"First Man," by Camila Cabello

Photo: Camila Cabello Official Instagram

Album: "Romance"

Release Date: December 6, 2019

Written by: Amy Wadge, Jordan Reynolds and Camila Cabello

Produced by: FINNEAS and Jordan Reynolds

It's no secret that Camila Cabello's "Romance" album, released on December 9, 2019, is a diary about her love life. But the lyrics in "First Man" are universal. Her sophomore album's last track is Camila Cabello's heartfelt message to Alejandro Cabello's father. It perfectly captures the feelings going through a father's head when his daughter finally becomes old enough to make her own choices, especially when it comes to life partners.

Via Spotify's "The Romance Experience," Camila Cabello said: "First Man" was actually the first song that I wrote for the album and I remember walking to the studio that day. I had a bunch of lyrics and a bunch of ideas, but I started talking about my dad. And I started getting really emotional about it. I've heard that song – I don't know how many times – every single time I picture my dad's face and it makes me cry. I think it's just going to be a song that I listen to when I'm 80 years old and it'll make me sob in the same way because I've immortalized a memory of somebody that was one of the people that I love most in the entire world".

In the first verse, Camila describes a dating encounter, and her dad has many questions for her. We hear these questions through her answers to ease her father's mind.

"Yes, I'm gonna stay with him tonight

I'll see you in the mornin'

No, of course he won't drink and drive

Can you say bye to mom for me?

Oh, you'll like him, he's really kind

And he's funny like you sometimes

And I found someone I really like

Maybe for the first time"

On the Pre-chorus, Camila's father shows kindness and treats her as if she were a little girl. It looks like he's at the door with her, and her boyfriend is outside waiting for her.

"No, I don't need a jacket

It's not that cold tonight

And you worry, I get it

But he's waitin' outside"

In the chorus, she tells her father not to worry because her boyfriend is a good guy, but regardless of everything, her dad will be the first man who loves her unconditionally.

"I swear on my heart that he's a good man

I know you'll stay up late just waitin' for me

You held me so tight, now someone else can

But you were the first man that really loved me"

Camila talks about dividing her time between her father and her lover in the second verse.

"Now you're driving to the airport

Not just me you pick up anymore

I've got eight days off comin' up

And I can only come home for four"

We hear that Camila has already met her boyfriend's family in the second pre-chorus. She tells this news to her dad to prove to him that his parents are just like hers.

"Yeah, I just met his family

They're just like you and mom (Oh)

He makes me really happy

I think he might be the one, oh"

In the final chorus, the singer describes a wedding scene. She is standing behind the door to the church, holding her father's hand. He is about to walk her down the aisle and give her off to the new man. He has teary eyes. 

"You're looking at me while walking down the aisle

With tears in your eyes, maybe he deserves me

You don't even know how much it means to me now

That you were the first man that really loved me

Oh, really loved me

Oh, you really love me"

Photo: Camila Cabello Official Instagram

Cabello performed "First Man" at the 62nd Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020, with her father in the audience. Toward the song's end, Cabello walked into the audience to sing directly to her father.