“Come gather round people wherever you roam and admit that the waters around you have grown…”
Is there anything better than a great first line?
The Dylan one is from a classic of course. Every line is a great line. But how how about this one by Rivers Cuomo:” When I’m stable long enough, I start to look around for love”. It thrusts you right into the middle of story. “Stable long enough??” Why the dis-stable? Everything about Cuomo is wobbly and the first line is a great wobbler. Plus, it sounds both right and very wrong as well.
Here is an early Lennon line that rips you in from the start: “I’ve got something to say that might cause you pain if I see you talking to that boy again I’m gonna let you down and leave you flat”. Among the many things I love about this opening the linger is the way he loses his temper.
So what do we love about an opening line?
1) It intrigues you
2) It sounds great
Sounds easy? Just try it…