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Many of the best opening lyrics do what they set out to accomplish — start a song in the greatest way possible. Since they are the first thing we hear, they can either lower or raise the rest of the song into new leagues. When they do their jobs well, opening lyrics can earn legendary status and become much more popular than the rest of the song. In the case of the best opening lyrics of all time, they have left a mark on the music industry and sometimes earned the status of becoming memes.

There are a lot of songs that you can listen to. Popular song lyrics, especially the opening lines, save us time searching for them. When you know the lines of a song, you just need to google it or ask someone if they recognize the lyrics. Thus, for an opening lyric to become the best, it has to be recognizable. And, when that recognition becomes too big, memes are made out of it. There is a small list of famous lyrics that are so good that memes are created from them. The best example is Never Gonna Give You Up. The opening line of this song is easily recognized and has become a subject of memes, jokes, and so on.

When it comes to the best song lyrics that start with a bang, it’s best to look for them with the help of the internet. User herecomesacandle on the popular AskReddit group decided to ask a question every music listener was asking — “What’s the greatest opening lyrics to a song that you’ve ever heard?” In the list below, we have compiled the best answers from users that might make you look up the songs themselves. Since some are more recognizable, upvote the lyrics that you like too. Share your opinions on these lyrics in the comments below.

#1

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right guiltystranger94 said:
"Hello, darkness my old friend."

freddythepole19 replied:
"Anything by Paul Simon, basically. "I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told, I have squandered my resistance for a pocket full of mumbles such are promises" continues to haunt me."

guiltystranger94 , Simon & Garfunkel Report

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LizzieBoredom
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, and tenement halls". Paul Simon

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#2

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize there's not much left."

LzzyHalesLegs , Tommy Boy Report

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Mis Stake she/her 🇫🇮🇬🇧
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As I walk through the valley where I harvest my grain I take a look at my wife and realize she's very plain

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#6

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "If you got one chance, or one opportunity, to get everything you ever wanted, in one moment, would you capture it, or let it slip."

worthlessafsince2002 , msvogue23 Report

#7

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "I walk a lonely road The only one that I have ever known Don't know where it goes But it's home to me, and I walk alone."

AStarCarrier_14 , Green Day Report

#8

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Hello, is there anybody in there?"

EyeofAnger , Pink Floyd Report

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LizzieBoredom
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Syd Barrett inspired haunting, beautiful songs. "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl years after year".

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#9

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom: 'Let it be.'"

nrith , The Beatles Report

#10

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today to get through this thing called life."

reddit.com , Prince Report

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#11

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "At first I was afraid, I was petrified. Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side."

NateBeasy , Gloria Gaynor Report

#14

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "I hurt myself today, To see if I still feel I focus on the pain, The only thing that's real."

JackFisherBooks , Johnny Cash Report

#15

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right CanuckSalaryman said:
"Please allow me to introduce myself.

I'm a man of wealth and taste.

I've been around for a long, long year.

Stole many a man's souls to waste."

KawhiComeBack replied:
"This might be my favorite Stones song just because of the pure audacity of Mick Jagger to write about how he is the devil, but a sophisticated one of wealth and taste.

No one else could sing that song."

CanuckSalaryman , ABKCOVEVO Report

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Der Kommissar
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jagger writes most of the Stones lyrics. I rate him right up there with Bob Dylan. " I was born in a crossfire hurricane, and I howled at my ma in the driving rain. "

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#16

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Tired of being what you want me to be."

krazkatluvsu , Linkin Park Report

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SheamusFanFrom1987
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've become so NUMB, I can't feel you there. Become so tired, so much more aware. I'm becoming this, all I want to do. Is be more like me and be less like you! Live forever, Chester Bennington. Even in death, you live within us all.

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#17

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Tonightttt I’m gonna have myselffff a real good time, I feel alive I Iiiii and the worldddd will turn it inside out aaa and float it around in ecstasy."

mrHughesMagoo , Queen Official Report

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Nice Beast Ludo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SO DON'T STOP ME NOW don't stop me cause I'm having a good time having a good time

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#18

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day..."

xanthanahtnax , Pink Floyd Report

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#20

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "SHOT THROUGH THE HEART AND YOU'RE TO BLAME DARLING YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME."

oteudeuss_ , Bon Jovi Report

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#23

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "'We come from the land of the ice and snow,

From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow!'"

reddit.com , Led Zeppelin Report

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#24

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "There is a house in New Orleans."

lesaleeh , The Animals Report

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Der Kommissar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a traditional folk song possibly written by Turner/Martin. The definitive arrangement was by Dave Van Ronk and was ripped off and recorded by Bob Dylan. The Animals' cover is the most well-known and widely-heard rendition.

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#25

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right ItTookTime said:
"There must be some kinda way out of here / Said the Joker to the Thief."

LeBigFish666 replied:
"Dylan is in with a shout for a lot of his songs here,

Desolation Row 'They're selling postcards of the hanging, and painting the passports brown.'

Visions of Johanna 'Ain't it just like the night to play tricks when you're trying to be quiet.'

Mr. Tambourine Man 'Though I know that evenings empire has returned into sand, vanished from my hand, Left me blindly here to stand, but still not sleeping.'"

ItTookTime , Bob Dylan Report

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#28

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right User said:
"Carry on my wayward son."

flowrider_ replied:
"Every Supernatural fan is going crazy rn."

reddit.com , KANSAS Report

#30

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Take me down to the Paradise City where the grass is green and the girls are pretty. Oh, won’t you please take me homeeeeee."

