JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Song Hooks, The First Line Kind

PLEASE TRY TO FIGURE THESE HOOKS OUT I CANNOT DO IT ON MY OWN

The first question concerning a lyric that I have on a list of possible questions is, "Is the opening line one that grabs your attention?"

This got me to thinking of the opening hook of a song, the one that grabs you first and that doesn't usually include the main hook that should appear in your chorus.

So here's the thing. Without looking them up list at least five, from the top of your head, opening lines/hooks from songs you like and lets see if you can stump our panel as to what the song title is and maybe who the artist is who recorded it. I would ask for the songwriter but wonder if that would be to difficult.

Here are mine to get things started and I know some are to easy.:

- On a dark desert highway
- Angie (perfect example of an all inclusive hook IMO)
- Went to a garden party
- Had an uncle named of Mathew
- The sun is slowly fading in the western sky

HAVE FUN!!

Douglas

Help
Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine

here's the 2 ....... having to THINK beyond these......

It's coming on Christmas...
I like the way your sparkling earrings lay
Is she really going out with him
Why Me Lord?
Childhood living is easy to do

Going to let this grow a bit more before responding futher.

Douglas

Hey Doug Dude,

A really good thread...made me think through a lot of my favorite songs. Of course I love just about anything by Kris Kristopherson but a few of my favorites include:

Well I woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold my head that didn't hurt

Take the ribbons from your hair, shake it loose and let it fall

I have seen the morning burning golden on the mountains in the skies

Sometimes late at night I lie awake and watch her sleeping

Just the other night - a hometown football game

Of course there are many others...some of them even have the main hook in the first line...but for me it never diminished the power of it later in the song...ie Desperado, why don't you come to your senses. That song seems to violate all the "rules" we struggle to adhere to, however. Also...The Gambler...On a train bound for nowhere, met up with a Gambler, we were both too tired to speak...

Very thought provoking. Looking forward to other folks favorite first lines.

Bobbie

Ok Doug


It's been ten long years...since I left my home

Johnny was a joker...

People say I'm no good...

Sweet love left me in the winter...

I was standing by my window...


Hope this is ok
skip

Hello JM. Well here it goes

- HELP: From the Beatles (If it is it is right up there with the one hook, hook. ANGIE, Rod Steward

DO NOT KNOW THE SECOND ONE.

Douglas

Hello Michelle: Lets see what I can come up with.

Well I only know one, the second one is "Peaceful Easy Feeling" from one of my favorite bands the Eagles.

DO NOT KNOW THE OTHERS. ANYONE??

Douglas

Hi Bobby. Thanks for stopping in.

Number 1, drum roll please, "Sunday Morning Comin' Down" ??

Number 2, "Help Me Make It Through the Night" ??

THAT'S IT I DO NOT KNOW THE OTHERS. ANYONE??

Douglas

Nice to meet you SkipnRox.

Well you stumped me I haven't a clue of those hooks. Somebody else perhaps??

Douglas

Is'nt Angie done by the Rolling Stones

I'm thinking .

skip

I think you are right. It was the Rolling Stones...wasn't it?

Douglas

Bobbies...

#4 and 5 both Garth Brooks songs:If Tomorrow Never Comes and Unanswered prayers

Thanks Michelle. I recognize one of Garth Brooks, If Tomorrow Never Comes but no the other.

Lets keep this going gang. Could be fun.

Douglas

Michelle - Wild Horses

I liked the version that was done on "Old and In the Way." (??yes?)

Barry...Yes..Wild Horses ...one of my favorites of all time:by the Rolling Stones

Ain't got no home -- Woody Guthrie
I'm giving Mom a dead dog for Christmas - me
I remember the year Clayton Delaney died -- Tom T. Hall

Joe

Odd, that a lot of these are actually the titles...And the first line of "Sunday Morning coming down" was the first one that sprang to mind when I read your question, but Bobbie beat me to it.

Speaking of Bobbie,
#3..Loving her was easier than anything I'll ever do again.

Michelle has another Kris with "Why me Lord", and I believe it was Joe Jackson who sang "Is she really going out with him"?

Skip's all sound sorta familiar, but "Will the circle be unbroken" is the only one I can name.

And of course, Doug, Rick(not Ricky)Nelson's Garden party.

