Grimsby Poets Forums

I have just been listening to a new version of 'The first cut is the deepest',
where the original was ;

The First Cut Is The Deepest, by Cat Stevens 1967.

I would have given you all of my heart
but there's someone who's torn it apart
and she's taking almost all that I've got
but if you want, I'll try to love again
baby I'll try to love again but I know
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

'cause when it comes to being lucky she's cursed
when it comes to lovin' me she's worst
but when it comes to being loved she's first
that's how I know
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

I still want you by my side
just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
cause I'm sure gonna give you a try
and if you want, I'll try to love again
but baby, I'll try to love again, but I know
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

'Cause when it comes to being lucky she's cursed
when it comes to lovin' me she's worst
but when it comes to being loved she's first
that's how I know
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest

Now the cover version I heard today, which sang smoothly and almost similarly, had been re-written to 'The first LOVE is the deepest'. And while a lot of song re-writes I find to be improvements, this one seemed more commercial and insipid than the original. Unlike the female singer covers that mostly only replace 'she' with he'. Replacing the 'cut' leaves the lost-love broken-heart bit seemed much weaker to me (especially if the hearer did not remember the original ?), but I suppose somebody thought that a mellowed version would be better !?

Hear it -

Well my favourite version of 'The first cut is the deepest' is Rod Stewart's 1976 cover.

Sheryl Crow did 2 female cover versions of it that weren't bad, but I don't know what cover version you heard recently though it doesn't sound too good from what you say !

Hi Grimdad,

I have not heard Rod Stewarts version, but I do have one by Sheryl Crow that I like a lot.

You can hear numbers of covers of 'First Cut is the Deepest' on ;
http://catstevens.com/features/covers/c ... song=00079
where I do quite like the quiet version of Adrian Surtees.

Covers have also been done by Johnny Cash, P.P Arnold, Koobas, Love Affair, Papa Dee, Brian Keith and many others !!

Good Clare, I listened to a few of the interesting 'unofficial' covers of The First Cut is the Deepest on that page and its 'official covers' area is good too !!

Another classic bad-love song I like is the 1956 'Slippin and Slidin' by Little Richard,

'Slippin' and Slidin' - Little Richard 1956

Slippin' and a slidin'
peepin' and a hidin'
been told a long time ago.
Slippin' and a slidin'
peepin' and a hidin'
been told a long time ago.

I've been told
baby you've been bold
I won't be your fool no more.

Oh big conniver
nothin' but a jiver
I done got hip to your jive.
Oh big conniver
nothin' but a jiver
I done got hip to your jive.

Slippin' and a slidin'
peepin' and a hidin'
won't be your fool no more.

Oh Malinda
she's a solid sender
you know you better surrender
Oh Malinda
she's a solid sender
you know you better surrender

Slippin' and a slidin'
peepin' and a hidin'
won't be your fool no more.

Slippin' and a slidin'
peepin' and a hidin'
been told a long time ago.
Slippin' and a slidin'
peepin' and a hidin'
been told a long time ago.

I've been told
baby you've been bold
I won't be your fool no more.