First girl I loved,
Time has come I will sing you
this sad goodbye song,
When I was seventeen, I used to know you.
Well, I haven't seen you, now, since many is the short year,
And the last time I seen you, you said you'd joined the
Church of Jesus.
But me, I remember your long red hair falling in our faces
As I kissed you.
Well, I want you to know, we just had to grow;
I want you to know, I just had to go.
And you're probably married now, house and car and all,
And you turned into a grownup, female, stranger.
And if I was lying near you now,
I probably wouldn't be here at all.
Well, we parted so hard;
Me, rushing round Britain with a guitar,
Making love to people
That I didn't even like to see.
Well, I would think of you.
Yes, I mean in the six sad morning.
And in the lonely midnight,
Try to hold your face before me.
Well, I want you to know, I just had to go;
I want you to know, we just had to grow.
And you're probably married now, kids and all,
And you turned into a grownup, female, stranger.
And if I was lying near you now,
I'd just have to fall.
Well, I never slept with you
Though we must have made love a thousand times.
For we were just young, didn't have no place to go,
But in the wide hills and beside many a long water
You have gathered flowers, and they do not smell for me.
Well, I want you to know, I just had to go.
I want you to know, we just had to grow.
So it's goodbye first love, and I hope you're fine.
Well, I have a sweet woman
Maybe some day to have babies by me,
she's pretty,
Is a true friend of mine.
