'First Time' by Hudson Westbrook - Lyrics & Meaning

Country music's most buzzed about newcomer, Hudson Westbrook, has had a whirlwind last 14 months or so dating back to the release of his breakout, debut single, 'Take It Slow.'

Soaking in the limelight from one release to the next ever since–including his debut radio single, 'House Again,' and the viral offerings of 'Sober,' '5 to 9,' 'Dressed Down' and more–the burgeoning artist is finally releasing his debut record, Texas Forever, on July 25.

Carving his place as one of country music’s most promising new voices, the project features 17 tracks, all co-written by the North Texas native, showcasing the depth and charm of a young artist raised on country tradition but unafraid to push its boundaries. Created alongside close collaborators like Neil Medley, Lukas Scott, Reid Haughton, Beau Bailey and more, the record explores themes of hard work, family, love and personal battles.

Near the end of the sprawling setlist, listeners will find the swoon-worthy 'First Time,' chronicling young love that persists through all of life's obstacles.

Written alongside Lukas Scott & Reid Haughton, the 2025 offering from the native Texan serves up the same general sound that has quickly become his signature calling card, seamlessly blending neotraditional and red dirt country with a sleek mainstream sheen.

Taking shape as an acoustic-driven ballad, 'First Time' is a lowkey love song. With warm guitars filling up the sonic landscape, as well as brushed drum beat, it's a cozy offering that could easily find its way into wedding playlists before too long.

Revitalizing the organic country-rock of red dirt, the rough-around-the-edges singer-songwriter first picked up a guitar in just 2020, effectively teaching himself how to play while enrolled in high school. In 2023, during his time at Texas Tech, he started playing around with melodies, penning what would be the first of many songs to his name, including the sprawling list of tracks that found their way onto Texas Forever.

"She said I was the problem, the problem that she needed
She couldn't avoid it, the thought of her and me
Said she was the answer to the prayers my mom was prayin'
Worth all the time that I'd been waitin'"

We find out pair of love birds like the perfect puzzle pieces finally coming together. While she was looking for a problem to fix, he was looking and waiting for someone to come along that he could love and provide for.

Explaining that she was like the answer to all of his mother's many prayers on his behalf, he's quick to say that she was worth all the waiting and hoping since she's better than he could've ever imagined.

"We never made it past that first goodbye
Like I ain't never seen a pair of sky blue eyes
Ever since that moment, I've been watching days fly by
Every time I see her, it still feels like the first time"

From the first moments that they were together and after their initial date, our narrator knew that he was a goner.

Drawing attention to her crystal blue eyes that have been living in his mind ever since, every day since then has seen the two of them together, growing their relationship and falling more and more in love.

Despite the time that's passed since that first meeting, though, he still feels the same way about her as he did then. He's still hopelessly pining for her day after day.

"How did it happen?
A miracle, a chemical reaction
Two lone stars aligned outside of Austin
I still feel it in my chest
To this day, I still feel the way I felt back then"

Trying to understand how their paths ever happened to cross, forcing them down this fated path together, our singer likens it to some sort of miracle or chemical reaction that's far beyond their control.

Comparing themselves to two stars that just happened to align at just the right time, their love is one that remains true and strong.

"We never made it past that first goodbye
Like I ain't never seen a pair of sky blue eyes
Ever since that moment, I've been watching days fly by
Every time I see her, it still feels like the first time"

In the build up to the release of Texas Forever, Westbrook has been popping out one instantly beloved hit after another.

While he hasn't said anything specific about 'First Time' at this point, the budding talent has noted just how important this long-awaited debut project is to him and all the work that went into bringing it to life.

“I’m so proud of this record,” Westbrook says. “I love Texas, it’s shaped so much about who I am. We wrote 50-60 songs for this project and narrowed it down to 17 that I think really represent where I am in my life right now and what I love making as an artist: songs that sound like where I grew up, but read like something that just about anyone could relate to.”

She said I was the problem, the problem that she needed
She couldn't avoid it, the thought of her and me
Said she was the answer to the prayers my mom was prayin'
Worth all the time that I'd been waitin'

We never made it past that first goodbye
Like I ain't never seen a pair of sky blue eyes
Ever since that moment, I've been watching days fly by
Every time I see her, it still feels like the first time

How did it happen?
A miracle, a chemical reaction
Two lone stars aligned outside of Austin
I still feel it in my chest
To this day, I still feel the way I felt back then

We never made it past that first goodbye
Like I ain't never seen a pair of sky blue eyes
Ever since that moment, I've been watching days fly by
Every time I see her, it still feels like the first time

We never made it past that first goodbye
Like I ain't never seen a pair of sky blue eyes
Ever since that moment, I've been watching days fly by
Every time I see her, it still feels like the first time

I said she was the answer, answer to the prayers that I'd been prayin'

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