I sing of arms and the man

Every year or so you'll bump into a newspaper article or a radio story about the "famous first lines" of acclaimed novels. You've read these little articles, right? They always trot out "Call me Ishmael," which is the "Jesus wept" of opening lines.

A list you see less frequently is great opening lines of songs. Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism album delivers a fine opening line, perhaps because it's beautifully couched in thundering drums and guitars:

So this is the new year
And I don't feel any different

I have an endless affection for good opening lines, and my exhaustive research suggests a few important ways to deliver a memorable first line.

A good opening line often sizzles when it's served up on a bed of epic music. Big horns or big drums or a mysterious chord played on the organ that builds and builds. I've always been partial to "Heroes" by David Bowie for the way the music leads you way, way in, and then kind of drops you off on a dark corner:

I... I will be king
and you... you will be queen

The Waterboys' song "This Is the Sea" features 9 acoustic guitars playing the same chord progression in unity, and an opening line full of superhuman wisdom:

These things you keep
You better throw them all away

Another fine approach is to spin a yarn.

Falling James in the Tahoe mud
Stick around to tell us all the tale
Well he fell in love with a Gun Street girl
And now he's dancing in the Birmingham jail
dancing in the Birmingham jail

("Gun Street Girl" – Tom Waits)

A well-placed oddball line can be enormously satisfying, as with so many of the songs recorded by Belle & Sebastian ("The State I Am In"):

I was surprised,
I was happy for a day in 1975

Perhaps my favorite current opening line is from Drive-By Truckers' 2003 album Decoration Day. I have to admit that it's the only song I know by this band ("Heathens"), but word for word, it's one of the best opening lines I've ever encountered:

Somethin' 'bout the wrinkle in your forehead
Tells me there's a fit about to get thrown

I'm sure there are some great lines I'm leaving out here, so post a comment and share your favorite with us. Or maybe an anti-favorite – an example of the world's worst opening line. Kind of like Pat Benetar's "Hell is for Children":

They cry in the dark, so you can't see their tears
They hide in the light, so you can't see their fears

Clearly, friends, this is the songwriting craft at its finest.