Some songs don’t walk into the room—they kick the door down, wink at the bartender, and drop a lyric so good you’re hooked for life. The opening line is the handshake, the headline, the hit of electricity that says, “Sit down. You’re not going anywhere.”
Here are 25 of the greatest first lines in rock history—the ones that grab you by the collar and pull you into a world of riffs, rebellion, and poetic chaos.
“Please allow me to introduce myself…” – The Rolling Stones, “Sympathy for the Devil”
Like the Devil showing up in a velvet blazer. Mick Jagger makes the apocalypse sound charming.
“Hello darkness, my old friend…” – Simon & Garfunkel, “The Sound of Silence”
A mood. A meme. A masterpiece. Sadness has never sounded so poetic.
“Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world…” – Journey, “Don’t Stop Believin’”
If you’ve ever belted this in a karaoke bar with strangers, congratulations—you’ve lived.
“You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar…” – The Human League, “Don’t You Want Me”
Soap opera vibes in under ten words. And the synth hasn’t even kicked in yet.
“Load up on guns, bring your friends…” – Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Teen angst wrapped in gasoline and flannel. Welcome to the ’90s.
“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?” – Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Six words and you’re already questioning your existence. Freddie didn’t come to play.
“There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold…” – Led Zeppelin, “Stairway to Heaven”
A myth, a journey, a shopping metaphor that launched a thousand guitar solos.
“I may not always love you…” – The Beach Boys, “God Only Knows”
Starts like a breakup, ends up being one of the greatest love songs ever recorded. Brian Wilson magic.
“I am an antichrist, I am an anarchist…” – Sex Pistols, “Anarchy in the U.K.”
Not exactly easing into things. Punk arrived, and it had something to say.
“Let me tell you how it will be…” – The Beatles, “Taxman”
George Harrison and his guitar had some financial advice—and a killer riff.
“I get up in the evening, and I ain’t got nothing to say…” – Bruce Springsteen, “Dancing in the Dark”
The most relatable lyric ever written for anyone who’s stared at a blank Word doc at 10 p.m.
“We don’t need no education…” – Pink Floyd, “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)”
Technically a double negative. Still got banned by schools. Mission accomplished.
“I heard there was a secret chord…” – Leonard Cohen, “Hallelujah”
And every songwriter has been chasing it ever since.
“You can’t start a fire without a spark…” – Bruce Springsteen, “Dancing in the Dark”
Yes, it’s so good it gets to be on this list twice. Bruce is the king of opening lines and midlife crises.
“We’re leaving together, but still it’s farewell…” – Europe, “The Final Countdown”
No one knows where they’re going. But the synth riff is already packing snacks.
“Oh mama, can this really be the end?” – Bob Dylan, “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again”
Bob says what we’re all thinking after checking the news.
“It’s nine o’clock on a Saturday…” – Billy Joel, “Piano Man”
He paints the entire bar in one line. And somehow makes harmonica cool.
“She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene…” – Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean”
A mysterious woman. A bass line that grooves forever. Instant drama.
“She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge…” – Pulp, “Common People”
Jarvis Cocker narrates class warfare like it’s a soap opera. And we’re all ears.
“You got a fast car, I want a ticket to anywhere…” – Tracy Chapman, “Fast Car”
One line, and you’re already in the passenger seat, chasing something better. Pure storytelling.
“Once upon a time, you dressed so fine…” – Bob Dylan, “Like a Rolling Stone”
A fairytale opening for the end of innocence. Dylan brings the thunder with a sneer.
