“I’m an alligator!”
-David Bowie, “Moonage Daydream”
I always thought that was pretty balls-out.
From David Bowie’s first album, first song:
Uncle Arthur - The Song
*Strikes the bell for 5 o’clock, Uncle Arthur closes shop
Screws the tops on all the bottles, turns the lights out, locks it up
Climbs across his bike and he’s away
Cycles past the gasworks, past the river, down the high street
Back to mother, it’s another empty day *
I’m actually not familiar with this album. I’m going to have to investigate.
Put on my blue suede shoes
And I boarded the plane
Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn (Cher cover)
I heard there was a secret chord
That David played to pleased the Lord
Got another one. Kinks:
“We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties”
Okay, so that’s four lines.
How about Steely Dan’s Haitian Divorce?
Babs and Clean Willie were in love, they said
So in love, the preacher’s face turned red
A whole scene in two lines.
Also, still more Warren Zevon:
Well I went home with a waitress, the way I always do
How was I to know she was with the Russians too?
(Lawyers, Guns and Money)
“Excuse me while I light my spliff…”
(Easy Skanking – Bob Marley)
“HEY! Been tryin’ to meet you.”
“She’s not a girl who misses much”
“This is a public service announcement. With guitars!”
“Hey Joe, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand?”
For first lines of an album
“So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show.”
“Flash! Aaahhh! Savior of the universe!” (actual song starts about 0:50)
Dinsdale, thank you so much for your link to The Rave’s website! I heard “Mother” in a DJ set by Justice ages ago and couldn’t find any information about the band; how exciting to hear they’re from Illinois (where I’ll be living soon).
Anyway, here are some of my submissions (I’d think of more if it weren’t so late…):
or actually if you want one that’s a bit more bold
I’ve always been intrigued by the first line to David Bowie’s Modern Love:
I catch the paper boy. But things don’t really change.
Sticking with Bowie: First lines of the first song off Ziggy Stardust album:
“Pushing thru the market square, so many mothers sighing
News had just come over, we had five years left to cry in.
News guy wept and told us, earth was really dying
Cried so much his face was wet, then I knew he was not lying.”
And more Bowie, one of my favorite first lines cuz sometimes I can relate:
“This week dragged past me so slowly,
The days fell on their knees.”
“Teenage angst has paid off well,
Now I’m bored and old.”
Nirvana - Serve The Servants
Just before our love got lost you said
“I am as constant as the northern star”
Joni Mitchell, A Case Of You
I really don’t like Courtney Love but…
“And the sky was made of amythest/and all the stars looked just like little fish”
from Hole’s first album is awesome. I guess I can credit Kurt Cobain…
(I can’t think of other first lines I like right now, although just about every Nick Cave/Birthday Party song would do.)
It started out quite simply, as complex things can do…
Don McLean - The Pride Parade
“Her Name was lola. She was a showgirl”
Barry Manilow.
“And the meek shall inherit the earth.”
Rush, 2112
I love that song.
More Joni:
I heard it in the wind last night, it sounded like applause
The firmament of Tinsel Town is strung with tungsten stars
And more Bruce–
Well, they blew up the Chicken Man in Philly last night
You’re welcome. A couple of years ago they reformed for a celebration of the Red Lion - IMO THE music bar when I was in C-U. I must admit they were not as awesome as I had remembered. Maybe I’ve just seen too much too good music since those. Or maybe I was sober this time! 
In 79 or so we had them play a party in our dorm’s cafeteria. That was fun!
Man, maybe one of these days I’ll try to start a thread to ask more specifically what I thought I was asking in the OP! :rolleyes:
Psyched that I’m gonna go see JJ in just a coupla hours! 