Songs with the Greatest Opening Lines

[dino]

What's new?
How is the world treating you?
You haven't changed a bit,
Lovely as ever, I must admit

 

[Servant King]

Morrissey - Now My Heart Is Full, from Vauxhall and I (1994).

"There's gonna be some trouble,
a whole house will need rebuilding,
and everyone I love in the house
will recline on an analyst's couch quite soon..."

 

[boatme99]

It was the third of September
That day I'll always remember, yes I will

 

[kcghost]

"Said Red Molly to James that's a fine motor bike....."

Del McCoury singing Richard Thompson's "Vincent Black Lightning 1952"

 

[condorlover1]

OK due to popular request and because you would expect nothing less from me here are the full lyrics!

 

[ron123]

"Early one morning, while making my rounds...." - J. Cash

...was scrolling through to make sure somebody hadn’t beaten me to the punch. Nicely played, good sir.

 

[boatme99]

There were three men came out of the west
their fortunes for to try

 

[beefeater33]

Living on the road my friend
Is gonna keep you free and clean...........

 

[Zack Miller]

Let me tell you how it will be,
There’s one for you, nineteen for me,
Cause I’m the taxman.

 

[danimalia]

I've thought about this question a ton, and for me, the obvious answer is from Atom and His Package's classic "Punk Rock Academy." Prepare yourselves.

"I was fighting the mold in the bowl with my pee, when a thought popped into my brain..."

Its not as good as Atom and His Packages piss fantasies, but here is another... From The Weakerthans Confessions of a Futon Revolutionist

"Held like water in your shaking hands.... Are all the small defeats the day demands.."

 

[dino]

I woke up in a Soho doorway
A policeman knew my name
He said, "You can go sleep at home tonight
If you can get up and walk away."

 

[Grazer]

To each their own, I guess. Every time some music has me scratching my head (or recoiling in abject horror), I force myself to remember that for any music out there, it's somebody's favorite, somewhere, for some reason. I still remember when I was deep in my crust punk phase, when Green Day came out. It mystified me and then I realized - it's safe music for people who want to feel edgy, but aren't. Likewise, pop country is for suburban housewives who like horses at a distance, pictures of rolling crop fields, and Live Laugh Love.

I don't know who Nickelback appeals to, because I've never met a fan in the wild.

There are two kinds of people:

1. Those who love Nickelback

2. Those who are afraid to admit they love Nickelback.

...On a serious note, I can tell you who actually DID love them were hammered girls at the bars and clubs circa 2006-2010. I had a side gig playing weekends in a group that played anything that was popular and upbeat...they got requested a lot

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

What a waster, what a fucking waster
You pissed it all up the wall

- The Libertines

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

A small Jean Genie snuck off to the city
Strung out on lasers and slash back blazers

- Bowie

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Sell the kids for food
Weather changes moods

- Nirvana

 

[pantsBoots]

There are two kinds of people:

1. Those who love Nickelback

2. Those who are afraid to admit they love Nickelback.

...On a serious note, I can tell you who actually DID love them were hammered girls at the bars and clubs circa 2006-2010. I had a side gig playing weekends in a group that played anything that was popular and upbeat...they got requested a lot

After careful consideration, I believe I fall into Group 3. The bulk of humanity who do not like vapid and trite corporate soft rock. Also, hammered girls aren't my barometer for culture. :D

 

[ssjones]

My go-to for new parents.

Will you stay in our lover's story
If you stay you won't be sorry
'Cause we believe in you
Soon you'll grow so take a chance
With a couple of Kooks
Hung up on romancing

 

[Grazer]

After careful consideration, I believe I fall into Group 3. The bulk of humanity who do not like vapid and trite corporate soft rock. Also, hammered girls aren't my barometer for culture. :D

haha - if only...

 

[Paul lec]

“Why don’t we get drunk and screw” Buffett, before he got so commercial?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I had to Google a lot of these opening lyrics. A lot of bands and artists that I've never heard before, and I thought I was all hip on music, ha ha. A lot I wonder if they really are opening lines that are iconographic or set the mood, or just the first lines in general.
Keep them coming though.