For the First Time in Forever

"For the First Time in Forever" is a song from Disney's 2013 animated feature film Frozen sung by Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel).
==Summary==
The song expresses Anna's delight at being able to see people again due to her sister's coronation. Meanwhile, it also discloses Elsa's fear of accidentally revealing her ice powers to everyone.
Later, in the song's reprise, Anna tries to convince Elsa to return home to Arendelle to remove the wintery curse she accidentally put on the kingdom and be friends with her again, but Elsa admits that she doesn't know how, so she refuses, thinking Anna will be better off without her. Finally, as Anna's pleas and Elsa's fear intensify, she accidentally blasts Anna in the heart with her powers, which would eventually fatally freeze her.
==Lyrics==
<tabber>
Film first version=
Anna:
The window is open, so's that door
I didn't know they did that anymore
Who knew we owned eight thousand salad plates?
For years I've roamed these empty halls
Why have a ballroom with no balls?
Finally, they're opening up the gates!
There'll be actual real live people
It'll be totally strange
Wow, am I so ready for this change?
'Cause for the first time in forever
There'll be music, there'll be light
For the first time in forever
I'll be dancing through the night
Don't know if I'm elated or gassy
But I'm somewhere in that zone
'Cause for the first time in forever
I won't be alone
I can't wait to meet everyone! (Gasps) What if I meet the one?
Tonight, imagine me gown and all
Fetchingly draped against the wall
The picture of sophisticated grace
I suddenly see him standing there
A beautiful stranger, tall and fair
I wanna stuff some chocolate in my face...!
But then we laugh and talk all evening
Which is totally bizarre
Nothing like the life I've led so far
For the first time in forever
There'll be magic, there'll be fun
For the first time in forever
I could be noticed by someone
And I know it is totally crazy
To dream I'd find romance
But for the first time in forever
At least I've got a chance
Elsa:
Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, put on a show
Make one wrong move and everyone will know
Elsa: (Anna:)
But it's only for today
(It's only for today)
It's agony to wait
(It's agony to wait)
Tell the guards to open up the gate!
(The gate!)
Anna: (Elsa:)
For the first time in forever
(Don't let them in, don't let them see)
I'm getting what I'm dreaming of
(Be the good girl you always have to be)
A chance to change my lonely world
(Conceal)
A chance to find true love
(Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know)
Anna:
I know it all ends tomorrow
So it has to be today
'Cause for the first time in forever
For the first time in forever
Nothing's in my way!
Oof!
|-|Film reprise=
Anna:
You don't have to protect me. I'm not afraid!
Please, don't shut me out again!
Please don't slam the door
You don't have to keep your distance anymore
'Cause for the first time in forever
I finally understand
For the first time in forever
We can fix this hand in hand
We can head down this mountain together!
You don't have to live in fear
'Cause for the first time in forever
I will be right here
Elsa:
Anna...
Please go back home, your life awaits
Go enjoy the sun and open up the gates
Anna: Yeah, but-
Elsa:
I know!
You mean well, but leave me be
Yes, I'm alone but I'm alone and free!
Just stay away and you'll be safe from me
Anna: Actually, we're not
Elsa: What do you mean you're not?
Anna: I get the feeling you don't know
Elsa: What do I not know?
Anna: Arendelle's in deep, deep, deep, deep... snow.
Elsa: What?
Anna: You've kind of set off an eternal winter... everywhere.
Elsa: Everywhere?
Anna: It's okay, you can just unfreeze it.
Elsa: No, I can't. I— I don't know how!
Anna: Sure you can! I know you can!
Anna: (Elsa:)
'Cause for the first time in forever
(Oh, I'm such a fool, I can't be free!)
You don't have to be afraid!
(No escape from the storm inside of me!)
We can work this out together!
(I can't control the curse!)
We'll reverse the storm you've made!
(Oh, Anna, please, you'll only make it worse!)
Don't panic
(There's so much fear!)
We'll make the sun shine bright!
(You're not safe here!)
We can face this thing together
(No...)
We can change this winter weather
(I...)
And everything will be
All right...!!! (I can't!!!)
|-|Musical first version=
Anna:
The window is open, so's that door
I didn't know they did that anymore
And there's two nice ladies helping me get dressed
Thank you. Thanks!
For years I've roamed these empty halls
Why have a ballroom with no balls?
Coronation day is just the best!
There'll be actual real live people
It'll be totally strange
Wow, am I so ready for this change?
