# BEST opening line of song lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2017, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174 "2017-10-18T00:49:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/101 "2017-10-20T05:55:31Z")
I met a gin soaked, bar room queen in Memphis ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/102 "2017-10-20T07:02:00Z")
\*Early one mornin’ while makin’ the rounds I took a shot of cocaine and shot my woman down \* ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/103 "2017-10-20T13:24:02Z")
Some good one here. You could probably toss a dart at a list of John Prine songs and come up with a viable candidate. I’ll repeat what I offered in the other thread: I wish to the Lord I’d never been born or died when I was young. “I Truly Understand (That You Love Another Man)” ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/104 "2017-10-20T14:09:43Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Some good one here. You could probably toss a dart at a list of John Prine songs and come up with a viable candidate. Two more by John Prine: I am an old woman named after my mother My old man is another child that’s grown old If dreams were lightning thunder was desire This old house would have burnt down a long time ago (Angel from Montgomery) She don’t like her eggs all runny She thinks crossin’ her legs is funny She looks down her nose at money She gets it on like the Easter Bunny (In Spite of Ourselves) ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/105 "2017-10-20T15:13:05Z")
The Counting Crows entries reminded me of 'Round Here: _Step out the front door like a ghost into the fog Where no one notices the contrast of white on white._ ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/106 "2017-10-20T16:28:44Z")
Maybe more than one line, but: - Living on the road, my friend, was going to make you free and clean But now you wear your skin like iron, and your breath’s as hard as kerosene\* > [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > History is written by the winners > This is a loser’s song-- “Walking On Hell’s Roof Looking At the Flowers” Waco Brothers Dammit, now I have to go listen to that song _again_, today ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/107 "2017-10-20T17:49:00Z")
I think many of the opening lines quoted here lead into great songs, so that much that makes the opening lines great is anticipation of what’s to come. Does anyone have examples of great opening lines to otherwise shitty songs? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/108 "2017-10-20T18:48:30Z")
_My father sits at night with no lights on_ - **That’s the Way I Always Heard It Should Be** by Carly Simon _The mama pajama rolled out of bed and she ran to the police station_ - **Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard** by Paul Simon ---
**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/109 "2017-10-20T19:18:12Z")
“Spring was never waiting for us, girl…” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/110 "2017-10-20T19:19:16Z")
Just popped into my mind after reading the thread title again: “Don’t call it a comeback/I’ve been here for years” - LL Cool J. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/111 "2017-10-20T19:21:43Z")
The answer is: _ **I’m a streetwalking cheetah with a heart full of napalm…** _ ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/112 "2017-10-20T19:26:47Z")
I’m a flea bit peanut monkey All my friends are junkies That’s not really true ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/113 "2017-10-20T22:08:28Z")
_As they pulled you out of the oxygen tent You asked for the latest party_ ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/114 "2017-10-20T22:16:50Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > I’m a flea bit peanut monkey > All my friends are junkies > That’s not really true > [@NDP](#): > > _As they pulled you out of the oxygen tent > You asked for the latest party_ Both right up there. “I had skin like leather and the diamond-hard look of a cobra.” ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/115 "2017-10-21T00:29:56Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Just pulled into Nazereth… (BTW, he’s referring to Nazareth Pennsylvania.) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/116 "2017-10-21T00:46:58Z")
I was going to offer either Tom Waits or the Pogues, but Prof. Perriwinkle beat me to both. I’ll guess I’ll have to dip into Joni Mitchell, or Michael “Stew” Stewart (a.k.a. The Negro Problem). ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/117 "2017-10-21T00:51:57Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > I think many of the opening lines quoted here lead into great songs, so that much that makes the opening lines great is anticipation of what’s to come. Does anyone have examples of great opening lines to otherwise shitty songs? _Lucid tenacles test 'n sleeved 'n joined 'n jointed jade pointed Diamond back patterns._ Captain Beefheart, “Neon Meat Dreame of a Octafish” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/118 "2017-10-21T01:06:54Z")
_By the time I get to Phoenix, she’ll be rising._ ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/119 "2017-10-21T01:22:36Z")
Some Neil Young: \*Old man look at my life, I’m a lot like you were. She used to work in a diner, never saw a woman look finer, I used to order just to watch her float across the floor. Come a little bit closer, hear what I have to say, just like children sleepin’, we could dream this night away. Trying to remember what my daddy said, before too much time took away his head. Comes a time when you’re driftin’, comes a time when you settle down. \* ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174/120 "2017-10-21T01:31:03Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Some Neil Young: > > \*Old man look at my life, I’m a lot like you were. > > She used to work in a diner, never saw a woman look finer, I used to order just to watch her float across the floor. > > Come a little bit closer, hear what I have to say, just like children sleepin’, we could dream this night away. > > Trying to remember what my daddy said, before too much time took away his head. > > Comes a time when you’re driftin’, comes a time when you settle down. > \* Sailing hardships through broken harbors/out on the waves in the night [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-line-of-song-lyrics/799174.md?page=7)