There are many things that make classic rock songs continue to be relevant, and having good opening lines is definitely one of them. Despite being written decades ago, their openers made a huge impact on people, whether they were fans of the songs, and they became part of pop culture, to the point that a lot of people reference them on their day to day, even when they sometimes don't know where the phrases came from.
The songs chosen for this list come from the greatest, most important rock bands and artists in history: The Beatles, Queen, David Bowie, to name a few. Their opening lines set the tone for the incredible lyrics that follow. They channel the emotion the song is trying to convey, be that heartbreak, happiness, or longing, and they are just as iconic as the artists behind them.
10 "A Day in the Life" by The Beatles (1967)
"A Day in the Life," one of the greatest Beatles songs ever written, stands out for many reasons. Chosen as the closing track for their legendary 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, it was written by John Lennon, with some help from Paul McCartney, and the opening line is one of the most iconic ones in rock history. "I read the news today, oh boy," Lennon sings, and it's almost a sigh. Lennon started writing the song while he was reading the newspaper, and he came across the news that the heir of Guinness, Tara Browne, had died in a car accident. This line sets the tone for the rest of the song, which draws from the actual accident, but as it goes on, it turns into a fantastical, dreamy tale.
9 "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (1975)
"Is this the real life? / Is this just fantasy?" Anyone who hears this line sang by an a cappella choir knows that one of the greatest orchestral rock songs is starting. From Queen's 1975 album, A Night at the Opera, "Bohemian Rhapsody" broke all conventions when it came out. It was too long to be a single, and it was too delicate to be rock 'n' roll, yet it became one of the most successful tracks in history. From the first line, the song is different from anything people had heard before. Freddie Mercury sings a multi-track, five-part harmony, and from the start, the listener knows the song will blur the line between reality and fantasy. As the song opens, the singer wonders if what he's seeing is real. As it goes on, you realize that he just doesn't want to accept reality. After the ominous intro, the famous "Mama, just killed a man" line creeps in, and we go on the journey of this wretched man who is "caught in a landslide" with "no escape from reality."
8 "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones (1968)
"Sympathy for the Devil" came out in 1968, and it's a masterpiece of what the Rolling Stones did best: music that was both sexy and off-putting. The lyrics were a source of controversy, since they reference some of the most famous atrocities in human history, both real and biblical. Mick Jagger sings in the first person as the Devil, and seems to be both taking ownership and scolding people for the catastrophes mentioned in the song. "Please allow me to introduce myself," Jagger opens the song, describing himself (as the Devil) as a "man of wealth and taste." He goes on to tell his story, saying that he had witnessed Jesus' "moment of doubt and pain." Then, he sings about turbulent moments of the 20th century, such as the Russian Revolution, the Kennedy assassinations, and World War II. At every chorus, the opening line is referenced again, as Jagger dares listeners to guess his name from the stories he tells.
7 "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan (1973)
There are too many incredible Bob Dylan lyrics that should be included here, but to narrow it down, we chose one that is hugely influential, iconic, and simple yet moving. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" was written for the 1973 film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, and the lyrics are purposely simplistic and mournful, as they tell the story of a lawman dying. The opening line is a gut punch, "Mama, take this badge off of me / I can’t use it anymore." Throughout the song, the narrator confesses he doesn't have much time left, and asks for his things to be taken care of, since he feels like he's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." The genius of Bob Dylan shines through here, and decades later, that opening line alone can bring tears to people's eyes.
6 "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney and Wings (1973)
"Live and Let Die" gave Paul and Linda McCartney an Academy Awards nomination, as this 1973 chart-topper was written for the James Bond movie by the same name. This song has all the epic qualities of a perfect James Bond movie, but the opening line makes it clear that the song has a deeper yet simpler meaning that goes beyond a spectacular spy movie and applies to many of life's real problems. "When you were young and your heart was an open book / You used to say, 'Live and let live'," McCartney sings. The song, orchestrated by producer George Martin to sound like an imposing wall of sound, opens with just a piano and that line about a young person becoming jaded as life brings them down, and eventually turning into a cold, calculating person who would destroy anyone who gets in their way. While it might be an epic theme song, it's also, at its core, a song about disillusionment and disappointment.
5 "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin (1971)
"Stairway to Heaven," one of the longest rock 'n' roll hits in the world, came out in 1971 on the album Led Zeppelin IV, and while there are many sections worth noting on this legendary track, the opening is definitely as mysterious and intriguing as lyrics can get. "There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold / And she's buying a stairway to Heaven." Right off the bat, Robert Plant introduces an intriguing character, but we never get to learn much about her. He describes her confusing talent for knowing her way around anything, but also seems to warn her that the stairway to Heaven she wants to buy can be found closer than she realizes, "on the whispering wind." There's a long guitar solo and instrumental section towards the end, before Plant concludes by referencing the first verse again: "And she's buying a stairway to Heaven."
4 "The End" by The Doors (1967)
One of the most unsettling and sad songs by The Doors. Jim Morrison spent years writing it before the band recorded it in 1967 for their eponymous album, and while the recorded version is incredibly long (almost 12 minutes), the versions he used to sing during their performances at the Whiskey a Go Go were allegedly much longer. As soon as Morrison sings the first line, it becomes evident that the song will break your heart. "This is the end, beautiful friend," he sings, and it's initially very sad, since it was a breakup song about his first love, but as the song progresses, it gets more and more disturbing, with references to death, insanity, and Oedipal fantasies. The phrase "This is the end" returns over and over throughout the long song, and every time it gets more desperate and heartbreaking.
3 "Space Oddity" by David Bowie (1969)
"Space Oddity" has one of the most iconic, funny, and eccentric opening lines in classic rock, which is definitely on brand for David Bowie. The British singer wrote this song for his self-titled album from 1969, and the inspiration behind it is unusual but beautiful. He had gone to see Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey several times and identified with the sense of isolation and wonder of space. So, he created one of his most famous characters, which he introduced with the opening line of this song: "Ground Control to Major Tom." Major Tom was a fictional astronaut facing challenges in his mission, and he's an instrument for Bowie to channel his struggles with loneliness.
2 "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel (1964)
"Hello darkness, my old friend" is probably one of the more referenced opening lines. Written by Paul Simon for the legendary duo, Simon & Garfunkel, this 1964 classic appeared on their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., and despite being incredibly famous now, it wasn't very successful when it first came out. The song has a clear theme, which is darkness and uncertainty, as made clear by the opening line. The song talks about walking through dreams, trying to talk to people and not getting them to listen, and warns people about the silence becoming toxic until there's no way out of it. "The words of the prophets / Are written on the subway walls / And tenement halls / And whispered in the sounds of silence," the song ends, as unsettling as it began.
1 "Help!" by The Beatles (1965)
To close this list, we're talking about one of the most iconic (and misunderstood) Beatles songs. "Help!", from the 1965 album by the same name, is an incredible hit written by John Lennon that remains one of the most beloved classic rock songs. The song opens abruptly, with Lennon shouting, "Help! I need somebody." The rest of the track is upbeat and energized, which often leads people to ignore the warning from the opening line. It's not a joke or a way to stun people; Lennon is genuinely being vulnerable in this song, and he's crying out for help. On the second verse, Lennon insists on his request: "My independence seems to vanish in the haze / But every now and then I feel so insecure / I know that I just need you like I've never done before." So don't let the cheery sound and surprising opener fool you; this is one of Lennon's most honest and heartbreaking songs.