“I was washing dishes at the Greyhound bus station at the time and I said, ‘A-wop-bom-a-loo-mop-a-lomp-bam-boom, take ‘em out!’” —Little Richard
Although a song’s title is its strongest selling point and the best way to attract people’s attention, many inexperienced writers don’t realize that the lyrical content of their song’s opening line can play an equally important role in stimulating the listener’s interest and creating a lasting impact.
When busy publishers, A&R executives or producers play your demo and hear your opening line for the first time, they’re already deciding whether or not to hit the ‘stop’ button. So you’ve got maybe 10 seconds in which to convince them to keep listening.
While the title should tell people what your song is all about in just one word or a single phrase, the opening line of the first verse should be just as memorable and interesting (both musically and lyrically). Ideally, it should create a visual image that stimulates the listener’s imagination and paves the way for the story that follows.
How many classic songs have stuck in your mind over the years because you remember the first line of the lyrics as well as the title line?
It could be a catchy opening line like “Well, she was just seventeen – you know what I mean” (from ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ by The Beatles) … or an intriguing metaphor or personification like Paul Simon’s “Hello, Darkness, my old friend” (from Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘The Sound of Silence’) … or sensory imagery such as “On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair” (from The Eagles’ ‘Hotel Cali- fornia’).
A play on similar word sounds can also be effective, such as Little Richard’s classic “A-wop-bom-a-loo-mop-a-lomp-bam-boom” from ‘Tutti Frutti’ (described by Rolling Stone magazine as “the most inspired rock lyric ever recorded”).
Engaging first lines such as these instantly draw listeners into a song and hook their interest.
Listen again to a few songs by your favorite writers and make a note of the opening line in each case. Analyze the structure of the line and the writer’s choice of words. See how it works like a mini hook and sets the stage for the rest of the song. Then apply what you learn to the first couple of lines of your own songs.
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