SheriffFatman
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Been spending most our lives living in the Cheshire countryside
Posts: 10,892
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Post by SheriffFatman on Jan 13, 2020 19:45:16 GMT 1
Has there been a thread on songs with the best opening lyrics? I don’t remember one.
I love great opening lines, lyrics which really set the scene and make you sit up and listen. One of the best ever is quite blatant about it, I reckon:
“I’m the dandy highwayman who you’re too scared to mention I spend my cash on looking flash and grabbing your attention”
That’s not really one of my favourite songs ever, but what an incredible opening gambit. Fantastic. Other favourites of mine include:
“Now Sheriff Fatman started out in business as a granny farmer He was infamous for 15 minutes then he appeared on Panarama” (obviously)
“I’ve been expressing with my full capabilities And now I’m living in correctional facilities”
“I may not always love you But as long as there are stars above you”
“I never thought that it could happen With me and a girl from Clapham”
“Trudging slowly over wet sand Back to the bench where your clothes were stolen”
There’s a potential essay dissecting the brilliance of each of them. What’s everyone else’s favourites?
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Roo.
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Posts: 17,801
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Post by Roo. on Jan 13, 2020 20:12:46 GMT 1
Not the biggest fan of the song, but as far as opening lines go "So I heard the bad news - nobody likes me and I'm gonna die alone" from Number One Fan by MUNA is great.
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Post by Jordan on Jan 14, 2020 13:01:24 GMT 1
"It's Britney, Bitch."
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jan 14, 2020 13:30:00 GMT 1
Electric Six
Talking Turkey "You get the hotel, I'll get the box of wine, No sadder words have been spoken since the dawn of time. When we were young we never think that it would come to this because you only get one shot, I took my shot and missed."
American Cheese "Don't have to tell me that life ain't fair, I lost twelve of my very best men in there, well hold on, hold on to your curse this story is depressing and it's gonna get worse"
Jam It in the Hole "Stop! we are good times, we're from the eighties and we're here to help, that's when the lion awoke and Mephistopheles spoke, He said "you still got some time, baby, there's still time to choke"
Dark Politics "Dark politics leads to the best drag, if your sad about the mess we're in, for all the negatives about the Reichstag look what it did for East Berlin"
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Post by Earl Purple on Jan 14, 2020 14:33:46 GMT 1
Morrissey has come up with a few great ones:
"Punctured bicycle on a hillside desolate, will nature make a man of me yet?" being an obvious one. The first line he wrote I ever heard (was never familiar with Hand In Glove until the Sandie Shaw version).
"I am the son and the heir" which sounds like "I am the sun and the air" of course though that makes no real sense.. but continues "of a shyness that is criminally vulgar".
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madmurray
Member
I Am A Lizard King
Posts: 16,836
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Post by madmurray on Jan 14, 2020 15:57:16 GMT 1
“I’m the dandy highwayman who you’re too scared to mention I spend my cash on looking flash and grabbing your attention” Ah, Adam Ant, One of my childhood heroes.
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Post by Earl Purple on Jan 14, 2020 16:04:03 GMT 1
"I love you from the bottom of my pencil case..."
a couple from my fairly recent retro chart:
"You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht.."
"Now I'm a union man, amazed by what I am, I say what I think that the company stinks, yes I'm a union man"
and of course there's a song that begins with the line
'We don't need no education.."
(I think the bad grammar in that sentence in use of double negative goes well with someone who feels they don't need an education).
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 14, 2020 17:24:26 GMT 1
The moment I wake up Before I put on my make up
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madmurray
Member
I Am A Lizard King
Posts: 16,836
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Post by madmurray on Jan 14, 2020 17:32:39 GMT 1
Slip inside the eye of your mind Don't you know you might find A better place to play? You said that you'd never been But all the things that you've seen Slowly fade away
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Post by PurpleCareBear on Jan 15, 2020 21:36:19 GMT 1
If I were a candy dish I'd wanna be the one You keep your sweets in
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 15, 2020 22:04:43 GMT 1
What I regard as the best opening line to a song coincides with my first choice in one of the rounds of the Dance Idol Contest ....
So thinking of others...
"Hello Darkness, My Old Friend I've come to talk to you again"
"People Try And Put Us Down, Just Because We Get Around"
"You Were Working As A Waitress In A Cocktail Bar"
"On a morning from a Bogart movie, in a country where they turn back time"
"Calling out around the world Are you ready for a brand new beat"
"Straight outta Compton, crazy motherf***er named Ice Cube From the gang called Niggaz With Attitudes"
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vastar iner
Member
I am the poster on your wall
Posts: 17,402
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Post by vastar iner on Jan 16, 2020 8:43:46 GMT 1
I'm on the drug I'm on the drug I'm on the drug that killed River Phoenix
-"(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River", TISM
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madmurray
Member
I Am A Lizard King
Posts: 16,836
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Post by madmurray on Jan 16, 2020 8:56:32 GMT 1
It's been seven hours and fifteen days Since you took your love away
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 16, 2020 9:08:15 GMT 1
I'm on the drug I'm on the drug I'm on the drug that killed River Phoenix -"(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River", TISM Reminds me of this one (California by Belinda Carlisle): I remember I was in the tanning salon When I heard that River Phoenix was gone
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Post by Milliways on Jan 16, 2020 13:13:07 GMT 1
Two from Therapy?
“Heaven kicked you out. You wouldn’t wear a tie.” (Nowhere)
“What if the sky falls and shoves me into the ground? Would you pray for me or would you pull me out?” (Lonely Cryin’ Only)
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vya
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Posts: 8,774
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Post by vya on Jan 16, 2020 20:51:46 GMT 1
This definitely counts as scene-setting, from Pulp:
"The trouble with your brother, He's always sleeping with your mother. And I know that your sister missed her time again this month."
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 16, 2020 21:16:01 GMT 1
Here are some opening lines by the greatest lyrical music act to come out of Merseyside (clue not John, Paul, George & Ringo) ... Half Man, Half Biscuit:
Well this dish is too hot You’ll never guess what I’ve got Joy Division oven gloves
Unemployments rising In the Chigley end of town.
Well I heard a lovely rumour, That Bette Midler had a tumour,
Precious McKenzie, boy I remember you well Gob full of tapioca, I would sit and I'd watch you excel
Oh I was walking round my local store Searching for the ten pence off Lenor
A one two three four John the Baptist knows the score
Outside Goldsmith's coughing up blood, Turner Prize judge gasps "Christ that's good -
In the kingdom of the blind It's said the one-eyed man is king
A dirty rounder, a no-good fraud A ne'er-do-well of the highest accord
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vastar iner
Member
I am the poster on your wall
Posts: 17,402
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Post by vastar iner on Jan 16, 2020 22:34:44 GMT 1
Yeah, but quoting Nigel Blackwell is like bringing an AK47 to a fistfight.
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Post by PurpleCareBear on Jan 19, 2020 0:56:08 GMT 1
Here I lay all alone Wondering what you're doing now Two hours and a minute since you've been gone But your kiss still lingers on...
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 19, 2020 9:54:07 GMT 1
Too many Florence Nightingales Not enough Robin Hoods Too many halos not enough heroes Coming up with the goods
'Flag Day' by The Housemartins
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