Nick Falk Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Let's be clear on this - the ultimate version of 'Walk Away Renee' is by The Left Banke. This is probably more important than any league tables or SATs results! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Simkin Posted February 7, 2004 Author Share Posted February 7, 2004 Here are some good first lines from Don Mclean, one of the best songwriters over the last 30 years. I have chosen these because of what follows these excellent introductions: It started out quite simply, as complex things can do, a set of sad transparencies till no one could see through (The Pride Parade) A long, long time ago I can still remember how that music used to make me smile (American Pie) No days you can borrow, no time you can buy. No trust in tomorrow. It's a lie. (Dreidel) I coulda been almost anything I put my mind to be but a cowboy’s life was the only life for me. (Bronco Bill’s Lament) I feel the trembling tingle of a sleepless night (Empty Chairs) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Simkin Posted February 7, 2004 Author Share Posted February 7, 2004 The following was written by Janis Ian when she was in her late teens. Unfortunately, her creativity went into decline after this bright start. I learned the truth at seventeen: that love was meant for beauty queens and high school girls with clear skinned smiles who married young and then retired. (At Seventeen) You might be interested in the rest of the song. Could be used in the classroom. I LEARNED THE TRUTH AT SEVENTEEN THAT LOVE WAS MEANT FOR BEAUTY QUEENS AND HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WITH CLEAR SKINNED SMILES WHO MARRIED YOUNG AND THEN RETIRED THE VALENTINES I NEVER KNEW THE FRIDAY NIGHT CHARADES OF YOUTH WERE SPENT ON ONE MORE BEAUTIFUL AT SEVENTEEN I LEARNED THE TRUTH AND THOSE OF US WITH RAVAGED FACES LACKING IN THE SOCIAL GRACES DESPERATELY REMAINED AT HOME INVENTING LOVERS ON THE PHONE WHO CALLED TO SAY - COME DANCE WITH ME AND MURMURED VAGUE OBSCENITIES IT ISN'T ALL IT SEEMS AT SEVENTEEN A BROWN EYED GIRL IN HAND ME DOWNS WHOSE NAME I NEVER COULD PRONOUNCE SAID - PITY PLEASE THE ONES WHO SERVE THEY ONLY GET WHAT THEY DESERVE THE RICH RELATIONED HOMETOWN QUEEN MARRIES INTO WHAT SHE NEEDS WITH A GUARANTEE OF COMPANY AND HAVEN FOR THE ELDERLY SO REMEMBER THOSE WHO WIN THE GAME LOSE THE LOVE THEY SOUGHT TO GAIN IN DEBENTURES OF QUALITY AND DUBIOUS INTEGRITY THEIR SMALL-TOWN EYES WILL GAPE AT YOU IN DULL SURPRISE WHEN PAYMENT DUE EXCEEDS ACCOUNTS RECEIVED AT SEVENTEEN TO THOSE OF US WHO KNEW THE PAIN OF VALENTINES THAT NEVER CAME AND THOSE WHOSE NAMES WERE NEVER CALLED WHEN CHOOSING SIDES FOR BASKETBALL IT WAS LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY THE WORLD WAS YOUNGER THAN TODAY WHEN DREAMS WERE ALL THEY GAVE FOR FREE TO UGLY DUCKLING GIRLS LIKE ME WE ALL PLAY THE GAME, AND WHEN WE DARE WE CHEAT OURSELVES AT SOLITAIRE INVENTING LOVERS ON THE PHONE REPENTING OTHER LIVES UNKNOWN THAT CALL AND SAY - COME ON, DANCE WITH ME AND MURMUR VAGUE OBSCENITIES AT UGLY GIRLS LIKE ME, AT SEVENTEEN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 I'm afraid they are full songs rather than first line but here are some interesting lyrics which certainly could be used in the classroom. Firstly Randy Newman Political Science Lyrics No one likes us I don't know why. We may not be perfect But heaven knows we try. But all around even our old friends put us down. Let's drop the big one and see what happens. We give them money But are they grateful? No they're spiteful And they're hateful. They don't respect us so let's surprise them; We'll drop the big one and pulverize them. Now Asia's crowded And Europe's too old. Africa's far too hot, And Canada's too cold. And South America stole our name. Let's drop the big one; there'll be no one left to blame us. Bridge: We'll save Australia; Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo. We'll build an all-American amusement park there; They've got surfing, too. Well, boom goes London, And boom Paris. More room for you And more room for me. And every city the whole world round Will just be another American town. Oh, how peaceful it'll be; We'll set everybody free; You'll have Japanese kimonos, baby, There'll be Italian shoes for me. They all hate us anyhow, So let's drop the big one now. Let's drop the big one now. Short People Lyrics Short People got no reason Short People got no reason Short People got no reason To live They got little hands And little eyes And they walk around Tellin' great big lies They got little noses And tiny little teeth They wear platform shoes On their nasty little fett Well, I don't want no Short People Don't want no Short People Don't want no Short People Round here Short People are just the same As you and I (A Fool Such As I) All men are brothers Until the day they die (It's A Wonderful World) Short People got nobody Short People got nobody Short People got nobody To love They got little baby legs And they stand so low You got to pick 'em up Just to say hello They got little cars That got beep, beep, beep They got little voices Goin' peep, peep, peep They got grubby little fingers And dirty little minds They're gonna get you every time Well, I don't want no Short People Don't want no Short People Don't want no Short People 'Round here Or my own personal favourite from Leonard Cohen below Please Don't Pass Me By (A Disgrace) I was walking in New York City and I brushed up against the man in front of me. I felt a cardboard placard on his back. And when we passed a streetlight, I could read it, it said "Please don't pass me by - I am blind, but you can see - I've been blinded totally - Please don't pass me by." I was walking along 7th