It's kinda tricky, 'cause if you know the song, then getting the title is easy, but if you don't, then it's hopeless. I'm thinking of several opening lines that hooked me, without the title being mentioned, they may not be familiar to everyone, but at least charted.

Sun's up, looks okay, world's survived into another day.

I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told.

I am an old woman, named after my mother.

I can see her looking fast in her satin dress.

(And because it seems like a requirement)
Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' for a train.

This could go on & on....Speaking of which:
Down in Jamaica they got lot's of pretty women.

Midnite

Michelle Is she really going out with him - Leader of the pack, one of my all time favorites, can't remember who did it.
Is this the one?


Bobby So many have done Help me make it through the night, that I don't remember who the original artist was. I really loved Willys version, and then there was Waylons, theirs were favorites of mine.

SkipnRox People say I'm no good - Charley Daniels, I've forgotten the title.

Hi doug, I was just thinking of first line hooks, so many favorites, thought I'd post a few from when I cressed over to more of a country style from my bubble-gumming days.

Just like the sun over the mountain top

It's the same old tune, fiddle and guitar

She's fifteen and he's barely driving a car

As I walk through this world

Livin on the road my friend, is gonna keep you free and clean

Hi Midnight...

You are right...my #3 is from Loving Her Was Easier. In case you can't tell...I am a huge fan of Kris's writing. I am humbled every time I start thinking of myself as a songwriter. All I have to do is listen to one of his cds and it is a real reality check.

Your #2 is from THE BOXER by Simon and Garfunkel

Your #4 is from SUNDOWN by Gordon Lightfoot...but I think the actual line is:
I can see her lying back in her satin dress
In a room where you do what you don't confess,
Sundown, you'd better take care

Busted flat is from one of my Kris favs...Bobby Magee!!!

Hi Nightingale...you are right..a ton of folks have done Help Me Make it Through The Night...but Kris K is the songwriter and I think he had the original version of the song. All the others were covers. "Livin on the road my friend" is from Pancho and Lefty...by Willie Nelson. Love that song.

Hugs,
Bobbie

"I am a lineman for the county"

Even this isn't the "hook" it sets up the song perfectly in just one line.

kevin

Actually, Pancho and Lefty was written and originally recorded by Townes Van Zandt. Willie did record several versions of it over the years.

Hey...(SOOO SAD) what about mine?


Douglas

Geneva-yes that the one I was referring to...leader of the pack..i think it was the shangra la's or something like that.

geneva-the 3rd one is two sparrows in a hurricane-tanya tucker?right?(not sure bout the title)

- On a dark desert highway
Eagles-do I need to name this awesome tune???


- Angie (perfect example of an all inclusive hook IMO)
Yup, Rolling Stones


- Went to a garden party
Ricky Nelson...Garden Party


- Had an uncle named of Mathew
?????

- The sun is slowly fading in the western sky
?????


Midnite
Sun's up, looks okay, world's survived into another day.
Bruce Coburn Wondering where the lions are


I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told.
S&G The Boxer

I am an old woman, named after my mother.
?????

I can see her looking fast in her satin dress.
Gordon Lightfoot Sundown

(And because it seems like a requirement)
Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' for a train.
KK Me and Bobby Mcgee

This could go on & on....Speaking of which:
Down in Jamaica they got lot's of pretty women.
Stephen Bishop On and On

HiDee Bro Dougie!

Here's a Fave Five:

All the leaves are brown...
Come gather 'round people wherever you roam...
I can't get no..Satisfaction...
City girls just seem to find out early...
I feel GOOD...Like I knew that I would...now...

Interesting how Da Music just seems to A-Rive as ya read each line, ain't it? "Married Forever"...wheee!

Happy Weekend, Amigo, & Thanks for this Fun Thread!

Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

t's coming on Christmas... Joni mItchell



here's another to ponder

Sunny came home

Stan...california dreamin-mamas and the papas,Lying eyes-Eagles,James Brown-I feel good?Satisfaction-rolling stones,not sure bout the other one....and yes joice-River by joni mitchell...I love that song so much-robert downey Jr.cover is beautiful also

I think the song, "I am an old woman, named for my mother"...is from the song, Angel from Montgomery. I love the Bonnie Raitt version, but I believe it was written by John Prine.

