25 Greatest Opening Lyrics Of All Time

10. "Early One Mornin' While Makin' The Rounds/I Took A Shot Of Cocaine And I Shot My Woman Down"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq344ks1ieg Artist: Johnny Cash Song: Cocaine Blues (1956) Originally recorded by W.A Nichol's Western Aces, this tale of Willy Lee, a man who shoots his woman and is sentenced to 99 years in San Quentin, didn't really enter the public's consciousness until The Man In Black performed it at his Folsom Prison concert. It has since been covered by artists ranging from Keith Richards to Bob Dylan.

9. "There Must Be Some Kind Of Way Out Of Here/Said The Joker To The Thief"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLV4_xaYynY Artist: Jimi Hendrix Song: All Along The Watchtower (1968) Originally written by Bob Dylan this song has now become more identified with Jimi Hendrix. Regarding Hendrix's cover Dylan had this to say: "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way... I always feel it's a tribute to him" - which pretty much translates as "I wrote it but Jimi owned it."

8. "Hello Darkness, My Old Friend"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTCNwgzM2rQ Artist: Simon & Garfunkel Song: The Sound of Silence (1966) Dubbed 'the quintessential folk rock release' and written in the aftermath of JFK's assassination, The Sound Of Silence is a suitably dark tome but is now forever associated with Dustin Hoffman in a swimming pool.
 
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Writer from Cardiff. Fan of all rebels, rogues and rascals.