# Best opening lines in a song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [February 3, 2022, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866 "2022-02-03T18:45:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2022, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/201 "2022-02-27T04:26:01Z")
_When I was down she was full of advice, she’s been there once or twice._ Golden Smog - V [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Fl0ULW7HhIc/maxresdefault.jpg "Golden Smog - V (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl0ULW7HhIc) ETA: Golden Smog are/were(?) the alt-country/rock supergroup consisting of members of the Jayhawks, Wilco, Soul Asylum and some others. I love their records. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/202 "2022-03-02T21:36:09Z")
Here Comes President Kill Again, by XTC _Here comes President Kill again,_ _Surrounded by all of his killing men._ _Telling us who, why, where and when,_ _President Kill wants killing again._ ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2022, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/203 "2022-03-11T16:50:24Z")
(In Napoli where love is king) (When boy meets girl) (Here’s what they say) **When the moon hits your eye** **Like a big pizza pie, that’s amore** When the world seems to shine Like you’ve had too much wine, that’s amore [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ef7UInZyAfc/hqdefault.jpg "That's Amore (w/lyrics) ~ Dean Martin") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef7UInZyAfc) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/204 "2022-03-17T18:41:36Z")
I just heard _Addicted to Love_. A catchy, evocative opening: _The lights are on_ _But your not home_… ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/205 "2022-03-17T18:50:07Z")
“It’s been a hard day’s night And I’ve been workin’ like a dog” ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/206 "2022-03-21T22:07:34Z")
_Senor, Senor_ _Can you tell me where we’re heading?_ _Lincoln County Road or Armageddon?_ Senor (Tales Of Yankee Power) - Bob Dylan ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/207 "2022-03-22T12:23:04Z")
_Say kids, what time is it?_ _It’s Howdy Doody Time._ _It’s Howdy Doody Time._ _It’s Howdy Doody Time._ This would be an ominous, frightening song if sung acapella and atonally by Rod Serling or Vincent Price. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/208 "2022-03-22T15:44:35Z")
Someone needs to do a horror remake of Howdy Doody. That would be creepy AF. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/209 "2022-03-22T17:48:39Z")
Hi Kids, It’s Howdy Ghouly time. [![](https://i.imgur.com/JclXR4T.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/JclXR4T.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/210 "2022-03-23T17:16:46Z")
With apologies to The Dude, Lyin’ Eyes by The Eagles: > City girls just seem to find out early > How to open doors with just a smile > A rich old man, and she won’t have to worry > She’ll dress up all in lace go in style > Late at night a big old house gets lonely > I guess every form of refuge has its price > And it breaks her heart to think her love is only > Given to a man with hands as cold as ice ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/211 "2022-03-23T22:00:32Z")
Nice photoshopin’, Tex! ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/212 "2022-03-23T23:16:59Z")
> [@](#): > > On a lark, on a whim, > I said there’s two kinds of men in this world and you’re neither of them -Jason Isbell, “Songs she sang in the shower” > [@](#): > > Sent ya bitch a dick pic, now she needs glasses -Danny Brown, “30” ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/213 "2022-03-24T00:44:28Z")
It might be a line before the song, but I absolutely love Ace, Bob Weir’s first solo album. One cut kicks off with him yelling _“Look out, now, 'cause here comes some **Free Advice** …!”_ The song is indeed full of advice, like the title (and first line): _Walk In The Sunshine._ . > [@saucywench](#): > > Wastin’ away again in _ **Margaritaville** _ Oops, the thread is “Best OPENING line”: But that song holds up there: Nibblin’ on sponge cake Watchin’ the sun bake All of those tourists Covered with oil… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/214 "2022-03-24T00:57:49Z")
“Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night…” With an opening line like that, you shit’s gotten _real_. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/215 "2022-03-24T01:15:38Z")
IMO the best Springsteen opener is I wake up in the evening and I ain’t got nothin to say I come home in the morning, I go to bed feeling the same way ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/216 "2022-03-24T01:48:59Z")
The screen door slams, Mary’s dress waves… ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/217 "2022-03-24T02:53:29Z")
Two days prior to that post, I posted the opening lines. Guess you missed that post. I posted the “wastin’ away…” part because it was National Margarita Day that day. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/218 "2022-03-24T22:42:11Z")
Even as younger man, these lines resonated with me… [_It’s a hard world to get a break in, All the good things have been taken._](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx_ccpYv6Bc) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2022, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/219 "2022-03-25T13:58:59Z")
_Nebraska_ has bunch: _Johnny 99_ Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late last month Ralph went out lookin’ for a job, but he couldn’t find none He came home too drunk from mixin’ Tanqueray and wine He got a gun, shot a night clerk, now they call him Johnny 99 _State Trooper_ New Jersey Turnpike riding on a wet night 'Neath the refinery’s glow out where the great black rivers flow License, registration, I ain’t got none But I got a clear conscience 'bout the things that I done _Nebraska_ I saw her standin’ on her front lawn just twirlin’ her baton Me and her went for a ride sir and ten innocent people died ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2022, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/220 "2022-03-25T14:34:42Z")
**America** , Simon & Garfunkel: _Let us be lovers, we’ll marry our fortunes together_ I’ve never been married, but this is what I imagine it should feel like when you find the right person. Recognizing, perhaps suddenly, that you want to intertwine your life from that point on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866.md?page=12)