# 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:** 8
**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:** [February 9, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/141 "2022-02-09T00:17:02Z")
As an aside, I just got my first turntable in thirty years, right about Thanksgiving. so my first LP was _Charlie Brown’s Christmas…_ and the second was _Year of the Cat._ _On The Border_ The fishing boats go out across the evening water Smuggling guns and arms across the Spanish border The wind whips up the waves so loud The ghost moon sails among the clouds Turns the rifles into silver on the border On my wall the colours of the maps are running From Africa the winds they talk of changes coming The torches flare up in the night The hand that sets the farms alight Has spread the word to those who’re waiting on the border ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2022, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/142 "2022-02-09T00:57:17Z")
Good call on Al Stewart, another great one: _Before the phone hits the receiver_ _You’re halfway to the door_ _The voice said 'get out while you can_ _There’s just ten minutes, nothing more’_ _Time only for the essentials_ _Better gather them and run_ _The false name inside the passport_ _The gold bars and the gun_ _And once again they’ve come out of the past_ _And though your mind is cool your heart is beating fast_ _You’ve been through it all before_ _Each time you wish a little more that you could ask_ _What do you want from me?_ _What do you need from me?_ _There’s no rest for the running man_ _Why can’t you let him be?’_ ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2022, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/143 "2022-02-09T02:48:20Z")
When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical And all the birds in the trees, well they’d be singing so happily Oh joyfully, playfully watching me But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible Logical, oh responsible, practical - Supertramp ---
**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:** [February 9, 2022, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/144 "2022-02-09T04:39:35Z")
For a guy who seemed to write his lyrics out of necessity (after all, you’re here for the sonic assault), Steve Albini seemed to have the wisdom to make his first verse pretty memorable. One of the memorable, less potentially controversial ones is from _Cables_ > [@](#): > > I don’t know why we come here > Guess we just needed the bang > Watch all the meat > Then we pull on the rope > And then the hammer comes down David Yow is another unconventional songwriter/singer who also has some great intro lines. Scratch Acid’s _Flying Houses_ is a good example. It’s about tornadoes, and it gets caught in my head. > [@](#): > > Berserker and Berserker and > Best get out of town > Best move on! > Best run the hell away from all this > Insanely dangerous > Commotion, baby! > WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! ---
**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:** [February 9, 2022, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/145 "2022-02-09T04:59:19Z")
Oh, and well, no matter the subject matter, the Butthole Surfers had no shortage of great opening lines. I mean, who can forget classics such as _Sweat Loaf_ > [@](#): > > Daddy > Yes, son? > What does regret mean? > Well, son. A funny thing about regret is, it’s better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven’t done. And by the way, if you see your mom this weekend. Be sure to tell her: SATAN, SATAN, SATAN! Or, _Boiled Dove_ > [@](#): > > Imagine, your father was naked, and you’d just fallen through the ceiling into a room of warm, moist, eyeballs. Again, you’re really here more for the sonic assault than a story song (though they do their own version of that, the second one has a kind of a story), but those are some opening lines that can grab ya. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2022, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/146 "2022-02-09T20:19:59Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Butthole Surfers Speaking of which, does anyone remember Mr. Peppermint? ---
**Author:** ![ch51](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ch51/32/3111_2.png) [@ch51](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ch51)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/147 "2022-02-09T21:05:29Z")
Desperados Under The Eaves - yes. I wanted to put: _And if California slides into the ocean_ _Like the mystics and statistics say it will_ _I predict this motel will be standing until I pay my bill_ like you had - just didn’t care as much about the first verse 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2022, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/148 "2022-02-09T21:24:22Z")