OK Here's 5

Pushing through the market square


We've been through some things together


Stay with me


I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping


And now, the end is near


and for bouns points...

Poor old Johnny Ray

Stan,is the other one a B-52's song?

This thread has me "hooked"!!!

Had an uncle name of Matthew. I was always a big fan of John Denver...and this song has always had the power to get me teary eyed from pure nostalgia. I understand that the words were actually written by John's real uncle Dean.

On a dark desert highway...I believe is from Hotel California by the Eagles.

As a songwriter YOU are the first listener. You should be 'hooked' by the 'hook-factor' in your first line just as you hope others will be.

I often read lyrics in which the first line is very bland, doing little more than getting started to set up the 2nd line, which may or may not up the hook factor. Sometimes I think they're just rhyming to get to the chorus where they have THE hook line they think is interesting all by itself.

Sometimes I ad lib something as a first line and it doesn't hook me. So I ad lib something else and something else until I am hooked. See www.garyeandrews.com

By 'hooked' I mean it makes ME want to know the rest of the story implied in that first line.

So I start thinking about it, not in a formal, plotting, planning way, just conceiving, getting the feel for who this character is and what story he's trying to tell. I may not fully 'get it' for minutes, hours, days, before I start getting the lines to tell the story. I play the introductory bars and go through that first line again, and may ad lib a second line until I get one that makes sense in the context of the story.

I keep going and find THE hook/title, usually, when it's time to find it. I don't think I ever started with a title and went back and wrote verses to get to it. That first line and the story implied in it are strategically important to my method of songwriting.

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin' for the trains

I pulled in to Nazareth.
I was a'feelin' 'bout half past dead.

Once upon a time, you dressed so fine, threw the bums a dime, in your prime, didn't you?

Hey! Good lookin'!

Today I passed you on the street,

Crazy, Crazy for feelin' so lonely

It was the third of June, another ? and dusty delta day.

The phone rings, in the middle of the night

Jeremiah was a bullfrog

When a man loves a woman

Susanne takes you down, to a place by the river

Kevin, Witchata Lineman, Glen Campbell

Jonn, And now the end is near, Elvis Presley did it, I can't come up with the name.

Stay with me--Rod Stewart

Geneva

Gary, Great article two posts back. Reading your post gave me alot the think about when I try to write. I generally try to tell a story, not thinking about the first line,so much to learn. Thanks, Geneva

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin' for the trains--Me and Bobby Magee

Hey! Good lookin'!--Hank Williams

Crazy, Crazy for feelin' so lonely--Patsy Cline

The phone rings, in the middle of the night--Is it Eye of the tiger?

Jeremiah was a bullfrog--Joy to the world--Three dog night

It was the third of June, another ? and dusty delta day--Is it Two more bottles of wine?

When a man loves a woman--Percy Sledge

Today I passed you on the street,--Is it Walk on by?

The last one keeps going over and over in my head. I want to say Simon and Garfuncle did it, might be wrong.

The third of June was another SLEEPY dusty Delta day, according to the Ode to Billy Jo by Bobbie Gentry.

Midnite

The phone rings in the middle of the night---Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper???

"Today I passed you on the street" is a Hank Williams line. It's from "I Can't Help It if I'm Still in Love With You."

Joe

"The sun is slowly fading in the western sky" John Denver Eclispe

Couple of post back it was mentioned how important that first line hook is. I try, may not always succeed, to create those in the ones I write.

The first line hook is a very important aspect to the song. The precurser to the chorus et al.

Been some great lines coming.

I pulled in to Nazareth.
I was a'feelin' 'bout half past dead. TAKE A LOAD OFF???

Once upon a time, you dressed so fine, threw the bums a dime, in your prime, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU, BOB DYLAN

Hey! Good lookin'! HANK WILLIAMS SR

Today I passed you on the street, ??

Crazy, Crazy for feelin' so lonely ??

It was the third of June, another ? and dusty delta day. BOBBIE GENTRY

The phone rings, in the middle of the night

Jeremiah was a bullfrog JOY TO THE WORLD, THREE DOG NIGHT??

When a man loves a woman ??

HI All,

OK, dark desert highway.....bob seager Turn the Page...right?

BOB--- circle be unbroken

Nightengale --- Long Haired Country Boy

Hit for the other two... think oldtimey,bluegrass.


skip

mmmm Nightengale...must be other songs begin with the same lines...