For the first time in forever
There'll be music, there'll be light
For the first time in forever
I'll be dancing through the night
Don't know if I'm elated or gassy
But I'm somewhere in that zone
'Cause for the first time in forever
I won't be alone
I can't wait to meet everyone! (Gasps) What if I meet the one?
Tonight, imagine me gown and all
Fetchingly draped against the wall
The picture of sophisticated grace
I suddenly see him standing there
A beautiful stranger, tall and fair
I wanna stuff some chocolate in my face
But then we laugh and talk all evening
Which is totally bizarre
Nothing like the life I've led so far
For the first time in forever
There'll be magic, there'll be fun
For the first time in forever
I could be noticed by someone
And I know it is totally crazy
To dream I'd find romance
But for the first time in forever
At least I've got a chance
Elsa:
Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, put on a show
Make one wrong move and everyone will know
Elsa: (Anna:)
But it's only for today
(It's only for today)
It's agony to wait
(It's agony to wait)
Tell the guards to open up the gate...
(The gate...)
Chorus: The gate, the gate, the gate
Anna: (Elsa:)
For the first time in forever
(Don't let them in, don't let them see)
I'm getting what I'm dreaming of
(Be the good girl you always have to be)
A chance to leave my lonely world
(Conceal)
A chance to find true love
(Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know)
Chorus:
For the first time in forever
We're no longer shut outside
For the first time in forever
The gates are open wide
Anna: (Chorus:)
I know it all ends tomorrow
So it has to be today
'Cause for the first time in forever
(The first time...)
For the first time in forever
(The first time in forever)
Nothing's in my way!
(Today...)
|-|Musical reprise=
Elsa:
Standing frozen in this life I've chosen
Please don't find me, the past is all behind me
Leave me in the snow
Let me go...
Anna: I don't wanna let you go.
Elsa: I'm just trying to protect you.
Anna:
You don't have to protect me. I'm not afraid!
Please don't shut me out again
Please don't slam the door
You don't have to keep your distance anymore
'Cause for the first time in forever
I finally understand
For the first time in forever
We can fix this hand in hand
We can head down this mountain together!
You don't have to live in fear
'Cause for the first time in forever
I will be right here
Elsa:
Anna...
Please go back home, your life awaits
Go enjoy the sun and open up the gates
Anna: Yeah, but-
Elsa:
I know!
You mean well, but leave me be
Yes, I'm alone but I'm alone and free!
Just stay away and you'll be safe from me
Anna: Actually, we're not
Elsa: What do you mean you're not?
Anna: I get the feeling you don't know
Elsa: What do I not know?
Anna: Arendelle's in deep, deep, deep, deep... snow.
Elsa: What?
Anna: You've kind of set off an eternal winter... everywhere.
Elsa: Everywhere?
Anna: But it's okay, you can just unfreeze it.
Elsa: No, I can't. I don't know how!
Anna: Sure you can! I know you can! I'll help you!
Anna: (Elsa:)
And for the first time in forever
(Oh, I'm such a fool, I can't be free!)
You don't have to be afraid!
(No escape from the storm inside of me!)
We can work this out together!
(I can't control the curse!)
We'll reverse the storm you've made!
(Oh, Anna, please, you'll only make it worse!)
Don't panic
(There's so much fear!)
We'll make the sun shine bright!
(You're not safe here!)
We can face this thing together
(No...)
We can change this winter weather
(I...)
And everything will be
All right...!!! (I can't!!!)
|-|Frozen Ever After version=
[Olaf verse]
Olaf:
La da da, for the first time in forever,
Now I'm so glad you came along!
For the first time in forever...
I don't really know this song!
And watch this next part, yooo-oooh!
Skating!
Skating, skating, celebrating!
Welcome to Elsa's Ice Palace!
[Anna and Kristoff verse]
Kristoff: Are you ready to see Elsa?
Anna: They were born ready!
For the first time in forever....
Anna/Kristoff: We get to share this frozen fun
For the first time in forever,
Elsa's inviting everyone
Anna: Would you say you're elated or gassy?
Kristoff: Let's just call it "delight"
Anna and Kristoff: 'Cause for the first time in forever,
You're here...
Anna: For my sister's magic night!
</tabber>
==Videos==
For the First Time in Forever-2
For the First Time in Forever-3
==Trivia==
*In a June 2014 presentation at Williams College (later posted to YouTube), the Lopezes revealed that this song and its reprise were among the last songs composed for the film, in June 2013 (five months prior to the film's already-announced release date).