_My friend assures me, “It’s all or nothing”_ _I am not worried, I am not overly concerned_ _My friend implores me, "For one time only_ _make an exception" I am not worried_ _Wrap her up in a package of lies_ _Send her off to a coconut island_ Anna Begins, by Counting Crows. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/149 "2022-02-09T22:02:02Z")
_It was Christmas Eve babe_ _In the drunk tank_ _An old man said to me, won’t see another one_ _And then he sang a song_ _The Rare Old Mountain Dew_ _I turned my face away_ _And dreamed about you_ The Pogues— Fairytale of New York ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2022, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/150 "2022-02-09T22:10:11Z")
_Big Gorilla in the LA Zoo, snatched the glasses right off my face Took the keys to my BMW, left me here to take his place._ Warren Zevon, **Gorilla You’re a Desperado** ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/151 "2022-02-09T22:14:47Z")
_“The boy ran away to the city from his home at harvest time They were Scots of the Riverina, and to run from home was a crime The old man burned his letters, the first and last he burned And he scratched his name from the Bible when the old girl’s back was turned.”_ [Scots of the Riverina](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCV-J6HGFa8) - John Schumann And The Vagabond Crew (written by Henry Lawson) ---
**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:** [February 10, 2022, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/152 "2022-02-10T00:45:50Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Speaking of which, does anyone remember Mr. Peppermint? Hehehe, I do! (Warning: second hand story) An ex-girlfriend of mine was attending a fund raiser for her college’s drama department, and Mr. Peppermint was a booster for that department. He was at the party, wearing his outfit. One of the persons working the event approached him with a tray of drinks and asked him if he’d like one. He responded: “Why, yes! I’d like a drink. And you know what that means: when Mr. Peppermint drinks, everybody drinks!” I think Gibby is a bit like his dad was, just fewer puppets. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/153 "2022-02-10T05:13:35Z")
_If I make it through this year_ _I think I’m gonna put this bottle down_ ---
**Author:** ![MonkeysBrother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MonkeysBrother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeysBrother)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/154 "2022-02-10T05:54:46Z")
_Tank is full, switch is on_ _Night is warm, cops are gone_ _Rocket bike is all her own_ _It’s called a Hurricane._ David Wilcox, **Eye of the Hurricane** ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/155 "2022-02-10T14:17:44Z")
_Caught between the twisted stars the plotted lines the faulty map_ _that brought Columbus to New York_ _Betwixt between the east and west he calls on her wearing a leather vest_ _the earth squeals and shudders to a halt_ _A diamond crucifix in his ear is used to help ward off the fear_ _that he has left his soul in someone’s rented car_ _Inside his pants he hides a mop to clean the mess that he has dropped_ _into the life of lithesome Juliette Bell._ Lou Reed, “Romeo Had Juliette” ---
**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:** [February 14, 2022, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/156 "2022-02-14T23:14:30Z")
“Well I think I hate you Isn’t this fun? You’re gonna shoot And I, darling, loaded the gun” Shivaree - Bossa Nova [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jssgxx0sbtE/hqdefault.jpg "Shivaree - Bossa Nova") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jssgxx0sbtE) ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2022, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/157 "2022-02-14T23:46:59Z")
“I haven’t fucked much with the past, but i’ve fucked plenty with the future.” Patti Smith, _Babelouge_ ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2022, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/158 "2022-02-15T02:36:13Z")
He looked a lot like Che Guevara, drove a diesel van Kept his gun in quiet seclusion, such a humble man -Panic in Detroit ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2022, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/159 "2022-02-15T02:55:34Z")
> [@Gukumatz](#): > > Anna Begins, by Counting Crows. Solid. I’m also fond of: _Stepped out the front door_ _like a ghost into a fog_ _where no one notices the contrast_ _of white on white_ _In between the moon and you_ _the angels get a better view_ _of the crumbling difference_ _between wrong and right._ Counting Crows, Round Here ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2022, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866/160 "2022-02-15T03:26:13Z")
“So all of you be damned, We can’t have heaven crammed,” Sir Winston Churchill said. I could have smacked his head. Graham Parker, “Protection.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-in-a-song/958866.md?page=9)