
But I don't think I'd ever considered the equivalent in music before last month, when Spinner.com compiled a list of the greatest opening lyrics in pop music. Isn't that an interesting thought?
Some of their selections are strong: 'You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar'; 'I am an antichrist'; 'Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine'. Others seem to be there gratuitously. 'Well I guess it would be nice if I could touch your body' is included solely for the opportunity to joke about how it's a great line when George Michael sings it, but not when he says it in a bathroom. Please...
I notice that two of the twenty five lyrics are tautologies: Prince's 'I was dreaming when I wrote this' and Elvis Costello's 'Oh, I just don't know where to begin'. I can't say if that's grounds for disqualification, but I can say for sure that 'She's a very sexy girl' in no way deserves to be on such a list, much less at the top of it. Don't confuse a memorable opener with a great one.
So I got to thinking, what songs would I nominate to a list of best opening lyrics?
'Still night, nothing for miles, white curtain come down'
(Sisters Of Mercy - 'Driven like the snow')
'I am the son and the heir of a shyness that is criminally vulgar'
(Smiths - 'How soon is now?')
'Load up on guns, bring your friends'
(Nirvana - 'Smells like teen spirit')
'Sooner or later this happens to everyone - to everyone'
(Pet Shop Boys - 'Love comes quickly')
'There'll be times when my crimes will seem almost unforgivable'
(Depeche Mode - 'Strangelove')
'Well I was born an original sinner'
(Eurythmics - 'Missionary man')
'There's a little black spot on the sun today'
(Police - 'King of pain')
'The world is a vampire'
(Smashing Pumpkins - 'Bullet with butterfly wings')
'I live with snakes and lizards and other things that go bump in the night'
(Ministry - 'Every day is Halloween')
'I guess I should have known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last'
(Prince - 'Little red Corvette')
'Love, love is a verb - love is a doing word'
(Massive Attack & Elizabeth Fraser - 'Teardrop')
'Every finger in the room is pointing at me'
(Tori Amos - 'Crucify')