Country music, at its essence, is all about songwriting. Out of all the genres of music, country is one of the premier ones that focuses on the craft diligently. The tradition of country music is rooted in ballads, lamentations, odes, and ultimately, just mighty fine poetry. Some of the finest songwriters of all time are either country musicians or have at least toiled in the genre. In songwriting, the musical hook is obviously very important. However, what helps that musical hook flourish is the emotional connection accompanying it. And that connection typically comes with the opening lyric. That being said, here are three opening country lines that unapologetically pierce the heart.
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“Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground” by Willie Nelson
“If you had not a-fallen, then I would not have found you / Angel flying too close to the ground.”
The opening line of Willie Nelson‘s 1980 romantic ode is an exemplary way to start a bittersweet love song. Ultimately, the line notes the very beginning of the romance in question. It does so in the least basic of ways.
Given that the speaker has placed the lover in the form of an angel, Nelson intrinsically infers that this relationship is not only mystical but also fleeting. Angels don’t belong in the mortal and natural world. In all, Nelson creates a larger-than-life romance that will ultimately end in heartbreak with just one line.
“He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones
“He said, I’ll love you till I die / She told him / You’ll forget in time.”
While performed by George Jones, the acclaimed country songwriting duo, Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman, wrote “He Stopped Loving Her Today”. Other than being enticing thanks to its dialogue format, what makes this line so emotionally engaging is that these are seemingly the final words between two deeply rooted lovers.
The final words, spoken by the female departing the relationship, hold an honest iciness. While they are bitter in the moment, they are cathartic in the long run. Because the universal truth behind heartbreak is that only time can heal it. That is what Braddock and Putman articulate in this infamous opening line.
“Hello Walls” by Willie Nelson
“Hello walls, (hello) (hello) / How’d things go for you today?“
It might be unfair of us to feature Willie Nelson twice on this list, but that man simply is one of the best opening line writers in not just country music, but in all of music. Out of all of his infamous opening lines, this just might be the saddest, as Nelson depicts a loneliness that is lonelier than loneliness itself.
It’s clever, relatable, and evokes a sense of sympathy that keeps your ear attuned to the story and the subtext of the rest of the song. To us, this is the perfect line, and there is seemingly nothing Nelson could have done any differently to make it any better.
Photo by Darlene Pfister/Star Tribune via Getty Images
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