Last year I had fun recalling and writing about my favorite opening lines to songs so I delved into my brain pan and pulled out some more starter lyrics that I can’t get enough of.
“I am a lineman for the county, and I drive the main roads, searching in the sun for another overload.” WICHITA LINEMAN- sung by Glen Campbell and written by the great Jimmy Webb A simply well written set of lines that remain iconic to this day. All you need to hear is “Lineman for the county” and you know where we’re going.
“I want you to know, that I am happy for you. I wish nothing but the best for you both. An older version of me, is she perverted like me?” YOU OUGHTA KNOW- Alanis Morrissette Despite the quivering vocal, this sounds like a tune that’s going somewhere sweet. But it isn’t. And only Alanis knows just who she wrote this song about.
“You think you’re gonna take her away with your money and your cocaine, you keep thinking that her mind is gonna change but I know everything is O.K.” “LISTEN TO HER HEART”– TOM PETTY This is hands down, my very favorite Petty song. Between the church bell like chiming of those Rickenbacker guitars and the great lyrics, how can you can go wrong? I once read Petty got the idea for those words from his first wife who told a story of being at some wild party thrown by Ike Turner who was on some cocaine infused bender and threatening women who were at his house. Yikes!
“Tonight I feel so weak, but all in love is fair, I turn the other cheek and I feel the slap and the sting of the foul night air.” “BRING ME SOME WATER”- Melissa Etheridge Someone’s been done wrong in this classic cut and what’s so good is there’s hurt, vulnerability and anger in these words. Seeing Melissa play this song live several times is one of the great joys I’ve had in going to concerts.
“You were the first thing that I thought of when I thought I drank you off my mind, when I get lost in the liquor you’re the only one I find.” “KILLIN’ TIME”- Clint Black The title track from Black’s 1989 landmark five hit debut album. What man or woman out there can’t identify with these words? You drink to forget someone who still can’t or won’t leave your mind.” Well done Clint!
“No one knows what it’s like to be the bad man, to be the sad man, behind blue eyes.’– “BEHIND BLUE EYES”- The Who Anyone who listens to FM rock radio knows this classic and it remains timeless. A quiet start to a song about a self-examination of emotions and tendencies. Pete Townsend was at his best when writing words like this for the “Who’s Next” album.
“Cold, late night so long ago, when I was not so strong you know. A pretty man came to me I never seen eyes so blue.” “MAGIC MAN”- Heart While the opening guitar, bass and drums of this 70’s rock classic are hypnotic, the story gets sold by these opening words. Ann Wilson wrote this from her own experience as she shares some of what happened in her first serious relationship.
NEXT WEEK’S BLOG– Some more of my favorite re-makes. Cover songs if you will.