Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A poignant folk-rock ballad about heartbreak from a first love, written by a 17-year-old Cat Stevens and featured on his 1967 album New Masters.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: introspective, melancholy, reflective
Traditions: folk rock
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 5/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.
Vocal style: dynamic vocals.
Where this sits in Cat Stevens's catalog
We have 22 songs from Cat Stevens in the library. Of those, 16 are rated Safe, 6 Moderate, and 0 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 5/10 sits above the artist average of 4.5, making it the #6 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
1967 context
Released in 1967. We have 289 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.2/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 1960s.
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Why this rating
We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-14. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "The First Cut Is the Deepest"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "The First Cut Is the Deepest" by Cat Stevens?
"The First Cut Is the Deepest" by Cat Stevens rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 5/10, no sudden changes, smooth texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.
How loud is "The First Cut Is the Deepest" — what is its dynamic range?
"The First Cut Is the Deepest" has a dynamic range of 5/10. Within normal pop-mix variation. Movement between verse and chorus but nothing dramatic.
Does "The First Cut Is the Deepest" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "The First Cut Is the Deepest" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "The First Cut Is the Deepest" best for?
In our library "The First Cut Is the Deepest" is recommended for: anxiety relief, deep listening, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "The First Cut Is the Deepest" released?
"The First Cut Is the Deepest" is from 1967, on the album "New Masters". It appears in our 1960s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "The First Cut Is the Deepest"?
We tag "The First Cut Is the Deepest" as introspective, melancholy, reflective. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "The First Cut Is the Deepest"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Should I listen to "The First Cut Is the Deepest"?
If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "The First Cut Is the Deepest" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
What this song means to people
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