Even if someday you fall in love with someone else
I'll remember to love
I'll remember to love
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You taught me how
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
You are always gonna be the one
You are always gonna be the one
今はまだ悲しいlove song
ima wa mada kanashii love song
It's still a sad love song now
新しい歌 うたえるまで
atarashii uta utaeru made
Until I can sing a new song
立ち止まる時間が
tachidomaru jikan ga
The time that stands still
動き出そうとしてる
ugokidasou to shiteru
Is trying to start moving again
忘れたくないことばかり
wasuretakunai koto bakari
There are only things I don't want to forget
明日の今頃には
ashita no imagoro ni wa
By this time tomorrow
私はきっと泣いてる
watashi wa kitto naiteru
I'll surely be crying
あなたを想ってるんだろう
anata o omotterun darou
Thinking of you
You will always be inside my heart
You will always be inside my heart
You will always be inside my heart
いつもあなただけの场所があるから
itsumo anata dake no basho ga aru kara
Because there's always a place for only you
I hope that I have a place in your heart too
I hope that I have a place in your heart too
I hope that I have a place in your heart too
Now and forever you are still the one
Now and forever you are still the one
Now and forever you are still the one
今はまだ悲しいlove song
ima wa mada kanashii love song
It's still a sad love song now
新しい歌 うたえるまで
atarashii uta utaeru made
Until I can sing a new song
You are always gonna be my love
You are always gonna be my love
You are always gonna be my love
いつか誰かとまた恋に落ちても
itsuka dareka to mata koi ni ochite mo
Even if someday you fall in love with someone else
I'll remember to love
I'll remember to love
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You taught me how
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
You are always gonna be the one
You are always gonna be the one
まだ悲しいlove song
mada kanashii love song
It's still a sad love song
Now and forever
Now and forever
Now and forever
Song Interpretation
Short Summary
Utada Hikaru's "First Love" is a poignant ballad about the lingering emotions and memories of a first love that remains in the heart, even as time moves on and life changes.
Detailed Insights
The song opens with a bittersweet recollection of the "last kiss," accompanied by the "flavor of cigarettes," symbolizing a moment of emotional complexity. The protagonist reflects on how, by this time tomorrow, they will be separated from their love, wondering where their former lover will be and who they will be thinking of. This sense of longing is heightened as she expresses that, no matter who else her ex may fall in love with, she will always remember how to love, thanks to the lessons learned from this first love.
The song continues with a mix of sorrow and hope. The protagonist acknowledges that she is still trapped in the sadness of the past ("It's still a sad love song now"), but she holds onto the memory of the love she shared. She expresses a desire to move forward, singing a new song, but also reveals that she can never truly forget this love, as it has left a permanent mark on her heart. The reference to "a place for only you" highlights how deeply this love has shaped her identity and the place it still occupies in her life.
Throughout the song, there is an ongoing tension between the desire to move on and the impossibility of completely letting go. The repeating refrain, "You are always gonna be my love," reinforces the idea that no matter where life leads, this love will always remain a defining part of her emotional landscape.
Ultimately, "First Love" captures the bittersweet nature of remembering a love that has passed but remains alive in one's heart, suggesting that first loves are often the ones we hold onto the longest, no matter how much time passes or how much life changes.