Topic: Great Opening Lyrics

[mikeb58]

Prince of Players, Pawn of none,
Born with steel reins on the heart of the Sun.
Gypsy explorer of the New Jersey Heights,
Exalted companion of cocaine nights.

[LanceLink!!!!!]

In France a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name

[classycarra]

I'm not your fucking friend
Trying to be though
Trying to feel it
Trying to be it

(not great in writing only, i expect!)

[TipTopKop]

Nobody stop me
I wanna slit your throat and fuck the wound
Wanna push my face in and feel the swoon
Wanna dig inside, find a little bit of me
'Cause the line gets crossed when you don't come clean


A gentle, Friday evening listening, courtesy of Val Doonican there  (could be Slipknot, I confuse the two)

[ToneLa]

What's with these homies dissin' my girl?
Why do they gotta front?

[Crosby Nick]

What's with these homies dissin' my girl?
Why do they gotta front?

*Guitar riff

[So… Howard Philips]

If you could read my mind love
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old time movie
‘Bout a ghost from a wishing well

[classycarra]

If you could read my mind love
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old time movie
‘Bout a ghost from a wishing well

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

[Crosby Nick]

If you could read my mind love
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old time movie
‘Bout a ghost from a wishing well

Listened to that yesterday weirdly.

[TepidT2O]

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

After initially thinking this was the opening to cotton eye joe, I googled it and found it on you tube.

It started with a brilliant bit with a dog paying the pan pipes which I enjoyed hugely.  This turned out to be an advert.

[TepidT2O]

I was lying in my bed
A creature void of form
Been so afraid of everything
I need a chance to be reborn
I never wanted anything
That someone had to give
I don't live here anymore
I went along the wind
When I think about the old days, babe
You're always on my mind
I know it ain't like I remember
I guess my memories run wild
Like when we went to see Bob Dylan
We danced to "Desolation Row"
But I don't live here anymore
But I got no place to go

[So… Howard Philips]

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

There’s a great line later on;

‘Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?’

I always think of this when we are narrowly winning against a decent team constantly attacking us and an additional 6 minutes comes up on the 4th official’s board.

[tubby]

Oh, get me away from here, I'm dying
Play me a song to set me free
Nobody writes them like they used to
So it may as well be me

[liverbloke]

Jan lays down and wrestles in her sleep
Moonlight spills on comic books
And superstars in magazines
An old friend calls and tells us where to meet
Her plane takes off from Baltimore
And touches down on Bourbon Street

[oojason]

Jock's got a vote in Parochia
Ten long years and he's still got her
Paying tax and and doing stir
Worry about it later.

[Alan_X]

I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I been runnin' ever since

What a great opening - in two lines it's set up the back story and the tone of the whole song.

[So… Howard Philips]

What a great opening - in two lines it's set up the back story and the tone of the whole song.

The whole song is great and typifies what the 1960s Civil Rights movement was about.

I’m tempted to have it at my funeral.

[classycarra]

What a great opening - in two lines it's set up the back story and the tone of the whole song.

Yep, it's easily one of my favourite songs about camping trips

[Alan_X]

You're sweet as a honey bee
But like a honey bee stings
You've gone and left my heart in pain
All you left is our favorite song

and

Now if you feel that you can't go on
Because all of your hope is gone
And your life is filled with much confusion
Until happiness is just an illusion

[So… Howard Philips]

You're sweet as a honey bee
But like a honey bee stings
You've gone and left my heart in pain
All you left is our favorite song

and

Now if you feel that you can't go on
Because all of your hope is gone
And your life is filled with much confusion
Until happiness is just an illusion

May as well start a seperate Holland/Dozier/Holland thread.

[classycarra]

May as well start a seperate Holland/Dozier/Holland thread.

You'll just have to wait

[Alan_X]

May as well start a seperate Holland/Dozier/Holland thread.

Another:

I see a house, a house of stone
A lonely house, 'cos now you're gone
Seven rooms, that's all it is, seven rooms of gloom
I live with emptiness, without your tenderness

This one's not HDH but it's amazing how many of those great classics were about Misery:

Now that you're gone
All that's left is a band of gold...

[So… Howard Philips]

Another:

I see a house, a house of stone
A lonely house, 'cos now you're gone
Seven rooms, that's all it is, seven rooms of gloom
I live with emptiness, without your tenderness

This one's not HDH but it's amazing how many of those great classics were about Misery:

Now that you're gone
All that's left is a band of gold...

Amazing how many people ask for that as an opening song at weddings not knowing that it’s about an unconsummated wedding night.

[liverbloke]

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night?
People so busy, make me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright
But I don't need no friends
As long as I gaze on
Waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

did you know - you already most probably did - that Ray Davies wrote this about Liverpool at the time and was about the whole merseybeat scene

London was home, I'd grown up there, but I like to think I could be an adopted Scouser. My heart is definitely there - Ray Davies

[So… Howard Philips]

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night?
People so busy, make me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright
But I don't need no friends
As long as I gaze on
Waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

did you know - you already most probably did - that Ray Davies wrote this about Liverpool at the time and was about the whole merseybeat scene

So the Waterloo was the suburb of Crosby not the London railway station?

