The Meaning of Mac DeMarco’s “For the First Time”

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The Meaning of Mac DeMarco’s “For the First Time”
Published: September 20, 2023

Mac DeMarco live at Primavera Sound 2015. Credit: Ani Viotti via Side Stage Collective.

Mac DeMarco’s “For the First Time” is a synth-laden bop that comes early in his 2017 album, This Old Dog. Over time it has grown into one of the indie legend’s most popular songs, both for the groovy arrangement and the loving sentiment portrayed in the lyrics.

“For the First Time” depicts a long distance relationship, or a period of separation between two lovers. DeMarco’s lyrics serve to remind himself that he will be reunited with his lover before long. The feeling that he gets when he sees her will make the difficult challenge of enduring the distance worthwhile.

This is something that many listeners have found common ground with, dealing with their own long distance relationships. Mac’s smooth vocal delivery and effortlessly sensuous instrumentation make this song especially memorable.

Mac DeMarco – “For the First Time” (2017)

“For the First Time” Lyrics Meaning

Verse 1

We get our first idea of how Mac’s been feeling, without his lover, in the first verse:

While she’s been away
Living day-to-day has been tough
Without her at my side
Simply being alive has been rough

First verse to “For the First Time” by Mac DeMarco.

He’s been missing her, and just getting through the days has become a challenge.

Pre-Chorus

And though she won’t be gone forever
There are many times I find it feels that way
And I’m not trying to forget her
Just understand how I’ll be feeling on that day

First pre-chorus to “For the First Time” by Mac DeMarco.

She’s coming back, but it often feels like she won’t be. He tries not to think about her too much while he’s gone, but he also doesn’t want to forget about her. Because he knows how he’s going to feel on the day of their reunion.

Chorus

It’s just like seeing her for the first time again
It’s just like seeing her for the first time again

Chorus to “For the First Time” by Mac DeMarco.

The sentiment is truly sweet. When he’s away from his lover, and they are finally reunited, he feels the same way that he did when he saw her for the first time.

Verse 2

DeMarco continues his reflections in the second verse:

The time she’s not around
Somewhere out of town, has been hard
But somehow this old heart
Found time to work it out this far

Second verse to “For the First Time” by Mac DeMarco.

He acknowledges that while it is difficult to be away from his lover, he knows that he can continue, because he’s already made it this far.

Pre-Chorus

No, I know she’s coming home soon
There are times I find it hard to feel that way
It’s not inside me to forget her
Just understand how I’ll be feeling on that day

Second pre-chorus to “For the First Time” by Mac DeMarco.

Sometimes, he worries that they will never be reunited, but he knows that he can never forget her. He holds out for the feeling he will have when they do see one another again.

Conclusion

“For the First Time” is a heartfelt love song about missing someone dear while one or the other is away. It resonates with the hopeful excitement of time spent with a lover after a long separation. He does this with his signature mellow sound that makes this song a fan-favorite.