A great first line draws the listener in and can often set the scene or the tone for everything that follows. Post the best first line you ever wrote and the best first line you ever heard. I'm thinking we could get some great songs based on each others' first lines, as you can't copyright that by itself, anyway. If you use a first line from this thread, please post the song for our enjoyment and edification.

Meanwhile, enjoy this R-rated article on the Top Fifty Opening Lines Of All Time; it's decidedly anglo-centric and dwells on depressing/outrageous songs but includes some really great ones, most especially in the comments. (R for NSFW language, including F-bombs, so don't click if easily offended, please)

http://flavorwire.com/167657/50-of-the- ... ment-63298

I think my favorite first line is Steve Goodman's. "It was all/ That I could do/ To keep from cryin'", from You Never Even Called Me By My Name, which is also a candidate for best title, btw. For economy, I've always liked the opener from Bon Jovi's Living On A Prayer, "Johnny used to work on the docks/ Union's been on strike, he's down on his luck, it's tough, so tough"

What say you?

Wow, I'm old... I only recognized 2-3 of them. Warren Zevon's "Chinese menu" line is definitely one of the all time best.

I also love Zevon's:

I went home with a waitress
The way I always do
How was I to know?
She was with the Russians too

Casey

Oh I used to be disgusted
and now I try to be amused.
But since their wings have got rusted,
you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.

Elvis Costello

Also Dylan's "Positively 4th Street"
You got a lot of nerve


Steve

One of my favourite openings is from BB Winans' "Stand":

Tell me, what do you do
When you've done all you can
And it seems like it's never enough
Tell me what do you say
When your friends turn away
And you're alone, so alone
Tell me, what do you give
When you've given your all and it
Seems like you can't make it through

Well, you just stand

"it's decidedly anglo-centric and dwells on depressing/outrageous songs" -Mojobone

Mojobone, you've brought up a very interesting point. It seems most commercial music wants upbeat, whilst the most memorable and "best??" lyrics are bluesy, honest, dark, sarcastic and truthful! I was going to choose Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit", though I see someone already listed that one on the website. Since the depressing song was already chosen, I guess I'll go for upbeat and outrageous,lol!
Billie Holiday's "Crazy He Calls Me"

"I say I'll move the mountains, and I'll move the mountains, if he wants them out of the way,"

But my real favorite line in the song is, "The difficult, I'll do right now, the impossible will take a little while."

I like Five For Fighting's opening lines for "World:"

"Got a package full of wishes,
A time machine, a magic wand,
A globe made out of gold..."


And, I have to admit there's also something that really appeals to me about the opening lines of Cee Lo Green's recent hit (not the radio-friendly version):

"I see you driving 'round town
With the girl I love, and I'm like,
F**k you!
Oo, oo, oo"

I do love the realistic dialogue; some writers, like Elmore Leonard have a keen ear for that. The usage is important to get right, too; if you're a certain age, that's exactly how you'd phrase it, "I seen you with her, and I'm like....whatever! ", etc.

Man, I'm with you Casey --- That's one of the best opening lines in a song EVER!

Ern

My own favorite opening lines of mine:

Spring came upon us slowly, tried to melt that sheet of white
Then another blizzard hit us, blowing way into the night
And our crops were surely frozen, and our people feared the worst
'Cause I guess we'd been accustomed to the hunger and the thirst

"Then The Rains Came" (c) 2011 L. John Ernst

Ern

I am not in love, but I'm open to persuasion.

Joan Armatrading

Damn, that's a fine line.