I’m sharing some more of my favorite opening lines to songs from all genres.
ODE TO BILLY JOE/Bobbie Gentry-“It was the third of June another sleepy dusty delta day. I was out chopping cotton and my brother was bailing hay.”
A southern gothic tale about indifference and a mystery still unsolved. I can easily picture the characters in this one and that’s thanks to the framing of that opening line.
SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING–Elton John w/lyrics by Bernie Taupin– “It’s getting late have you seen my mates, ma tell me when the boys get here.”
This one also has the best line about going out to get drunk. “Get about as oiled as a diesel train.” Whoa!
LYIN’ EYES/Eagles– “City girls just seem to find out early, how to open doors with just a smile.”
I could go on to the rest of that lyric about the ‘Rich old man’ but this notation does just fine on its own.
THREE CHORDS AND THE TRUTH/Sara Evans– “On a highway bound for nowhere, I ran my fingers through my tangled hair as I pulled in for another tank of freedom.”
If you want a great example of how country music affects people, this is your song. (One of the most underrated songs in that genre) One time during a radio interview at US*99 John Howell and I had to convince Sara to put this song back in her set for an upcoming Chicago concert. And she did! I still can’t believe Sara Evans doesn’t play this one at every show she does.
GIRLS TALK/Elvis Costello- “There are some things you can’t cover up with lipstick and powder, thought I heard you mention my name can’t you talk any louder?”
Elvis done well with these words, who can resist thinking of an interpretation of this line?
NEXT BLOG– A novelty song that brings back great memories.