Real Lyrics -> Songs That Open With Their Titles -> R
Songs that mention their title in the opening line of the song
Performer | Song Title | Opening Lines | Comments & Submittor Name | |||
| R.E.M | What's The Frequency, Kenneth? | 'What's the frequency, Kenneth?' is your benzedrine, uh, huh! | The title is based on an incident involving former CBS anchor Dan Rather getting beaten up by teenage punks while working with '60 Minutes'. They kept asking 'What's the frequency, Kenneth?' - Manfred Mann's Dirt Band | |||
| R.E.M. | Mr. Richards | Mr. Richards, your position is a messenger pigeon. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| R.E.M. | Try Not To Breathe | I will try not to breathe. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| R.E.M. | Shiny Happy People | Shiny happy people laughing. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| R.E.M. | Nightswimming | Nightswimming deserves a quiet night. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| R.E.M. | Stand | Stand in the place where you live. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| R.E.M. | Strange | There's something strange going on tonight. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| R.E.M. | All The Way To Reno | Humming all the way to Reno. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| R.E.M. | The One I Love | This one goes out to the one I love. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| Radiohead | Karma Police | Karma police, arrest this man. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| Rage Against The Machine | Down Rodeo | Yeah, rolling down Rodeo with a shotgun. | Just to be clear, that's ro-DAY-o as in Rodeo Drive, not ro-DEE-o. - Brian Kelly | |||
| Rage Against The Machine | Killing In The Name | Killing in the name of | well the "of" isn't in the title but it's still one of the opening words... I think it deserves credit - Daniel | |||
| Rammstein | Weisses Fleisch | Weisses Fleisch!!! | I have no idea why they wanted to do that, but still, I love Rammstein - Usagi | |||
| Ramones | Beat On The Brat | Beat on the brat, beat on the brat, beat on the brat with a baseball bat, oh yeah | I kind of wonder if this is the same baseball bat that made it into "Peanut Butter Jelly Time." - dwasifar | |||
| Randy Newman | Short People | Short people got nobody, short people got nobody, short people got nobody to love. | Satirical song about prejudice - many people still think it's really about hatred of short people. - Martha Hankins | |||
| Ray Charles | Georgia On My Mind | Georgia, Georgia, The whole day through, Just an old sweet song, Keeps Georgia on my mind. | A #1 song in the fall of 1960 (actually on the day that John F. Kennedy was elected President of the U.S.), "Georgia On My Mind" was the real big breakthrough song for Ray Charles that would catapult Charles into the stardom that Atlantic records Ahmet Ertegun had signed Charles for nine years earlier in 1951. Unfortunately for Ertegun and Atlantic, Charles would have the #1 pop and R&B hit with "Georgia On My Mind" at ABC records. "Georgia On My MInd" has been one of the most recorded songs of all time, by many artists, but Charles as the writer of the song has by far the definitive version of the song. On April 24, 1979, the Georgia state legislature proclaimed, "Georgia On My Mind" as the official state song and Charles performed, on that date, the song on the floor of the Georgia state house. During the 6th season (1991 - 92) of CBS's then hit comedy series, "Designing Women", Ray Charles performed "Georgia On My Mind" on solo piano during the opening with the "Designing Women" looking on. And at the opening ceremonies of the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA, Gladys Knight performed "Georgia On My Mind" live and worldwide. - Peter | |||
| Ray Charles | Unchain My Heart | Unchain my heart, baby let me be. | "Unchain My Heart" was a top five pop hit and top three R&B hit for Ray Charles in the winter of 1962. The only charts, at least at that time, that Charles had yet to conquer was the country charts, Charles was about to change all of that and big time. - Peter | |||
| Ray Charles | Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand | Baby, let me hold your hand Until I make you understand. | 1951's "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand" was one of the most memorable and successful and beloved American musical artist and a pioneer pianist and soul musician's of all time first R&B hit. Ray Charles was born in Albany, Georgia on September 23, 1930 as Ray Charles Robinson to Aretha and Bailey Robinson. At the age of seven Ray Charles went totally blind. He was went to school at St. Augustine (FL) School for the Dear and Blind and learned how to play various musical instruments. While there his mother, Aretha, died and then two years later his father, Bailey died. Shortly after World War II in the late 1940's he left school and worked in Florida with various bands and jazz and country musicians and shortened his name to Ray Charles so as not to be confused with boxer, Sugar Ray Robinson. He moved to Seattle, WA in either 1947 or 1948, and started recording for Swingtime records. He also managed during the years to father twelve children with twelve different women -- although three of his surviving children would be with his second wife. He married Eileen Williams in July 1951, but would divorce her in 1952 when she produced no children. After he hit the R&B charts with "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand", then Atlantic Records producer, Ahmet Ertegun signed him to Atlantic Records. In 1953 he charted, on Atlantic Records, two R&B hits, the rap-like, "It Should've Been Me" and the Ertegun written hit, "Mess Around". Just around the corner would be his first #1 R&B hit. - Peter | |||