And now the end is near--- My Way, Frank Sinatra

Stay with me---Follow you follow me... Genesis

and seeing no one's guessing

Pushing through the market square
5 years, David Bowie, from the most amazing Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from mars ...definitely one of my top 5 all time favourite albums


We've been through some things together
Long may You Run.... Neil Young


Stay with me


I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While My Guitar Gently Weeps...The Beatles


And now, the end is near


and for bouns points...

Poor old Johnny Ray
Come On Eileen. Dexy's Midnight Runners

Every song is different, especially when it comes to the punch line. Some don't have their strongest lines until the end. One that comes to mind is "The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel. Great song, but reference to the title didn't come until the end of the song.

Ullo,Ive some relatively obscure ones here that have always grabbed me(I came in a bit late and most previous have been guessed)....

"I used to love the mortician's daughter,we drew our hearts on the dusty coffin lids"

"Curtain opens,spotlights the gentleman,signing his love letter best wishes simpleton,dialogue swam from his pen like pollywogs"

"the disappointed all shuffle 'round in circles,their placards look the same with a picture and a name of the ones who broke their hearts"

"the sign said (headshots) and that was all,with a picture of a boy and a number you could call"

"covered in violet velvet,the ultimate beggar,I guess I fell for it.Though I've got five dollars and some change"

"wherever you are,it's three a.m. and I'm awake"

"Every twenty seconds someone's pounding someone down,every thirty more a liar's born"

They are a bit obscure.I'll be pleasantly surprised if anyone recognizes these.

Good game,

Mac.

Wow!! Mac. Those are tough. Anyone??

Douglas

HiDee Mz Michelle! Here's a Hint..2nd line's "And admit that the waters around you have grown"...

One of the '60's bigger Hits.

Back to the Challenges...My Memory's not really a Contender..heh!

Big Hugs,
Stan
Oh..."Johnny was a Joker..a Very Funny Joker.." from Everly Bros."Bird Dog". (What a HOWL!);-)>

I hadda sing that "Once Upon a Time..etc..line" many-a-Time thru my Addlepated Brain to remember it's from Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone". Man, talk about a song that takes a WHILE to Get To The Chorus...heh!

DID Simon &/or Garfunkle ever record "California Dreamin'"? When Michelle said "Mamas & The Papas" SHE was Right..I was (I guess) Wrong...but my HEAD was playin'-back S&G when I spun out that "All the leaves are brown" line.

Here's an opener from one of my All-Time FAVE Rock Numbers:
"You're not shy..You get around"...

I'll be baaack!
Hugs,
Stan

Stan-is that "Urgent" by foreigner?

I love this game.....I love music(and movie)trivia!!!

Y'all got all of mine!

Hey! Good lookin'! H. Williams Sr., who, I'm told, is best listened to in the albums as originally released, as opposed to some compilation of greatest hits. He was a great songwriter (if he wrote all those) and wrote such a variety of styles. He wrote simple songs too, short sentences, short songs, simple stories, well-enunciated so you 'get' them when you hear them. This one is especially easy to disect, the short lines, and the melody segments, the chorus.

Today I passed you on the street, and my heart fell at my feet, and I damned near stepped on it and killed myself. (I don't think that's the way it really goes.) HW again, I can't help it if I'm still in love with you.

Crazy, Crazy for feelin' so lonely.
Willie Nelson wrote it, but his demo just 'talked' it. Patsy Cline was having trouble doing it that way and finally sang it the way she felt it, creating that memorable melody and vocal.

It was the third of June, another ? and dusty delta day. B. Gentry, Ode To Billy Joe.

The phone rings, in the middle of the night
Cindi Lauper, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, from her She's So Unusual masterpiece. Cool songs in a cool collection.

Jeremiah was a bullfrog, Three Dog Night.

When a man loves a woman, Percy Sledge.

Susanne takes you down, to a place by the river. Leonard Cohen. Check him out on YouTube if you're not familiar with his work.

Oh, and "I pulled into Nazareth," The Band, Music From Big Pink, a song called "The Weight," even though they never say "The Weight" in the song.

I think the first line should hook YOU, especially if you're the songwriter. Then it's more likely to hook everyone else.