No piece of writing can be truly and holistically defined by one opening line. However, sometimes, one opening line can make all the difference and make the subtextual meaning of the piece rise to the surface or simply grab a reader’s attention. In music, a master of the opening line is Bob Dylan.
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Dylan’s lyrical and literary talents are too grand to define in so few words. Although, when looking at the opening lines of some of his songs, one can hopefully get a greater understanding of how his opening lyrics function within the greater scheme of the song in question. That being so, here are just three of Bob Dylan’s most witty opening lines.
Darkness at The Break of Noon…
Hailing on his 1965 existential and political cry, Dylan’s “It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” is an abstract painting existing in lines. And it’s partially thanks to the opening line, Darkness at the break of noon / Shadows even the silver spoon. Dylan’s 1965 single is a sprawling lyrical adventure that unpacks and openly grieves the materialistic, capitalistic, and war-mongering attitude of the United States. Though, none of these sentiments wouldn’t have come to light as powerfully if it wasn’t for the opening lyrical hook.
The meaning of the line is of course up to interpretation, but given the rest of the song’s subject matter, Dylan seems to be claiming that the culture of the U.S. doesn’t hold back and even taints what is deemed holy. Though, that interpretation is slight and brief, and the line deserves far more contemplation.
‘Twas in Another Lifetime, One of Toil and Blood…
Many fans have called Bob Dylan’s 1975 album, Blood On The Tracks, the greatest album of his career. That being so, one song that helps craft that opinion is “Shelter From The Storm.” The opening line, ‘Twas in Another Lifetime, One of Toil and Blood / When blackness was a virtue the road was full of mud, is a perfect storybook opening and implies an impending reversal. A reversal that pays off at the end of the song.
Dylan’s opening line is not only poetically sound and pretty, but also structurally appropriate. By placing that line first, Dylan is suggesting an adventure, a change, and a plot twist that you can only figure out by listening to the rest of the song. It is not only an introduction to the story, but also the speaker’s battle within it.
Crimson Flames Tied Through My Ears…
When Dylan wrote “My Back Pages” he was 21-years-old, but the wisdom and mental fortitude displayed in the song suggest that he was in his ’50s. Regardless, Dylan’s opening line, Crimson flames tied through my ears / Rollin’ high and mighty traps, introduces the subject matter of the song in the perfect poetic vehicle.
Again, we don’t want to spoil the song, but Dylan’s first line frankly says everything the rest of the song does. In short, it’s a song that follows the timeless trope of youth being wasted on the young, and Dylan’s opening line implies that exquisitely.
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