"The First Cut Is the Deepest" is a 1967 song written and sung by Cat Stevens, which originally appeared on his album New Masters in 1967. It has been widely covered and has become a hit single for four different artists: P.P. Arnold (1967), Keith Hampshire (1973), Rod Stewart (1977) and Sheryl Crow (2003).

Cat Stevens original version

The song concerns someone apprehensive about entering a new romantic relationship because they are still suffering from being hurt by their first love. Without listening closely, the chorus might seem to be about suicide:

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.

However, the song continues:

I still want you by my side

Just to help me dry the tears that I've cried

And I'm sure gonna give you a try… just remember

The first cut is the deepest.

While the Stevens, Arnold and Hampshire recordings sang this chorus intact, the Stewart and Crow renditions omitted the last two lines, an omission which might give the listener a different sense of the song.

Stevens made a demo recording of "The First Cut Is the Deepest" at an earlier date, but originally hoped to become a songwriter. Stevens wrote the song earlier to promote his songs to other artists, but did not record it as his own performance until early October 1967, and it did not appear until his second album, New Masters, was released in December 1967. He sold the song for £30 to P.P. Arnold becoming a huge hit for her, and an international hit, for Keith Hampshire, Rod Stewart, and Sheryl Crow. The song has won Stevens songwriting awards, including two consecutive ASCAP songwriting awards for "Songwriter of the Year" in 2005 and 2006.

P. P. Arnold version

African-American expatriate singer P.P. Arnold, had the first hit with the song, reaching #18 on the UK Singles Chart with her cover in May 1967, well ahead of the song appearing on Stevens' album. The Arnold hit featured an up-tempo, soulful vocal set against harpsichord, horns, and strings.

Noted 1960s British filmmaker Peter Lorrimer Whitehead made a primordial music video clip for the song, featuring a non-singing Arnold cavorting on a British beach alongside The Small Faces.

Stevens never released his original recording as a single, because he felt Arnold's version was definitive.

Keith Hampshire version

Canadian singer Keith Hampshire had a number one hit in Canada in May 1973 with his recording of the song.

Rod Stewart version

The most popular version of the song in the United Kingdom has been the one by Rod Stewart, which was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and appeared on his 1976 album A Night on the Town. It was released as a double A-side single with "I Don't Want to Talk About It". As such it was a huge success, and spent four weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart in May 1977, and also reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.

A music video clip was made for this recording, featuring Stewart lip-synching the song as he wandered in a formal garden with an elaborate fountain.

Sheryl Crow version

Sheryl Crow's version was the first of two singles released to promote her 2003 The Very Best of Sheryl Crow compilation album. It became one of Crow's biggest radio hits, remaining 36 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100. It was also Crow's first Top 40 solo country hit, following the success of her hit duet with Kid Rock, "Picture". The song topped the Airplay charts in the U.S. and became a platinum seller, also reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It was also featured during an episode of the CW's "One Tree Hill , in which she also guest starred.

The music video eky for "The First Cut Is the Deepest", directed by Wayne Isham, features Crow in a rocky desert singing with her guitar, riding horses and interacting in a cowboy environment.

Crow's single was nominated for a Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards, losing to "Sunrise" by Norah Jones.

Chart performance

Chart (2003-2004)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Charts	50
Austrian Singles Chart	31
Irish Singles Chart	13
New Zealand RIANZ Charts	19
Portugal	10
UK Singles Chart	37
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	14
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs	35

Year-end charts

Chart (2008)

Peak position

Billboard Hot 100

28 Other versions In addition to the renditions already mentioned, the song has been recorded or performed by many other artists, including: Bonfire on the album Rebel Soul The Bluebeats D-Faction Sandra Cross Papa Dee Norma Fraser The Gary Tesca Orchestra Stein Ingebrigtsen The Instrumental Orchestra The Koobas Scott Laurent Everything but the Girl Love Affair Bad Manners on the album Fat Sound Michie Mee Dawn Penn Sattalites Martin Simpson Sweet ViVO! Joy White Haddaway Carpathian Forest Ace Young and Chris Daughtry both performed the song on American Idol Little Angels Leona Lewis performed the song on the third series of the UK show The X Factor Juliana Hansen performed the song on episode 4 of the reality show Grease: You're The One That I Want Duffy performed the song on the UK show Hootenanny Niamh Perry performed the song on the first live episode of the UK show I'd Do Anything Linda Ronstadt, performed the song live on ABC's In Concert in a show starring Cat Stevens. Held on November 9, 1973, with network naming the event "The Moon And Stars Concert". The clip is widely available on YouTube. Her version changes the lyrics slightly, to "'Cause when it comes to being lucky, I'm worst, When it comes to lovin' me, he's worst". References