By
Doug Poe
Submitted On March 03, 2016
The first line, be it in a bar or film or book, must be
captivating. Perhaps that is why so many songs open with a line
containing their titles.
John Lennon's biggest solo hits like "Imagine" and "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" open with their titles, as do Paul McCartney classics such as "Silly Love Songs" and "With a Little Luck." If the tactic is good enough for the two best songwriters in rock history, it is no wonder many bands continue to open songs with their titles.
Rarely, though, do songs conceal their titles until the very last line. That ploy requires patience and a degree of suspense to keep the listener's attention, at least for the three or four minutes of the song's duration.
Here are ten of the best songs in which the title does not appear until the very last line.
"Second Hand News" by Fleetwood Mac
The opening track from the Rumours album gives you firsthand the brilliant guitar work and songsmanship of Lindsay Buckingham.
"Woman's World" by Squeeze
Chris Difford's lyrics build to a climax as Glenn Tilbrook narrates a song about a housewife who becomes drunkenly disgruntled on the East Side Story album.
"Sleep the Clock Around" by Belle and Sebastian
This idyllic track comes from the indie band's debut album, The Boy with the Arab Strap.
"Who Are You" by World Party
An anti-war theme permeates throughout the half dozen verses of this hit from the alt rock group's Dumbing Up LP from 2000.
"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" by the Smiths
"If a double decker bus crashes into us," sings Morrissey on this track from The Queen Is Dead, "To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die."
"Dreadlock Holiday" by 10cc
The band's last huge hit about a Jamaican vacation helped propel the Bloody Tourists album up the charts.
"Only Solitaire" by Jethro Tull
Somewhere between "Bungle in the Jungle" and the other classics from Warchild, you can find this short nugget that sums up Ian Anderson's philosophy.
"A Glimpse of Home" by Kansas
Kerry Livgren wrote "Dust in the Wind" and "Carry on Wayward Son," son there is no surprise that he was responsible for this highlight of the Monolith album.
"Up the Junction" by Squeeze
The early days of the new wave Brit band, particularly the Cool for Cats album, were filled with poignant stories of young love and the problems that go with it.
"Closer to Home" by Grand Funk Railroad
The first half of this epic has the captain identifying his course trying to avoid a mutiny, while in the second half he calmly repeats that he is getting "closer to my home."
John Lennon's biggest solo hits like "Imagine" and "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" open with their titles, as do Paul McCartney classics such as "Silly Love Songs" and "With a Little Luck." If the tactic is good enough for the two best songwriters in rock history, it is no wonder many bands continue to open songs with their titles.
Rarely, though, do songs conceal their titles until the very last line. That ploy requires patience and a degree of suspense to keep the listener's attention, at least for the three or four minutes of the song's duration.
Here are ten of the best songs in which the title does not appear until the very last line.
"Second Hand News" by Fleetwood Mac
The opening track from the Rumours album gives you firsthand the brilliant guitar work and songsmanship of Lindsay Buckingham.
"Woman's World" by Squeeze
Chris Difford's lyrics build to a climax as Glenn Tilbrook narrates a song about a housewife who becomes drunkenly disgruntled on the East Side Story album.
"Sleep the Clock Around" by Belle and Sebastian
This idyllic track comes from the indie band's debut album, The Boy with the Arab Strap.
"Who Are You" by World Party
An anti-war theme permeates throughout the half dozen verses of this hit from the alt rock group's Dumbing Up LP from 2000.
"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" by the Smiths
"If a double decker bus crashes into us," sings Morrissey on this track from The Queen Is Dead, "To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die."
"Dreadlock Holiday" by 10cc
The band's last huge hit about a Jamaican vacation helped propel the Bloody Tourists album up the charts.
"Only Solitaire" by Jethro Tull
Somewhere between "Bungle in the Jungle" and the other classics from Warchild, you can find this short nugget that sums up Ian Anderson's philosophy.
"A Glimpse of Home" by Kansas
Kerry Livgren wrote "Dust in the Wind" and "Carry on Wayward Son," son there is no surprise that he was responsible for this highlight of the Monolith album.
"Up the Junction" by Squeeze
The early days of the new wave Brit band, particularly the Cool for Cats album, were filled with poignant stories of young love and the problems that go with it.
"Closer to Home" by Grand Funk Railroad
The first half of this epic has the captain identifying his course trying to avoid a mutiny, while in the second half he calmly repeats that he is getting "closer to my home."
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