# 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:** 15\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/261 "2024-03-22T14:17:59Z")
Pharaoh Overlord’s 5th album opens with the line “THIS IS PHAROAH OVERLORD 5” shouted by Aaron Turner. Pharoah Overlord’s 6th album does have a song than begins with “THIS IS PHAROAH OVERLORD SIX!” but is in the middle of the album. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/262 "2024-03-23T03:07:49Z")
I’ve seen the bright lights of Memphis And the Commodore Hotel And underneath a street lamp, I met a southern belle Oh, she took me to the river, where she cast her spell And in that southern moonlight, she sang this song so well… ---
**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:** [March 23, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/263 "2024-03-23T03:40:07Z")
I see Elvis Costello has been mentioned a few times, so I offer this of his: “Sheep to the slaughter, oh I thought this must be love” - “Big Sister’s Clothes” ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/264 "2024-03-23T04:32:11Z")
I don’t make no money I don’t make no money Because I make Bad decisions - Piss Test - No Money [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iTK8vMnVAW8/hqdefault.jpg "Piss Test - No Money") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTK8vMnVAW8) (yep, thinking about it because it’s one of my N entries in the MMM song polls) ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/265 "2024-03-23T05:58:34Z")
Well, when you’re sitting there in your silk upholstered chair Talking to some rich folks that you know - Dead Flowers, Mick & Keith I come from down in the valley, where mister when you’re young, They bring you up to do, like your daddy done - The River, Springsteen Johnny’s in the basement mixing up the medicine, I’m on the pavement thinking ‘bout the government - Subterranean Homesick Blues, Dylan Oh, why does she sing her sad songs for me? I’m not the one to tenderly bring her soft sympathy I’ve just begun to see my way clear and it’s plain if I stop I will fall I can lay down a tear for her pain, just a tear and that’s all - For the Sake of the Song, Townes Van Zandt My lover comes to me with a rose on her bosom The moon’s dancin’ purple All through her black hair - Our Mother the Mountain, Townes Van Zandt Won’t you lend your lungs to me, mine are collapsing - Lungs, Townes Van Zandt Admittedly, I’m partial to Townes ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/266 "2024-03-23T14:51:18Z")
One I remembered a little while ago. [Oh Mr Peanut](https://youtu.be/DdJ8MIlPxak?feature=shared) by Ian Dury And The Blockheads. Oi , rotten hat, where’d you get that haircut? Brent Cross Shopping Centre? I bet your mother feeds you with a catapult j ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/267 "2024-03-24T20:13:34Z")
Actually I shave my head bald. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/268 "2024-03-24T22:23:37Z")
" (Idiot Giggle)…Wipe Out" The Surfaris _“Wipe Out”_ ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/269 "2024-03-31T16:59:30Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > > Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river > > You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night forever > > And you know that she’s half crazy, but that’s why you want to be there > > And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China > > And just when you mean to tell her that you have no love to give her > > She gets you on her wavelength and she lets the river answer > > That you’ve always been her lover > > “Suzanne” has been a favorite of mine since I was 13 and was my introduction to Leonard Cohen songs. ornges … the word is ornges ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/270 "2024-03-31T17:11:41Z")
this somehow triggered: _I jumped out the window,_ _To get to the parking-lot,_ Living Color “Flying”, and yes, the context makes this possibly the most cynic song ever ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/271 "2024-03-31T18:09:09Z")
Well, my friends are gone and my hair is grey I ache in the places where I used to play Tower of Songs, L. Cohen ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/272 "2024-03-31T18:22:16Z")
Kern River (Merle Haggard) _I’ll never swim kern river again_ _It was there that i met her it was there i lost my best friend_ _And now i live in the mountains i drifted up here with the wind_ _And i may drown in still water_ _But I’ll never swim kern river again_ The Story (Brandi Carlile) _All of these lines across my face_ _Tell you the story of who I am_ _So many stories of where I’ve been_ _And how I got to where I am_ ---
**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 31, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/273 "2024-03-31T19:04:45Z")
I love your choices. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/274 "2024-04-19T23:07:00Z")
“Stereo” by Pavement _Pigs they tend to wiggle when they walk_ ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/275 "2024-06-18T01:35:18Z")
Propulsive late 90’s electronica provides a constant background to a frantic 20 minute quest, starting with these lines whisper/sung in the background: _I wish I was a hunter in search of different food_ _I wish I was the animal which fits into that mood_ _I wish I was a person with unlimited breath_ _I wish I was a heartbeat that never comes to rest_ [Wish (Komm zu mir) - Franka Potente & Thomas D](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYJyCQ5aQKo) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866.md?page=13)