| Ray Charles | Mary Ann | Well now, oh Mary Ann Well you sure look fine. | "Mary Ann" was an R&B hit for Ray Charles in 1957 while he was still recording for Atlantic records. "Mary Ann" was later covered by Stevie Wonder who also had a minor pop hit with the song. - Peter | |||
| Ray Charles | The Night Time (Is The Right Time) | You know the night time, darling (night and day) Is the right time, (night and day) To be (night and day) With the one you love, now (night and day). | "The Night Time (Is The Right Time)" was a 1958 R&B hit for Ray Charles. In that same year, Charles moved to New York City and hired a young girl group, the Cookies, to be his background singers and then they changed their names to the Raelettes. Ray Charles had his first crossover (to the pop charts) hit with the top ten impromptu blues hit, "What'd I Say". "What'd I Say", also an R&B #1 hit, was originally conceived in concert. Also in 1959, Ray Charles recorded "The Genius Of Ray Charles" lp and then moved for a more lucrative deal from Atlantic Records to ABC records, very shortly Ray Charles was about to become an even bigger household name. - Peter | |||
| Ray Charles | I Got A Woman | Well ... I got a woman, way over town. | 1955's "I Got A Woman" written by Ray Charles was Charles' first #1 R&B hit. In April of that same year he married his second wife, Della Beatrice Howard Robinson and had three children with her. - Peter | |||
| Ray Charles and the Ray Charles Singers | I Can't Stop Loving You | (I can't stop loving you), I've made up my mind To live in memory of the lonesome times. | The 1962 #1 hit for five weeks in the spring of that year, "I Can't Stop Loving You's" place in the history of music is not to be underestimated, nor is the album it was from "Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music". Both the lp and the single not only charted at #1 in the pop charts, but also on the country and R&B charts. This was the first time that a black artists was able to chart at #1 on all three charts at the same time! For the album, "Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music" and the single, "I Can't Stop Loving You", Ray Charles made one change as to backup singers. Instead of the Raelettes, Charles used some a white people's chorus to sing backup, it is this chorus that sings the beginning, "I can't stop loving you" and then Ray Charles picks up the rest of the opening line. After the success of this album and into the 1970's to the 1990's, Charles would only have moderate success on the pop and R&B charts. Then in 1965 started a downward spiral for Charles when he was arrested for possesion of heroin. Charles admitted he had been addicted to heroin for the last 17 years and he was on parole in 1966. Slowly after this, Charles life started turning around, in the 1970's he had success with his version of "America The Beautiful" (that is considered one of the definitive versions of the tune), and in 1979 he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall Of Fame (the first ceremonies) and his song "Georgia On My MInd" was proclaimed Georgia's state song. In 1980, he made a brief cameo in the movie, "The Blues Brothers", and appeared in 1985 on "The Cosby Show" and in 1990 in a "Diet Pepsi" commercial. In 1986 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame (at the first ever ceremonies). In 1987 he received a Lifetime Grammy to go along with other Grammies he collected from 1959 to 1962. And in 1991 he was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, as well as helping with the opening of the 6th season of "Designing Women". Ray Charles would continue to appear and work with many other recording artist and made his last public appearance on April 30, 2004, at the dedication of his Los Angeles music studios as an historic landmark. Ray Charles died of liver disease at his home in Beverly Hills, CA on June 10, 2004. There have been three successful posthumous CD's of Charles' work: "Genius Loves Company" in 2004 and "Genius & Friends" in 2005 recorded with several artists shortly before his death, and the 2006 CD, "Ray Sings, Basie Swings" a live 1973 recording he made with Count Basie. In 2006, actor Jamie Foxx won an Oscar award for his portrayol of Ray Charles in a biographical film. - Peter | |||
| Ray Charles with the Raelettes | Hit The Road Jack | Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more. | "Hit The Road Jack" was Ray Charles' second #1 pop hit, as well as being a #1 R&B hit in the Fall of 1961. The opening line was sung by Charles' background singers, the Raelettes. - Peter | |||
| Ray Coniff Singers | Somewhere My Love | Somewhere my love, There will be songs to sing. | "Somewhere My Love" also known as Lara's Theme was featured in the 1966 classic movie, Dr. Zhivago. "Somewhere My Love" was written by the duo of Francis Paul Webster and Maurice Jarre specifically for the film. - Peter | |||
| Ray Parker Jr. | A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) | A woman needs love just like you do. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| Ray Parker, Jr. | The Other Woman | I'm in love with the other woman. My life was fine, yes it was, 'til she blew my mind. | And that line appears several times during the song. - Bob Boogie | |||
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | My Friends | My friends are so depressed. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | Can't Stop | Can't Stop predicted to the shin dig | Love the song - