Best Opening Lines

[Shawna]

I just came across this list from Spinner Magazine of the 25 Best Opening Lines in songs.

I think we can do better.

Here's one of my all-time favorites:

"Well, the fact of the matter~

There ain't no facts involved"

~ RCPM ~ "Interstate"

What are some of your favorites?

[Rayzor]

That list is not too good. I agree with about 1/2 of it. I know SFers can do a better job...

Here are a couple I like:

"He had white horses and ladies by the score." ~ Lucky Man (Emerson, Lake & Palmer)

"Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste." ~ Sympathy For The Devil (Rolling Stones)

[skybluesky]

We had this thread a while back, but here goes with my favorites --

So you think you can tell heaven from hell

-Pink Floyd, "Wish You Were Here"

I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me -

The Beatles, "Norwegian Wood"

If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you

-Led Zeppelin, "Thank You"

I went home with a waitress, the way I always do

-Warren Zevon, "Lawyers, Guns, and Money"

Well you're dirty and sweet, dressed in back, don't look back and I love you.

-T. Rex "Get It On (Bang a Gong)"

[Shawna]

another Roger one:

I'm hell on wheels and women and horses

got me a string of lame nags and a few divorces

"Bury My Heart At The Trailer Park"

a Stevie Nicks one:

Though deep-set and somewhat shadowed...

her eyes... her mystery...

"Gold and Braid"

[Shawna]

I think we should put together our own list of the best 100 opening song lyrics. Let's all get nominations and vote on them until we come down to 100, and submit it... somewhere.

[Jenny]

"This is a story about Billy Joe and Bobby Sue" - Take The Money and Run, Steve Miller Band

"One man come in the name of love" - Pride, U2

"They tried to make me go to rehab I said no no no" - Rehab, Amy Winehouse

[bluesboy]

Here's a different, but similar twist with the old thread.

[bluesboy]

"Before you slip into unconsciousness

I'd like to have another kiss"

The Doors - Crystal Ship

[Crazy Don]

"Don't tell me a woman did this to you…"

"Dragon," Tori Amos

(the last song on her "American Doll Posse" CD)

[TheLizard]

Spinner sucks.

"People are strange when you're a stranger."

-The Doors

"Living easy, livin' free

Season ticket, on a one-way ride"

-AC/DC

"The screen door slams, Mary's dress sways"

-Bruce Springsteen

[The Seeker]

The only line on that list I really like is the Patti Smith one.

[_Laurie_]

War, huh yeah

What is it good for?

Absolutely nothing

Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming

We're finally on our own

This summer I hear the drumming

Four dead in Ohio

Edited August 7, 2007 by Guest

[Batman]

"In the next world war, in a jacknived juggernaut, I am born again"

-Radiohead, "Airbag"

[Shawna]

my sister wants to nominate:

"It's a marvelous night for a moondance." ~ Van Morrison

and my co-worker has this one:

"Ricky was a young boy, he had a heart of stone."

Skid Row

[Kevin Witt]

"When I think back on all the crap I learned in High School, it's a wonder I can think at all."

Paul Simon

Kodachrome

[_Laurie_]

Good one Kevin!

[RonJonSurfer]

Well she was just 17

You know what I mean...

[edna]

^

Ron, that´s the A from the ABC from modern rock... first line, first song, first side, first album...

"Childhood leaving is easy to do..."

[bazooka]

In this dirty old part of the city

Where the sun refused to shine ... -- The Animals, [smallest] We Gotta Get Out Of This Place[/smallest]

It's a hard world to get a break in

All the good things have been taken -- The Animals, [smallest] It's My Life[/smallest]

[RonJonSurfer]

^

Ron, that´s the A from the ABC from modern rock... first line, first song, first side, first album...

"Childhood leaving is easy to do..."

...and it sums up why 99% of male musicians got into the business....

One, two, three, four!

Well, she was just seventeen,

You know what I mean,

And the way she looked was way beyond compare.

So how could I dance with another (ooh)

And I saw her standin' there.

Well she looked at me, and I, I could see

That before too long I'd fall in love with her.

She wouldn't dance with another (whooh)

And I saw her standin' there.

Well, my heart went boom,

When I crossed that room,

And I held her hand in mine...

Whoah, we danced through the night,

And we held each other tight,

And before too long I fell in love with her.

Now I'll never dance with another (whooh)

Since I saw her standing there

Well, my heart went boom,

When I crossed that room,

And I held her hand in mine...

Whoah, we danced through the night,

And we held each other tight,

And before too long I fell in love with her.

Now I'll never dance with another (whooh)

Since I saw her standing there

[RonJonSurfer]

More about "I Saw Her Standing There":

The history of this classic Beatles song

I Saw Her Standing There

Working Title: Seventeen

Written by: Paul McCartney (80%) and John Lennon (20%) (credited as Lennon-McCartney)

Recorded: February 11, 1963 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)

Mixed: February 25, 1963

Length: 2:30

Takes: 12

Musicians: John Lennon: backing vocal, rhythm guitar (1958 Rickenbacker 325)

Paul McCartney: lead vocal, bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1)

George Harrison: lead guitar (Gretsch Duo Jet)

Ringo Starr: drums (Premier)

First released: March 22, 1963 (b-side of "I Want To Hold Your Hand") (US: Capitol 5112)

Available on: (CDs in bold)

Please Please Me, (UK: Parlophone PMC 1202, PCS 3042, Parlophone CDP7 46435-2p, US: Capitol CLJ 46435)

Introducing The Beatles, (US: VeeJay VJLP 1062)

Meet The Beatles, (US: Capitol (S)T 2047, CDP 7243 8 66875 2 4}

The Beatles No.

1 (EP), (UK: Parlophone GEP 8883}

History:

Written by Paul when still a schoolboy at the Liverpool Institute for Boys, the original version -- a first verse and chorus written on a schoolbook -- was titled "Seventeen." Supposedly it was written for Iris Caldwell, the sister of fellow Merseybeat musician Rory Storm (of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, which at one time featured Ringo on drums).

John helped Paul finish the song, either during a day the boys played hookey from school or while on tour in Hamburg. Aside from helping construct a bridge, John's major input was in suggesting that Paul change the second line of the song from "Never been a beauty queen" to the more bluesy "You know what I mean." Though Paul claims the new line has no real meaning, his salacious delivery suggests otherwise.

The bass line from this song was lifted almost directly from Chuck Berry's "I'm Talking About You."

The famous count-off that opens the song was actually from a different take -- take 9, which found Paul increasingly frustrated, leading to the almost angry quality of the opening. (Ironically, the final mix was made from Take 1 after all, with the opening spliced in and handclaps overdubbed.)

Live versions: December 25, 28, 31, 1962 (Star Club, Hamburg, Germany), February 11, 1964 (Washington Coliseum, Washington, D.C), February 12, 1964 (Carnegie Hall, New York), February 16, 1964 (Deauville Hotel, Miami, FL, for broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show), June 4, 1964 (K.B. Hallen Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark), June 6, 1964 (Blokker, Amsterdam, Holland),June 12-13, 1964 (Centennial Hall, Adelaide, Australia), June 15-17, 1964 (Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia)

BBC radio versions: 11 (for the BBC radio programs From Us To You, Saturday Club, Side By Side, Steppin' Out, Pop Goes The Beatles, and Easy Beat)

Trivia:

John performed this onstage with Elton John at Madison Square Garden on November 28, 1974, effectively making it his last public performance. Lennon introduced the song as written by "an old estranged fiancee of mine named Paul."

Covered by: The Chipmunks, The Crickets, Jerry Garcia, Elton John, Daniel Johnston, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, George Martin, Moon Martin, Anthony Newley, Cliff Richard, Tiffany, The Tubes, Bob Welch, J. Frank Wilson

[Jenny]

I thought of another one I like:

"Can we forget about the things I said when I was drunk" - My Own Worst Enemy, Lit

[Shawna]

I like that one, Jenny.

[Crazy Don]

"I used to be such a sweet, sweet thing till they got a hold of me…"--"No More Mr. Nice Guy," Alice Cooper

[bluesboy]

"I had the blues, so bad one time it put my face in a permanent frown

You know I'm feeling so much better, I could cakewalk into town" - Taj Mahal