Avenue, when I came to 14th Street I saw on the corner curious mutilations of the human form; it was a school for handicapped people. And there were cripples, and people in wheelchairs and crutches and it was snowing, and I got this sense that the whole city was singing this: Oh please don't pass me by, oh please don't pass me by, for I am blind, but you can see, yes, I've been blinded totally, oh please don't pass me by. And you know as I was walking I thought it was them who were singing it, I thought it was they who were singing it, I thought it was the other who was singing it, I thought it was someone else. But as I moved along I knew it was me, and that I was singing it to myself. It went: Please don't pass me by, oh please don't pass me by, for I am blind, but you can see, well, I've been blinded totally, oh please don't pass me by. Oh please don't pass me by. Now I know that you're sitting there deep in your velvet seats and you're thinking "Uh, he's up there saying something that he thinks about, but I'll never have to sing that song." But I promise you friends, that you're going to be singing this song: it may not be tonight, it may not be tomorrow, but one day you'll be on your knees and I want you to know the words when the time comes. Because you're going to have to sing it to yourself, or to another, or to your brother. You're going to have to learn to sing this song, it goes: Please don't pass me by, ah you don't have to sing this .. not for you. Please don't pass me by, for I am blind, but you can see, yes, I've been blinded totally, oh please don't pass me by. Well I sing this for the Jews and the Gypsies and the smoke that they made. And I sing this for the children of England, their faces so grave. And I sing this for a saviour with no one to save. Hey, won't you be naked for me? Hey, won't you be naked for me? It goes: Please don't pass me by, oh please don't pass me by, for I am blind, but you can see, yes, I've been blinded totally, oh now, please don't pass me by. Now there's nothing that I tell you that will help you connect the blood tortured night with the day that comes next. But I want it to hurt you, I want it to end. Oh, won't you be naked for me? Oh now: Please don't pass me by, oh please don't pass me by, for I am blind, but you can see, but I've been blinded totally, oh, please don't pass me by. Well I sing this song for you Blonde Beasts, I sing this song for you Venuses upon your shells on the foam of the sea. And I sing this for the freaks and the cripples, and the hunchback, and the burned, and the burning, and the maimed, and the broken, and the torn, and all of those that you talk about at the coffee tables, at the meetings, and the demonstrations, on the streets, in your music, in my songs. I mean the real ones that are burning, I mean the real ones that are burning I say, please don't pass me by, oh now, please don't pass me by, for I am blind, yeah but you can see, ah now, I've been blinded totally, oh no, please don't pass me by. I know that you still think that its me. I know that you think that there's somebody else. I know that these words aren't yours. But I tell you friends that one day You're going to get down on your knees, you're going to get down on your knees, you're going to get down on your knees, you're going to get down on your knees, you're going to get down on your knees, you're going to get down on your knees, you're going to get down on your knees, you're going to get down on your knees, you're going to get down .. Oh, please don't pass me by, oh, please don't pass me by, for I am blind, yeah but you can see, yes, I've been blinded totally, oh, please don't pass me by. Well you know I have my songs and I have my poems. I have my book and I have the army, and sometimes I have your applause. I make some money, but you know what my friends, I'm still out there on the corner. I'm with the freaks, I'm with the hunted, I'm with the maimed, yes I'm with the torn, I'm with the down, I'm with the poor. Come on now ... Ah, please don't pass me by, well I've got to go now friends, but, please don't pass me by, for I am blind, yeah but you can see, oh, I've been blinded, I've been blinded totally, oh now, please don't pass me by. Now I want to take away my dignity, yes take my dignity. My friends, take my dignity, take my form, take my style, take my honour, take my courage, take my time, take my time, .. time .. 'Cause you know I'm with you singing this song. And I wish you would, I wish you would, I wish you would go home with someone else. Wish you'd go home with someone else. I wish you'd go home with someone else. Don't be the per ause I can't make it by myself. I'm not by myself anymore because the man I was before he was a tyrant, he was a slave, he was in chains, he was broken and then he sang: Oh, please don't pass me by, oh, please don't pass me by, for I am blind, yes I am blind, Oh but you can see, yes, I've been blinded totally, oh, please don't pass me by. Well I hope I see you out there on the corner. Yeah I hope as I go by that I hear you whisper with the breeze. Because I'm going to leave you now, I'm going to find me someone new. Find someone new. And please don't pass me by. son that you came with. Oh, don't be the person that you came with, Oh don't be the person that you came with. Ah, I'm not going to be. I can't stand him. I can't stand who I am. That's why I've got to get down on my knees. Bec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Falk Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 Has anyone noticed that all the contribution to this section on 'First Lines' are from men. What does this say? Is this just a second hand way of expressing our emotions? I don't know you, you've been