So who the fuck were Terry and Julie?

[liverbloke]

So the Waterloo was the suburb of Crosby not the London railway station?

So who the fuck were Terry and Julie?

y'know the couple who ran the chippy in south road? yeh well y'know that guy that used to come in on fridays?
well y'know his brother's step dad? yeh well y'know his step dad's first girlfriend? yeh well she married that guy from fazakerley yeh?
then they moved to rhyl yeh remember that? then he got a job working for the tax yeh yeh? so then they moved to london yeh?

that's them



....i think

[Ziltoid]

Grim-faced and forbidding
Their faces closed tight
An angular mass of New Yorkers
Pacing in rhythm
Race the oncoming night
They chase through the streets of Manhattan
Head-first humanity
Pause at a light
Then flow through the streets of the city

[jackh]

Went to see The Gaslight Anthem last night, so I'll offer:

"Well I wonder which song they're gonna play when we go,
I hope it's something quiet and minor and peaceful and slow"


Full verse, as I actually think that "opening lyrics" should be limited to just a couple of lines

Spoiler

"Well I wonder which song they're gonna play when we go,
I hope it's something quiet and minor and peaceful and slow;
As we float out into the ether, into the everlasting arms,
I hope we don't hear Marley's chains we forged in life"

[close]

Bright Eyes tonight, in which case I'll offer:

"Did you expect it all to stop
At the wave of your hand?
Like the sun's just going to drop
If it’s night you demand?"

Spoiler

"Did you expect it all to stop
At the wave of your hand?
Like the sun is just going to drop
If it’s night you demand
Well, in the dark we are just air
So the house might dissolve
But once we are gone, who is gonna care
If we were ever here at all?"

[close]

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Norbert across the universe greets the world with spangly undies

[Terry de Niro]

I don’t have the best memory, so I tend to only be able to recall stuff like this if it’s in my current consciousness but the first ones that came to my mind were:

Somewhere deep inside, somethings got a hold on you
And it’s pushing me aside, see it stretch on forever

Neil Finn is a genius.

I don't want to say "I love you"
That would give away too much.
It's hip to be detached and precious,
The only thing you feel is vicious.

Message to my girl. Written when he was a youngster with Split Enz.

Saw Crowded House at the Castlefield Ball in late June and they performed this song, and I said to the missus that any songwriter would be so proud to have written that.
Great words and boss melody.

[jackh]

Neil Finn is a genius.

Saw Crowded House at the Castlefield Ball in late June and they performed this song, and I said to the missus that any songwriter would be so proud to have written that.
Great words and boss melody.

Was at this gig too - wonderful stuff. Crowded House are one of the first bands I recall knowing I was listening to at a young age, if that makes sense. Felt sort of special seeing them for the first time - was gutted my dad couldn't make it along with me (term time!).

[Terry de Niro]

Was at this gig too - wonderful stuff. Crowded House are one of the first bands I recall knowing I was listening to at a young age, if that makes sense. Felt sort of special seeing them for the first time - was gutted my dad couldn't make it along with me (term time!).

Brilliant Gig/night.
Also loved the band and audience interaction with the passing trains that were slowing down on their way to Deansgate. 

[jackh]

Brilliant Gig/night.
Also loved the band and audience interaction with the passing trains that were slowing down on their way to Deansgate. 

Yes! It was only the second gig I've been too there, (don't tell Andy ) but the venue is so good that it's almost worth keeping an eye out for the Sounds of the City listings for the sake of the venue rather than just waiting to hear who's on & hoping (though, as it happens, I'd probably happily have gone to 3/4 of this year's shows).

[Terry de Niro]

Yes! It was only the second gig I've been too there, (don't tell Andy ) but the venue is so good that it's almost worth keeping an eye out for the Sounds of the City listings for the sake of the venue rather than just waiting to hear who's on & hoping (though, as it happens, I'd probably happily have gone to 3/4 of this year's shows).

My first time there and was a fantastic venue and extremly intimate I thought.

[ToneLa]

I see the people working
And see it working for them
And so I want to join in
But then I find it hurts me

[Terry de Niro]

There is freedom within
There is freedom without
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup

[jillcwhomever]

The wall on which the prophets wrote
Is cracking at the seams.
Upon the instruments of death
The sunlight brightly gleams.
When every man is torn apart
With nightmares and with dreams,
Will no one lay the laurel wreath
When silence drowns the screams.

[jillcwhomever]

The rusted chains of prison moons
Are shattered by the sun
I walk a road, horizons change
The tournament's begun
The purple piper plays his tune,
The choir softly sing;
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue,
For the court of the crimson king.

[shy_talk]

make me a deal and make it straight

*********************************

dig if you will a picture
of you and I engaged in a kiss

[Boston always unofficial]

The distant echo
Of faraway voices
Boarding far away trains,