# Best single lines in rock lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 20, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262 "2022-11-20T16:21:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2022, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/321 "2022-12-28T03:18:49Z")
My favorite Dylan passage: _People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting_ _Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it_ _They say lose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions_ _They talk about a life of brotherly love, show me someone who knows how to live it?_ _There’s a slow, slow train comin’ up around the bend_ ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/322 "2022-12-28T18:41:32Z")
ok - not a single line. Sue me. _This tune has nothing bright about it_ _This tune ain’t bad or good and come ever what may_ _My expert tells me it’s okay_ “This Song” - George Harrison ---
**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:** [December 29, 2022, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/323 "2022-12-29T15:09:46Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Yeah, “Shot Of Love” didn’t get a lot of love in 1981 and was considered the third installation of Dylan’s born-again phase, but the religious motives were deteriorating, and it had the masterpiece “Every Grain Of Sand” I still like the title track and its the portrait of a guy devolving into paranoia. Favorite line: Don’t even feel like crossing the street, and my car ain’t actin’ right. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/324 "2022-12-29T18:30:02Z")
For me it’s: _As we wind on down the road,_ _our shadows taller than our souls._ ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2022, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/325 "2022-12-29T18:47:53Z")
I always liked Natalie Merchant’s ‘Carnival’ _And I’ve walked these streets in the madhouse asylum they can be_ _Where a wild-eyed misfit prophet on a traffic island stopped and he raved of saving me_ ---
**Author:** ![Inyournamepoemsbegin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ea5d25/32.png) [@Inyournamepoemsbegin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inyournamepoemsbegin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/326 "2022-12-30T03:25:02Z")
She doesn’t have anything you want to steal Well, nothing you can touch “Pretty in Pink”, The Psychedelic Furs ---
**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:** [December 30, 2022, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/327 "2022-12-30T03:37:53Z")
How about a line before a song? Bob Weir’s album _Ace_ is full of great songs, many of which became part of the Dead’s repertoire. _“Walk In The Sunshine”_ is full of uplifting ditties, including the title, but before Weir started the song he rasped: > Look out, now, 'cause here comes some _free advice…!_ ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/328 "2022-12-30T09:23:25Z")
“This is a public service announcement—_with guitar!!_” “Know Your Rights” the Clash ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2022, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/329 "2022-12-30T09:53:58Z")
“Bite the bag.” – Flash Cadillac “Do you like boobs a lot?” “Yes, we like boobs a lot.” – The Fugs “If there’s a Rock N Roll Heaven, you know they got a Hell of a band.” – O’Day, Stevenson, Righteous Brothers “Hello, it’s me.” – Todd Rundgren “Sometimes I wonder what I’m a-gonna do, But there ain’t no cure for the Summertime Blues.” – Eddie Cochran ---
**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:** [December 31, 2022, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/330 "2022-12-31T03:49:25Z")
Yet another line from Dylan: They asked me for collateral and I pulled down my pants. ---
**Author:** ![Scott1120](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@Scott1120](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott1120)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/331 "2023-01-01T19:49:07Z")
Rob the grave to snow the cradle Then burn the evidence down Soapbox house of cards and glass so Don’t go tossin’ your stones around “The Pot” - Tool ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/332 "2023-01-02T16:19:22Z")
This line from Pink Floyd’s “Time” has been in my head lately: > And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking The repetition of the first few words is what’s caught my attention. He starts singing the line between beats 3 and 4, and it’s all in time by the end. There must be similar examples in pop and rock but I can’t think of any. I always thought (until just now) the words were _“When your eyes, when your eyes…”_ ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/333 "2023-01-03T00:47:04Z")
yeah, I didn’t include that, def heard it tho!, like a verbal hic or something. Cool! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/334 "2023-01-03T01:01:58Z")
Just browsed and did a quick search and two lines that stand out to me weren’t included. “I done told you once you Son of a Bitch, I’m the best that’s ever been” -Charley Daniels Band, 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (now, one can argue that it is country rather than rock, but when I heard it, it was on rock stations and I consider it one of the ‘crossovers’, so you can take it or leave it.) “There must be some kind of way outta here, Said the joker to the thief.” –The Watchtower, performed by Jimmy Hendrix, lyrics by Bob Dylan. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/335 "2023-01-03T02:21:18Z")
All of XTC’s _Dear Madam Barnum_ is great, comparing a bad relationship to a circus, summed up with > [@](#): > > If I’m not the sole fool who pulls his trousers down, > Then, dear Madam Barnum, I resign as clown! ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/336 "2023-01-08T05:38:41Z")
Not exactly rock and roll — _Because the law don’t change another’s mind_ _When all it sees at the hiring time_ _Is the line on the color bar, no_ ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/337 "2023-01-08T06:23:19Z")
_Once in a while, you get shown the light In the strangest of places if you look at it right._ –Scarlet Begonias Grateful Dead ---
**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:** [January 8, 2023, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/338 "2023-01-08T12:47:47Z")
(searching my brain for some less-cited examples) _Water down the ketchup, easier to pour on_ _Pictures on the register in case you’re a moron_ **-Richard Thompson, “Fast Food”** * * * _Well, I sat there at the table_ _And I acted real naive_ _For I knew that topless lady_ _Had something up her sleeve_ **-John Prine, “Spanish Pipedream”** * * * _I can feel the bones beneath my skin_ _And they’re tremblin’ with rage_ _I’ll make your wife a widow_ _You’ll never see old age_ **-Bob Dylan, “Crossing the Rubicon”** ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/339 "2023-01-08T13:47:42Z")
I’m happy to see my thread has brought two new Dopers into the community — Welcome, **Scott1120** and **inyournamepoemsbegin**! ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/340 "2023-01-08T14:02:58Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > “There must be some kind of way outta here, Said the joker to the thief.” > –The Watchtower, performed by Jimmy Hendrix, lyrics by Bob Dylan. It took me many years to realize that the two riders approaching in the last verse were the Joker and the Thief. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262.md?page=18)