lately on my mind - New Riders of the Purple Sage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Simkin Posted February 7, 2004 Author Share Posted February 7, 2004 Has anyone noticed that all the contribution to this section on 'First Lines' are from men.What does this say? Is this just a second hand way of expressing our emotions? I started a strand on another forum of my top 20 albums. Once again only men contributed. At the time I thought it was something to do with men’s interest in lists. I am surprised by this one. From my experience, women are always better at remembering the words of songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Raynah Thomas Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Just thought I'd drop this one in. Sorry, it's another whole song: It's a Hard Life Wherever You Go I am a backseat driver from America They drive to the left on Falls Road The man at the wheel's name is Seamus We pass a child on the corner he knows And Seamus says, Now, what chance has that kid got? And I say from the back, I don't know. He says, There's barbed wire at all of these exits . . . And there ain't no place in Belfast for that kid to go. (chorus) It's a hard life It's a hard life It's a very hard life It's a hard life wherever you go If we poison our children with hatred then, the hard life is all that they'll know And there ain't no place in (Belfast) for these kids to go (Chicago) (This world) A cafeteria line in Chicago The fat man in front of me Is calling black people trash to his children he's the only trash here I see And I'm thinking this man wears a white hood in the night when his children should sleep But, they slip to their window and they see him And they think that white hood's all they need (repeat chorus) I was a child in the sixties dreams could be held through TV With Disney, and Cronkite, and Martin Luther Oh, I believed, I believed . . I BELIEVED Now, I am the backseat driver from America I am not at the wheel of control I am guilty, I am war, . . . I am the root of all evil Lord, and I can't drive on the left side of the road (repeat chorus) Nanci Griffith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgascoigne Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 What about the best last lines:Diving for dear life When we could be diving for pearls Elvis Costello (Shipbuilding) 'What's her name, Virginia Plain.' Roxy Music 'Wear your hair long babe you can't go wrong' Marc Bolan 'Any way the wind blows' Queen 'With a love like that, you know you should be glad.' Beatles My current issue regarding whether I remain in teaching or try something else reminds me of this line: 'Should I stay or should I go?' Clash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek McMillan Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Also Manic Street Preachers but not a first line: "If you tolerate this your children will be next!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cigdem Göle Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Like ships without anchors Wide is the ocean, no islands, no shores All is well, only This is such a lonely feeling to be lonely Fame is illusion Bright are the lights and you - You are left in confusion All is well, only This is such a lonely feeling This is such a lonely feeling Driving fast, as fast as I can Or sitting quietly on the windowsill You've got all and nothing Just put no more loneliness on my bill This is such a lonely feeling All songs should be happy Actors young and soap operas crappy Movies are x-rays Our destinies are choosing our ways And what should we do? To enjoy life the most Or hiding like ghosts? All is well, only This is such a lonely feeling This is such a lonely feeling Brainstorm - Lonely Feeling (To Be Lonely) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cigdem Göle Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 Hey hey, good times You're in so many lives Why don't you walk into mine? I've waited here for a lifetime But you never showed your face I'm sorry if I've been wasting my time I lied to myself I lie and I know I can't figure out how my story goes But, I lie to myself And there's no Holy Grail So why don't you come and lay your body down on my bed of nails? Hey hey I'm down Well I'm stuck in a hole and I can't see any way out Remember when we were younger And I showed you what to say And now it seems I've lost that hunger Why don't you lay Why don't you lay Why don't you come and lay your body down? I thought it would last a lifetime It only lasts a day You've started wasting my time Why don't you come and change the way I lie to myself I lie and I know I can't figure out how my story goes I lie to myself I lie all the time I can't figure out why what's yours ain't mine Hear me out (Hear me out) Hear me out (Why don't you hear me out?) Hear me now (Hear me now) Hear me now --------- Hey Hey I'm Down - Puressence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Drago Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 Them that's got shall get, Them that's not shall lose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cigdem Göle Posted June 14, 2008 Share Posted June 14, 2008 Kill me I begged and love said no Leave me for dead and let me go Kill me I cried and love said no HIM - And Love Said No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cigdem Göle Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 And the hardest part was letting go, not taking part. The Hardest Part - Coldplay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Drago Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 I see your face before me, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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