an exception and listen to what this fellow worker/human being has to say.

"And he says like it or not, you have to do what they say". "They" are the government. You have to do what the government tells you. You must get an education. You must grow up. You must get a job. You must pay bills. You must act normal. You must listen to the government.

"And it is something that you would like to talk about, but it is only your first day". Even though you might think that sounds stupid, and you'd like to talk to the government about it, you can't. "It's only your first day" as in you're still so new to this life thing, so you should keep your mouth shut.

"And they say faster, faster, it's time to take you to the next stage". Suddenly, you're not a child anymore. Or you're not a teenager anymore. Or you're not an adult anymore! You have to go up to the next level now, fast!

"But it's only your first day, and you're not ready for the next stage". But you're not ready for the next stage. You've just begun this job, and you don't know how things work yet.

It goes on and on, pushing and pushing on you to grow up, and move to the next level. You're never ready, but you're never given a choice, either.

As an 18-year-old, I can totally relate to this. I'm not ready for the next stage, either.

My Interpretation