Lyr Req/Add: First Time Lover (Si Kahn)

Subject: Lyr Req: First TIme Lover by Si Kahn
From: GUEST,Alan Ackerman
Date: 13 Aug 10 - 04:05 AM

Looking for the words to First Time Lover by Si Kahn. I just heard the song on BBC Radio Ulster, performed by Eleanor Shanley. I had no luck searching on Google.

Subject: ADD: First Time Lover by Si Kahn
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Aug 10 - 05:23 AM

Hi, Alan-
I think I have it down pretty well, but there are a few places where I can't quite understand what he's singing.

FIRST TIME LOVER
(Si Kahn)

His back was bare, and his body bendin' (?)
He was one big grin from his head to his heels,
Just a teenage boy from the next county over,
Workin' with my daddy in the summer fields.

I stood stock-still with my mouth hangin' open,
Mama never had told me this is how love feels;
But this new sensation I'd just discovered,
Told me he'd be my first-time lover.

Soft as the sun, warm as the summer,
Sweet as the hay, gentle as the wind;
Take off your boots, lay down beside me
Tonight we're first-time lovers again.

The boy went off to fight in the Army,
I stayed where I was, I carried my load;
When I heard he'd come home safely,
I spent hours watchin' down the old farm road.

The look in his eyes as he stood there grinnin',
Told me he'd come lookin' for more than work;
That night in the fields with the stars above us,
I welcomed home my first-time lover.

Soft as the sun, warm as the summer,
Sweet as the hay, gentle as the wind;
Take off your boots, lay down beside me
Tonight we're first-time lovers again.

I see you now, your strong back bendin',
Playin' with the kids at the end of the day;
And that lopsided grin that drives me crazy,
Reminds me of the boy in the summer hay.

Supper's done, and the kids gone sleepin',
We stand on the porch as the stars come down;
All (?) these years there's been no other,
You done real good, for a first-time lover.

Soft as the sun, warm as the summer,
Sweet as the hay, gentle as the wind;
Take off your boots, lay down beside me
Tonight we're first-time lovers again.

transcribed by ear from the Si Kahn CD, Thanksgiving

---

See the definitive lyrics in Si's post below.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: First Time Lover by Si Kahn
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Aug 10 - 07:59 AM

Nice one!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: First Time Lover by Si Kahn
From: frogprince
Date: 13 Aug 10 - 12:43 PM

I've always heard it by female singers, and never realized Si wrote it. Beautiful.

Subject: ADD: First Time Lover (Si Kahn) - from Si himself
From: GUEST,Si Kahn
Date: 14 Aug 10 - 08:40 AM

Folks, thanks for all these comments--and for the impressive job of transcription. Here's the original words. You'll note that the only changes from the transcription are a couple of prepositions and conjunctions--plus the fact that I don't punctuate my lyrics. Also, even though I tend to drop the "g" at the end of words when I'm singing, I put it there when I write out the lyrics.

Does anyone know whether Eleanor Shanley has recorded the song? It's a real honor that she's singing it. I can be reached at [e-mail]. All the best, Si

FIRST TIME LOVER
(Si Kahn)

His back was bare
And his body bending
He was one big grin
From his head to his heels
Just a teenage boy
From the next county over
Working with my daddy
In the summer fields

I stood stock still
With my mouth hanging open
Momma never had told me
This is how love feels
But this new sensation
I'd just discovered
Told me he'd be
My first time lover

    Warm as the sun
    Soft as the summer
    Sweet as the hay
    Gentle as the wind
    Take off your boots
    Lay down beside me
    Tonight we're first time lovers again

The boy went off
To fight in the army
I stayed where I was
And I carried my load
But when I heard
He'd come home safely
I spent hours watching
Down the old farm road

The look in his eyes
As he stood there grinning
Told me he'd come looking
For more than work
That night in the fields
With the stars above us
I welcomed home
My first time lover

    Warm as the sun
    Soft as the summer
    Sweet as the hay
    Gentle as the wind
    Take off your boots
    Lay down beside me
    Tonight we're first time lovers again

I see you now
Your strong back bending
Playing with the kids
At the end of the day
And that lopsided grin
That drives me crazy
Reminds me of the boy
In the summer hay

The supper's done
And the kids gone sleeping
We stand on the porch
As the stars come down
All of these years
There's been no other
You done real good
For a first time lover

    Warm as the sun
    Soft as the summer
    Sweet as the hay
    Gentle as the wind
    Take off your boots
    Lay down beside me
    Tonight we're first time lovers again

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: First Time Lover by Si Kahn
From: frogprince
Date: 14 Aug 10 - 02:28 PM

Refresh, just 'cause it was Kool to see that last post. Si, if you look back in, thanks, and nice to see you here. Enjoyed you awhile back at the Ark.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: First Time Lover by Si Kahn
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Aug 10 - 02:59 PM

The song is sung by Si on his 2007 Thanksgiving CD; but there's a woman singing lead for this song on Si's Been a Long Time CD (published in 2000) - I take it that's Laurie lewis singing on "Long Time."
Great song, Si. It brought tears to my eyes.
-Joe-