Anton5448 , Guns N' Roses Report

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Nice Beast Ludo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Axl rose TURNS ME ON with the hey-hey-hey-hey he does on Knockin on Heavens Door... always been attracted to the trainwrecks

#31

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "We’re no strangers to love, you know the rules and so do I."

dy77x , Rick Astley Report

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#33

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Step out the front door like a ghost into the fog where no one notices the contrast of white on white."

sillyboni , OkayTimeForPlanZ Report

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LizzieBoredom
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"And in between the moon and you, the angels get a better view, of the crumbling difference between wrong and right". Beautiful!

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#34

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Wake up! Grab a brush and put a little makeup!"

Genocide_Fan , System Of A Down Report

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Sami-Jo Ross
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also has one of the rawest lines of any chorus I've heard: "Why cry when angels deserve to die?"

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#35

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right Catsushigo said:
"In the time of chimpanzees, I was a monkey."

DBoaty replied:
"The song sounds like an AI text generator wrote it but goddamn if it isn’t catchy."

Catsushigo , Beck Report

#36

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "The first hit on the Circle of Life from The Lion King.

'Nants ingonyama bagithi baba Sithi uhm ingonyama Nants ingonyama bagithi baba Sithi uhhmm ingonyama Ingonyama Siyo Nqoba Ingonyama.'"

gladria1963 , DisneyMusicVEVO Report

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Sami-Jo Ross
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It sounds so wonderful until you realize the lyrics are literally "There's a lion. Yep, it's a lion."

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#37

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "That’s great it starts with an earthquake, birds snakes, and airplanes. Lenny Bruce is not afraid."

deebasr , remhq Report

#38

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "I said a Hip, Hop, a Hippy to the Hippy the Hip Hip a Hop and you don't stop a-rockin' to the bang bang boogie said up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogidy beat."

82ndGameHead , dutchmanmm Report

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#39

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "'Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay

Were laid spread out before me as her body once did.'"

OPs_other_username , Pearl Jam Report

#40

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Yo, this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down!"

TheAssOfSpock , Raqraqxox Report

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Jude Corrigan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And I'd like to take a minute Just sit right there I'll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-Air

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#41

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right User said:
"I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand."

Resolute002 replied:
"Funny story, years ago my dad's band covered this song and they had a humongous band-destroying fight because the band insisted the lyric was "And his hair was purple" and my dad was sure it was 'And his hair was perfect.'"

reddit.com , RHINO Report

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Scott J
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It has to be "perfect". Purple wouldn't make any sense. Why would a vampire have purple hair? Vampires are suave and debonair. Of course they would have perfect hair.

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#42

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "The world is a vampire."

SSB4Decoder , Smashing Pumpkins Report

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#44

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping, while my guitar gently weeps."

carsonnwells , George Harrison Report

#45

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Look, I was gonna go easy on you and not hurt your feelings."

Darkmaster666666 , EminemMusic Report

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#46

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right Aumgn said:
"Old man, look at my life - I'm a lot like you were."

tdelbert replied:
"This song has been on repeat for the last few weeks. The state of the world and USA has put me in a Neil Young protest song kind of mood."

Aumgn , neilyoungchannel Report

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#47

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Early in the mornin', risin' to the street. Light me up that cigarette and I'll strap shoes on my feet."

reddit.com , TheofficialSublime Report

#48

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "I met him in a swamp down in Dagobah, where it bubbles all the time like a giant carbonated soda, S-O-D-A, soda..."

OhEmGoshYouGuys , alyankovic Report

#50

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "You're such an inspiration for the ways that I will never ever choose to be."

reddit.com , Mariam Sowa Report

#51

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "'Teenage angst has paid off well, now I’m bored and old.'

Nirvana kicking off In Utero with Serve the Servants."

reddit.com , Nirvana Report

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#52

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Really don't mind if you sit this one out."

sterlingphoenix , WeHateThePatriots Report

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Der Kommissar
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ian Anderson would have been a wonderful minstrel in the Middle Ages

#54

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right Picklelerner said:
"CUT MY LIFE INTO PIECES."

OrganicHearing replied:
"CUT MY LIFE INTO PIZZA THIS IS MY PLASTIC FORK."

Picklelerner , Papa Roach Report

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Niall Mac Iomera
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Found a hilarious censored version on YouTube once. "**** My life into pieces, this is my last resort. ****, No breathing, don't give a **** if I **** my arm ****"

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#55

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right 6inchfunsize said:
"It's Britney b***h."

menow555 replied:
"Tacky, trashy glorious alliteration. Perfection!"

6inchfunsize , Britney Spears Report

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cartoon.ghostss
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it a problem that I got excited when i saw a Britney song on here cause I feel like it's a problem

#56

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge."

reddit.com , N.W.A Report

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#57

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Am I loud and clear, or am I breaking up?

Am I still your charm, or am I just bad luck?

Are we getting closer, or are we just getting more lost?"

HeyYoDeimos , RiseAgainst Report

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#58

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Dear Slim, I wrote you but still ain't calling."

BrissyToe , EminemMusic Report

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#59

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "This bed is on fire with passionate love. The neighbors complain about noises above, but she only comes when she's on top."

DarkleCCMan , JamesVEVO Report

#60

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Sometimes you gotta bleed to know, That you're alive and have a soul."

reddit.com , Fueled By Ramen Report

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#61

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "Ha ha ha ha ha YO, I’LL TELL YOU WHAT I WANT WHAT I REALLY REALLY WANT!"

bananas_in_pyjamas3 , Spice Girls Report

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#62

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right "What a beautiful face, I have found in this place, that is circling all round the sun."

some_bored_person , Neutral Milk Hotel Report

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#63

63 Best Opening Lyrics That Start The Songs Off Right User said:
"I wanna be the very best."

AnastasiaSheppard replied:
"This one wins because my mind is trying to sing all the other lyrics in this tune now."

reddit.com Report