The most iconic opening lyrics in AT40 songs

[80sat40fan]

We have had a thread featuring the greatest opening hooks in AT40 songs... but what about the greatest opening lyrics? What opening words from AT40 songs immediately draw you into the tune? Here are a few examples:

* "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" from "Joy To The World" by Three Dog Night
* "Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near" from "Close To You" by The Pretenders
* "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" from "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
* "On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair" from "Hotel California" by Eagles
* "Well you can tell by the way I use my walk I'm a woman's man, no time to talk" from "Stayin' Alive" by The Bee Gees
* "Oh mama, I'm in fear of my life from the long arm of the law" from "Renegade by Styx
* "She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean, she was the best d**n woman that I ever seen" from "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC
* "We don't need no education" from "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)" by Pink Floyd
* "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life" from "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince & The Revolution
* "Josie's on a vacation far away" from "Your Love" by The Outfield

Any song with a memorable opening line from the Casey or Shadow era would count here.

[dth1971]

Jan 22, 2024 20:50:41 GMT -5 80sat40fan said:

We have had a thread featuring the greatest opening hooks in AT40 songs... but what about the greatest opening lyrics? What opening words from AT40 songs immediately draw you into the tune? Here are a few examples:

* "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" from "Joy To The World" by Three Dog Night
* "Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near" from "Close To You" by The Pretenders
* "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" from "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
* "On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair" from "Hotel California" by Eagles
* "Well you can tell by the way I use my walk I'm a woman's man, no time to talk" from "Stayin' Alive" by The Bee Gees
* "Oh mama, I'm in fear of my life from the long arm of the law" from "Renegade by Styx
* "She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean, she was the best d**n woman that I ever seen" from "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC
* "We don't need no education" from "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)" by Pink Floyd
* "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life" from "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince & The Revolution
* "Josie's on a vacation far away" from "Your Love" by The Outfield

Any song with a memorable opening line from the Casey or Shadow era would count here.

"Close to You" is by the Carpenters, not the Pretenders.

[LC]

"I've never seen you look like this without a reason." In a Big Country, Big Country
"I never meant to be so bad to you." Heat of the Moment, ASIA

[OnWithTheCountdown]

"A long, long time ago, I can still remember how that music used to make me smile..."

- American Pie, Don McLean

[OnWithTheCountdown]

Jan 22, 2024 21:32:42 GMT -5 dth1971 said:

Jan 22, 2024 20:50:41 GMT -5 80sat40fan said:

We have had a thread featuring the greatest opening hooks in AT40 songs... but what about the greatest opening lyrics? What opening words from AT40 songs immediately draw you into the tune? Here are a few examples:

* "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" from "Joy To The World" by Three Dog Night
* "Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near" from "Close To You" by The Pretenders
* "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" from "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
* "On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair" from "Hotel California" by Eagles
* "Well you can tell by the way I use my walk I'm a woman's man, no time to talk" from "Stayin' Alive" by The Bee Gees
* "Oh mama, I'm in fear of my life from the long arm of the law" from "Renegade by Styx
* "She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean, she was the best d**n woman that I ever seen" from "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC
* "We don't need no education" from "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)" by Pink Floyd
* "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life" from "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince & The Revolution
* "Josie's on a vacation far away" from "Your Love" by The Outfield

Any song with a memorable opening line from the Casey or Shadow era would count here.

"Close to You" is by the Carpenters, not the Pretenders.

Is it too much to ask to refrain from constantly calling out every little mistake on here? Why don't you contribute to this thread by naming just what the OP is asking for, the most iconic opening lyrics to a song from the classic Casey or Shadoe era. Try it. Then try it again. Rinse and repeat.

[at40petebattistini]

“There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold.”
(Stairway To Heaven – Led Zepplin) (from AT40’s Giants of Rock special)

“This has got to be the saddest day of my life.”
(Kiss And Say Goodbye – The Manhattans)

“My pappy said son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’ if you don’t stop driving that…”
(Hot Rod Lincoln – Commander Cody)

[dth1971]

From Tone Loc's "Funky Cold Medina": "And we go a little something like this, hit it!"

[trekkielo]

This week's 70s show from January 24, 1976...

"You made a fool of me, but them broken dreams have got to end"
(Evil Woman - Electric Light Orchestra)

[chrislc]

This has got to be the saddest day of my life.

Oops - scan the thread before posting!

Two great minds.

Okay this one from the same month. "That's right!"

[Hervard]

Jan 23, 2024 13:43:39 GMT -5 chrislc said:

This has got to be the saddest day of my life.

Oops - scan the thread before posting!

Two great minds.

Okay this one from the same month. "That's right!"

"Get Up And Boogie" by Silver Convention

[trekkielo]

"I've got a pocket full of quarters and I'm headed to the arcade"
(Pac-Man Fever - Buckner & Garcia)

[doofus67]

"She was black as the night / Louie was whiter than white" ("Brother Louie," Stories)

"Some people call me the space cowboy / Some call me the gangster of love" ("The Joker," Steve Miller)

"I can see her lying back in her satin dress / In a room where you do what you don't confess" ("Sundown," Gordon Lightfoot)

"He met Marmalade down in old New Orleans / Struttin' her stuff on the street" ("Lady Marmalade," Labelle)

"I've been walkin' these streets so long / Singin' the same old song / I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway" ("Rhinestone Cowboy," Glen Campbell)

"If there's a cure for this / I don't want it / If there's a remedy / I'll run from it" ("Love Hangover," Diana Ross)

"Lookin' back on when I / Was a little nappy headed boy / And my only worry / Was for Christmas what would be my toy" ("I Wish," Stevie Wonder)

"Doesn't take much to make me happy / And make me smile with glee" ("Best of My Love," The Emotions)

[seminolefan]

"She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene" (Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean")

"Mother, mother, there's too many of you crying" (Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On")

"It was the third of September, that day I'll always remember" (The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone")

"Very superstitious, writing's on the wall" (Stevie Wonder's "Superstition")

"I said-a hip, hop, the hippie, the hippie to the hip hip hop-a you don't stop the rock it to the bang-bang boogie, say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat" (The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight")

"Do you remember the twenty-first night of September?" (Earth, Wind & Fire's "September")

[djjoe1960]

"Every time I Look in the mirror, all these lines in my face getting clearer" (Dream On , Aerosmith)

This songs reminds me that no matter your age, it is important to still always have dreams (things you still want to accomplish).

[at40petebattistini]

Jan 23, 2024 19:51:14 GMT -5 trekkielo said:

"I've got a pocket full of quarters and I'm headed to the arcade"
(Pac-Man Fever - Buckner & Garcia)

"I got a little change in my pocket goin' jing-a-ling-a-ling."
(Keep Your Hands To Yourself - Georgia Satellites)