# Best opening lines (song edition) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 8, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-song-edition/559930 "2010-11-08T17:29:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-song-edition/559930/81 "2010-11-11T04:25:26Z")
**Mean Mr. Mustard** beat me to “Cooksferry Queen” “Let It Blow” by Richard Thompson He was a species on the verge of extinction She was an Air New Zealand hostess They were mystically joined, like Rawicz and Landauer Like Pinky and Perky, like Porgy and Bess “My Tormentor” by Robbie Fulks The rise of the curtain The quickening of the dark The moon sweeps through the alley Looking for its mark “Never Could” by Robbie Fulks You’ve been hurt by love And now you hate the world Night yields to dawn Now your dreams are all gone “She Must Think I Like Poetry” by Robbie Fulks For every emotion, she’s got one she’s hiding She moves closer, as though to reveal her mind And she dances, like it’ll rain inside me Does she feel that strong? Do I look so blind? “I’ve Got To Tell Myself The Truth” by Robbie Fulks I’ve taken her as she appears Silent, steadfast and strong But she’s been faithless for years And where have I been? What planet was I on? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-song-edition/559930/82 "2010-11-11T04:32:00Z")
_There’s a lady who’s sure All that glitters is gold And she’s buying the stairway to heaven_ - Do you really need an attribution? _Moving on the floor now babe you’re a bird of paradise Cherry ice cream smile I suppose it’s very nice_ - Rio by Duran Duran ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-song-edition/559930/83 "2010-11-11T04:37:21Z")
> [@Sam\_A.Robrin](#): > > Side one of the original release of Jefferson Airplane’s _Surrealistic Pillow_ ended with “Today,” followed by “Comin’ Back to Me.” I’ve always regarded the pairing as a sort of mini-suite. Both begin with dynamite lines, respectively “Today I feel like leaving you more than before” and “The summer had inhaled and held its breath too long.” A lot of Airplane lyrics could lure you in on the strength of the opening lines, actually–though as pointed out above, the follow-up frequently meandered. I like the Airplane’s laid-back “meandering.” Quite a lot actually, and I don’t think their songs “go nowhere.” (Okay, some of their stuff - “Pretty As You Feel” for example go nowhere.) Just because they don’t hammer home melodramatic hooks in a standard three-chord pattern doesn’t mean they aren’t going anywhere. It’s no SEEEECRET How strong my love is for you. It’s no SEEEECRET When I tell you what I’m gonna do, 'Cuz I love you, yes I love you. “One pill makes you larger, One pill makes you small. And the ones that mother gives you Don’t do anything at all.” “When you open your mouth, what comes out? What’s the first line? What’s the f irst word? When you open your mouth, and “love” comes out, Then you know you just sang the clear line.” ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-song-edition/559930/84 "2010-11-11T04:50:16Z")
From our friend Ian Anderson: Sitting on a park bench eyeing little girls with bad intent And from Richard Thompson: Let me ride on the [wall of death](http://www.richardthompson-music.com/song_o_matic.asp?id=136) one more time How many great opening lines does Richard Thompson have (and closing lines for that matter)? [It was 3 in the morning when she took me apart she wrecked my furniture she wrecked my heart](http://www.richardthompson-music.com/song_o_matic.asp?id=234) [For the sake of Mary](http://www.richardthompson-music.com/song_o_matic.asp?id=197)I kicked the reds Junked the juice, I drink coffee instead Straightened my teeth, bent my back Cut my friends dead from the old rat-pack For Mary And from Thompson’s new album: [Don’t go walking down Chapel street-Down Chapel street they’ll jump you; cut your throat as soon as give you the eye](http://www.richardthompson-music.com/song_o_matic.asp?id=623) and I love that the new album starts with this line: [I love kittens and little babies Can’t you see that’s the guy I am](http://www.richardthompson-music.com/song_o_matic.asp?id=618) ---
**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:** [November 11, 2010, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-song-edition/559930/85 "2010-11-11T05:39:52Z")
Romeo was restless, he was ready to kill. He jumped out the window cause he couldn’t sit still. Juliet was waiting with a safety net. He said "Don’t bury me cause I’m not dead yet _Mystery Dance - Elvis Costello_ When Sunday morning dandruff turns out to be confetti And the cost of living in sin would make a poor man out of Paul Getty _Fish ‘N’ Chip Paper - Elvis Costello_ She throws back her hair and she shows you her mouth The breath that I waste trying to ruin your life Beauty’s on a budget but you take it on the chin 'Cause you have to do your duty taking orders from the kingpin _Chemistry Class - Elvis Costello_ Sheep to the slaughter oh I thought this must be love All your sons and daughters in a strangle hold with a kid glove She’s got eyes like saucers oh you think she’s a dish She is the blue chip that belongs to the big fish _Big Sister’s Clothes - Elvis Costello_ mmm ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-song-edition/559930/86 "2010-11-11T14:09:20Z")
“You’re breaking my heart; you’re tearing it apart so fuck you.” - Nilsson ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-song-edition/559930/87 "2010-11-11T14:29:23Z")
In that vein - I see you driving 'round town With the girl I love and I’m like, Fuck you! Oo, oo, ooo - Cee-Lo Green, Fuck You ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-song-edition/559930/88 "2010-11-12T01:13:49Z")
_Mother, Mother ocean, I have heard your call. Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall._– **A Pirate Looks at 40** ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-song-edition/559930/89 "2010-11-12T01:25:18Z")
It’s Christmas Eve Babe, in the drunk tank Pogues, fairytale of New York. Baby tell me where’d you ever learn To fight without sayin’ a word- It matters to me Faith Hill But, from my song writing friend JM Kearns We needed 50 more bucks or we could have had the abortion from his classic It’s nicer Living in a Car, where it don’t rain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-opening-lines-song-edition/559930.md?page=4)