First Born


First Born

(words and music by Kate McGarrigle/Garden Court Music ASCAP)

The silver spoon’s in the mouth
Baby clothes are baby-blue
Nothing’s ever handed down
Everything’s brand new
Newspaper notices heralding that great event
Daddy’s buddies send the flowers
Mother’s friends have baby showers
Welcoming that Heaven sent

That first born son is always the one
The first to be called and the last to come
He’s his mother’s favorite, his grandmother’s too
He’ll break their hearts and he’ll break yours too

For he’s the first to creep and the first to crawl
The first to walk and the first to fall
Every bruise is kissed, every cry is heard
Every doubt’s cast out with a soothing word

‘Cause he’s that first born son, he’s that special one
No matter what comes next, no matter what comes along
Be it another boy or a sweet baby girl
The family’s the oyster and he is the pearl

Some of them make it, some of them don’t
Some of them can’t, others won’t grow up

In the bible of old, according to Exodus
Every first born son of a Jew got axed
But the one who survived with the help of God’s hand
Led his people to the promised land

Yes he’s that first born son, he’s that son of a gun
Just hates to walk, just loves to run
He loves to run as fast as he can
With life held tight in the palm of his hand



© 2010 Kate & Anna McGarrigle, All rights reserved.