For the First Time
Ariel is on land, and she sure is bursting with emotion as she's immersed in this brand new world after dreaming about it for so long. When I first heard that Ariel was going to have a new song in the live-action movie adaptation to express her feelings during the time when she's voiceless, I thought that it would have a similar function as the stage musical's "Beyond My Wildest Dreams". How fun to discover that it kinda does, but mostly it doesn't.
The song itself moves with the story instead of bringing everything to a halt, as it covers Ariel's arrival on land, her being overwhelmed with the details around her, her expectations upon seeing Eric again, and shock when Eric immediately turns away because she can't speak. It's an effective way to cover the highs and lows of Ariel's arrival, and an emotional gut punch at its closing. How very neat, plus Halle's lovely vocals get another chance to shine. Easily my fav of the new songs written for the movie.
Look at the sun and the sky and the sand and the sea behind me
Look at me, suddenly I am on land and I'm free, don't mind me
As I climb for the first time
Jump for the first time
Trying to stand but this gravity's pulling me down
Look, it's a fire, it's warm and it glows and it lights this chamber
Let me admire it, ow! Get too close and it bites, I came too
Close for the first time
Burned for the first time
Everything's clearer and brighter and hotter
But now that I'm here like a fish out of water
I'm trying to stand but this gravity's pulling me down
Are we only food for slaughter
Is this life on land
Well, you were lonely underwater
Come on, Ariel, time to stand
Squeeze in the shoes, in the corset, it's tight, and the seams are busting
Some women choose this, I guess it's all right, got my dreams adjusting
As I wait for the first time
Here for the first time
Now for the first time
He's coming through
Those doors
Up the stairs
From the shore
From that moment
And he'll smile
Like he knows
When I say
Realize the price that you paid with your voice as he turns from you
Those sacrifices you made were a choice that you can't undo
Lost for the first time
Scared for the first time
Gravity feels like an undertow pulling me down
