About The Song

In the realm of country music, few names resonate with the same enduring power as Conway Twitty. Renowned for his rich, emotive vocals and captivating stage presence, Twitty left an indelible mark on the genre, captivating audiences worldwide for decades. Among his vast repertoire of chart-topping hits, one song stands out as a poignant testament to the complexities of love and loss: “I Was The First.”

Released in 1982 as part of Twitty’s album Southern Comfort, “I Was The First” paints a vivid portrait of a love triangle, rife with heartache and the lingering ache of unfulfilled desires. The song’s narrator, a man deeply in love with a woman, finds himself haunted by the specter of her past relationship, a connection that continues to cast a shadow over their present.

Twitty’s masterful storytelling unfolds through the verses, each line imbued with a palpable sense of longing and regret. He recounts the tender moments shared with his beloved, the stolen kisses and whispered promises that once filled their hearts with hope. Yet, these cherished memories are bittersweet, constantly overshadowed by the knowledge that he was not her first love.

The chorus delivers a powerful emotional punch, as the narrator confronts the reality of his situation:

I was the first to hold you in my arms so tight I was the first to thrill you with a kiss goodnight I was the first to stir your feelings new and strange I was the first and that’s the one thing he can’t change

The repetition of the phrase “I was the first” emphasizes the narrator’s desperate attempt to establish his primacy in his lover’s heart. However, this assertion is met with the stark realization that he cannot erase the past, nor can he alter the profound impact her first love has had on her being.

Related:   Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn - Oh Honey-Oh Babe

The bridge offers a glimmer of hope, as the narrator acknowledges the depth of his love for the woman despite the lingering presence of her past. He sings:

I know he won’t admit it but it’s true and Lord it hurts To think that when he’s lovin’ you, I was the first

This bittersweet sentiment encapsulates the essence of the song, highlighting the narrator’s struggle to reconcile his love with the undeniable reality of her past. The song’s final lines underscore the enduring power of first love, its ability to leave an indelible mark on the heart, even as new love blossoms.

“I Was The First” stands as a timeless ballad, a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the lingering memories that shape our emotional landscape. Conway Twitty’s heartfelt vocals and the song’s evocative lyrics have resonated with listeners for generations, cementing its place as a country music classic.

Video

Lyric

I was the first to hold you in my arms so tightI was the first to thrill you with a kiss goodnightI was the first to stir your feelin’s new and strangeI was the first and that’s the one thing he can’t change
I was the first to take advantage of your youthI was the first to whisper love words for the truthI was the first to break your heart in two and yetI was the first and I know that you can’t forget
He can’t stop these feelings that keep runnin’ through his mindThings you couldn’t help that happened long before his timeI know he won’t admit it but it’s true and Lord it hurtsTo think that when he’s lovin’ you, I was the first
I was the first to kiss your lips and hold your handI was the first to ever touch you as a manI was the first to take your innocence then runI was your first, I took a girl and made a woman
We’ve already done the things that he’s got on his mindThings you couldn’t help that happened long before his timeI know he won’t admit it but it’s true and Lord it hurtsTo think that when he’s lovin’ you, I was the first
I know he won’t admit it but it’s true and Lord it hurtsTo think that when he’s lovin’ you, I was the firstSometimes he wishes he was me ’cause I was the firstLord, I’d give anything if I had only been the last