First Footing

Song Meaning

This track paints a picture of a hopeful, almost mystical New Year's Eve. The narrator addresses a "shepherdess with the North Star eyes," a figure who seems to embody guidance and celestial clarity. The imagery of "mistletoe and hawthorn wings" evokes ancient traditions and a sense of magical transition. The core desire is for "first footing," a ritualistic act of bringing good luck into the new year, suggesting a deep yearning for renewal and a fresh start. The narrator's heart is presented as something that needs to be reclaimed, "against the tide," hinting at past struggles or a period of emotional stagnation. The central tension lies in the act of ushering out the old year and welcoming the new, personified by a "ghost" who "let[s] out the old year." This is contrasted with the desire for a positive "first footing," specifically asking who would "take fire / From the house on this day?" This question implies a need for a pure, uncorrupted beginning, where the new luck isn't tainted by what came before. The "blaze in the field a'coming" suggests an impending, powerful change, perhaps a celebration or a significant event that marks this transition. The lyrics masterfully weave together folklore and personal longing. The recurring phrase "let out the old year" emphasizes the deliberate act of release required for new beginnings. The narrator's plea, "All I ever pray / Is for first footing," elevates this simple tradition into a profound spiritual aspiration. The "North Star eyes" of the shepherdess serve as a constant point of reference, a guiding light in the narrator's personal "sailing out to the blue" towards an uncertain but hopeful future.