*One of the lyrics is similar to the second reprise of a song, "When Will My Life Begin", from Tangled. Both songs also carry a similar message; the start of a new phase in life. Rapunzel makes a cameo appearance with Flynn in Frozen during the song as well.
**Interestingly enough, in the reprise to "When Will My Life Begin", Rapunzel sings "For like the first time ever" which reflects the title to the song.
*One of the paintings that Anna imitates while jumping in the air is a remodeled version of "The Swing" originally by the French Rococo artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard, a painting which greatly inspired Tangled according to Glen Keane, one of the animators.
*Before the final script, the original lyrics were "There'll be real, actual people"/"There'll be happy, smiling people", later replaced by "There'll be actual, real live people". Also, "For years I have roamed these empty halls" was contracted to "For years I've roamed these empty halls", "I hope that I don't vomit in his face" became "I wanna stuff some chocolate in my face" (because Disney came back to the songs' writers and told them that they couldn't have that sort of bodily fluid lyric, which was written by one of their daughters, so their daughter decided on the lyric that the film now has), and "A chance to leave my sister's world" was changed to "A chance to change my lonely world."
*This song sounds similar to "I See the Light" from Tangled in certain parts. For example, "For the first time in forever!" sounds similar to "And at last I see the light." However, they are inherently different being that the line "For the first time in forever" is based on the chord progression I (tonic) then IV (subdominant), while "And at last I see the light" follows the chords IV then I. There are also significant differences in notation such as the melody line and rhythm, as well as the orchestration, tempo, and mood, making "For the First Time in Forever" a very original tune in its own right.
*The first object Anna interacts with is a bust of a man who looks mean and sinister, while the second is various paintings showing peasant men looking noble and nice. Both foreshadow the respective personalities of Hans and Kristoff, as well as the order of their introduction.
**In addition, right after Anna sings the very last line "Nothing's in my way!", she immediately gets clobbered by Hans' horse and almost falls into the water. This gives a foreshadowing of Hans' true nature and that he's only loving her so he can seize the throne.
**Anna's line when she looks at the bust, "A beautiful stranger, tall and fair," not only refers to a man who's nice and friendly, but "fair" also refers to someone with light skin and light-colored hair, blonde for instance. This is a clue toward Kristoff being Anna's real true love.
*At the end of the film and on the home video's main menu, this song and "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?" are heard in instrumental form. The "For the First Time in Forever" instrumental reprise could possibly be a deep meaning at the end how, "for the first time in forever", Anna and Elsa were finally reconnecting with each other, the gates are open, and peace and happiness is finally restored in Arendelle.
*In Disney's Frozen on Ice, the first notes of the song's chorus are heard as the coronation bells.
*During the song, when Anna is eating the chocolate, it is arranged to resemble Diet Cola Mountain from Wreck-It Ralph.
*At the very end of the reprise right after Elsa freezes Anna's heart, the background score is playing an instrumental reprise of the final verse of "Frozen Heart".
*The original melody starts in F major, modulates to E flat for Elsa's part, to A flat for the bridge, and the final verse is done in G. The reprise shifts the melody downscale; starting in E flat, modulates to C, then to G for the bridge, and ends in E.
**Elsa's part of the reprise is done in a deceptive cadence unlike the original, which symbolizes her fear and anxiety and foreshadows what happens to Anna.
*Another Disney song that this could be compared to in terms of notes, melody, and tone is Mine, Mine, Mine from Pocahontas.
*A possible goof in this song is that when Anna enters the room with paintings there are only benches and no couches visible. Later Anna jumps on a couch to mimic "The Swing", which wasn't visible in previous shots.
*Frozen: The Broadway Musical's take of the reprise incorporates elements from Demi Lovato's version of "Let It Go," albeit with slightly modified lyrics.
*While the reprise featured in the 2018 Broadway adaptation, it was replaced the following year in the 2019 North American tour by a new song titled "I Can’t Lose You".
*Multiple Japanese YouTubers have covered the song with their local dialects, replacing the Japanese equivalent of "Arendelle's in deep, deep, deep, deep snow" with, for example "Osaka is in danger" or "Hachinohe is in danger".
==References==
==External links==
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de:Zum ersten Mal
es:For the First Time in Forever
ja:生まれてはじめて
nl:Voor het eerst na al die Jaren
pl:Pierwszy raz jak sięga pamięć
pt-br:For the First Time in Forever
ru:Впервые
tr:İlk Defa Hayatımda-Tekrar (For The First Time In Forever Reprise)
Category:Songs
Category:Frozen songs
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Category:Reprise
Category:High School Musical: The Musical: The Series songs