“You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht.” When I sat down at the computer this AM, that is the first thing that popped into my mind. Where in the hell did that come from?
Life is odd. Minds are, often, uncontrollable.
You’re so vain.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 NKJV
What’s it like ‘walking onto a yacht’, anyway? I sure as heck wouldn’t know. Well, Elmer Fudd is not going to chase that OR the vanity rabbit today.
NEXT FIRST LINE, PLEASE!
“I’m an alligator, I’m a mama-papa coming for you.” Moonage Daydream by David Bowie. RIP.
Now that’s really a good one! So good, in fact, that it warrants more (not that Carly didn’t)…
“I’m the space invader, I’ll be a rock ‘n’ rollin’ bitch for you
Keep your mouth shut, you’re squawking like a pink monkey bird
And I’m busting up my brains for the words
Keep your ‘lectric eye on me babe
Put your ray gun to my head
Press your space face close to mine, love
Freak out in a moonage daydream oh yeah
Don’t fake it baby, lay the real thing on me
The church of man, love, is such a holy place to be
Make me baby, make me know you really care
Make me jump into the air”
That’ll give you something to chew on for a bit. As much as I’ve listened to that song, I did NOT know all those lyrics.
OK. First lines.
“Sitting on the park bench, eyeing little girls with bad intent.” Ian Anderson’s Aqualung. I’m not touching that with a ten-foot pole. Pun not intended, initially, but then it occurred too me.
“Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom!” You can fill in the rest. It ain’t Dylan. Thank you Little Richard. AKA Richard Wayne Penniman.
Speaking of Robert Zimmerman, AKA Bobby Dylan…
“They’re selling postcards of the hanging, they’re painting the passports brown.” Desolation Row
“Once upon a time you dressed so fine, you threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?” Like A Rolling Stone
Which brings us to, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Rolling Stones.” (Don’t you just love following a winding stream of consciousness?)
“I was born in a crossfire hurricane and I howled at my ma in the driving rain.” Jumpin’ Jack Flash
“Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields…” Look that one up and read all the lyrics. Wow! Rock ‘n’ roll, Mick, indeed. Brown Sugar.
First lines are often like first impressions, and whether it be in poetry or prose, they set the tone. They frame the story. They lure you in.
Novels? Yeah!
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice.
“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Leo Tolstoy – Anna Karenina
I’m not even going down the “Tale Of Two Cities” road.
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” George Orwell – 1984
“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.” J.D. Salinger – The Catcher In The Rye. Long one, eh?
“Call me Ishmael.” Herman Melville – Moby Dick. Short one, eh?
“All children, except one, grew up.” J.M. Barrie – Peter Pan. Call me Peter Pan. It is a badge I would wear with honor.
“Elmer Gantry was drunk, lovingly and pugnaciously drunk.” Sinclair Lewis – Elmer Gantry. War Eagle!
“Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.” I’ll be you know this book and author from the first word! As an aside; she was pretty darn hot to me when I was sitting, by myself, in the Alco Theater back in 1962.
“He opened to her the passenger door of the bright yellow Pinto wagon, faux wood grain paneling and all, closed it, bounded to driver’s side, got in and posed her the question, “Where are you from, Melodye? ” Bird LeCroy – Me and Paul: A Love Story
Well hey! It’s a start! To be continued? Maybe, maybe not. But, I hope, we’ve all had a good time here today, boys and girls. Let’s talk about it!
And until then, “Be kind to your web-footed friends, for a duck may be somebody’s mother.” Music by John Phillip Sousa. Lyrics anonymous.