# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/121 "2022-11-21T21:23:09Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Too much violence against women in rock lyrics, Not just rock, mind you. It’s totally an overarching thing of our culture worthy of its own discussion, and it makes a lot of people itchy. But here’s a contribution to the thread, and a fascinating artist for readers to explore. [The whole world sings like there’s nothing going wrong](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KvXteZkByE) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/122 "2022-11-21T22:46:18Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > Oooh! That reminded me of > > _Flying back from Lubick, I saw Jesus on a plane. Or maybe it was Elvis - you know they kinda look the same._ > Henley, If Dirt were Dollars A couple of more from Don Henley: “'Cause a man with a briefcase can steal more money than a man with a gun.” “All these Trumped-up towers, they’re just golden showers.” Both from _Gimme What You’ve Got._ ---
**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:** [November 21, 2022, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/123 "2022-11-21T23:02:19Z")
Well Whiskey, by Bright Eyes: _… And just when I got fed up with that grey sky_ _The sun came out of nowhere like a bar fight_ ---
**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:** [November 21, 2022, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/124 "2022-11-21T23:08:35Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > Yeah, but “Betty Davis eyes” was a phrase before Kim Carnes Do you mean Jackie DeShannon or that it was part of the lexicon before the song? Because, Googling, I couldn’t find an earlier example than the song. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2022, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/125 "2022-11-21T23:22:32Z")
> And it’s too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw around **Pink Floyd** _Animals_. > The generals sat, and the lines on the map, moved from side to side **Pink Floyd** _Dark Side of the Moon_ > Til I speak double Dutch, to a real double duchess **Elvis Costello** _New Amsterdam_ > Give me the needle, give me the rope, gonna melt them down, for pills and soap **Elvis Costello** _Pills & Soap_ > Before the phone hits the receiver, you’re halfway out the door. The voice said get out while you can, there’s just 10 minutes nothing more. **Al Stewart** _Running Man_ > The Holy Sister bars her doors against the East, Her house has stood too long divided > The uninvited guests are breaking up the feast, She may not bid them leave again **Al Stewart** _Constantinople_ ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/126 "2022-11-21T23:44:41Z")
And Eric Clapton: “Cocaine!” ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/127 "2022-11-21T23:46:28Z")
Someone (not Weird Al) did a parody called “Marty Feldman Eyes.” ---
**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:** [November 21, 2022, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/128 "2022-11-21T23:52:51Z")
“Even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked.” ---
**Author:** ![doc481](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@doc481](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doc481)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/129 "2022-11-21T23:53:25Z")
The Doors. Woke up this morning and got myself a BEER. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/130 "2022-11-22T00:36:10Z")
Oh, I hate The Doors. But you may fit right in. Welcome, @doc481! ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/131 "2022-11-22T01:15:25Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > And Eric Clapton: “Cocaine!” J.J. Cale. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/132 "2022-11-22T01:37:44Z")
_Against The Wind_ by Bob Seger **Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then** ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/133 "2022-11-22T03:10:16Z")
_All we are is dust in the wind_ > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Oh, I hate The Doors. But you may fit right in. Welcome, @doc481! Agreed ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/134 "2022-11-22T03:13:46Z")
Welcome to the jungle. We got fun and games; we got everything you want; honey, we know the names. We are the people that can find whatever you may need; if you got the money, honey, we got your disease… ---
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/135 "2022-11-22T03:16:44Z")
Good pick. I’d guess that (after all these years) that line rings true for a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/136 "2022-11-22T04:05:57Z")
“Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” - Bob Dylan, “My Back Pages.” Though I much prefer the Byrds’ version. Another vote for the line from “Year of the Cat” that was in the OP: “She comes out of the sun in a silk dress, running like a watercolor in the rain.” ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/137 "2022-11-22T05:48:13Z")
“Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe” Lennon/McCartney ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/138 "2022-11-22T06:03:19Z")
I’d been racking my brain for something to contribute here, because I’ve sung so many great lines from great songs. But I stepped out today and it felt _tropical!_ (well, warm enough for the snow to start melting), so I started singing a line from Zac Brown: . _Knee deep in the water somewhere_ _Got the blue sky breeze blowing wind through my hair_ _ **Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair** …_ ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/139 "2022-11-22T06:05:51Z")
First thing I thought of when I saw the thread title > [@Johanna](#): > > My #1 nominee is from “Year of the Cat” by Al Stewart: > > **She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain** She had to heave me right across her shoulder, 'cuz I just can’t seem to drink you off my mind. **Rolling Stones** And the fields are full of dancing, full of singing and romancing, the music never stopped. **Grateful Dead** Turns out Earl was a missing person that nobody missed at all. **Dixie Chicks** ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262/140 "2022-11-22T06:16:24Z")
Always bonus points for being the first line of the song: “I pulled in to Nazareth, was feeling ‘bout half past dead” The Band - More bonus points for being used in Easy Rider [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-in-rock-lyrics/975262.md?page=8)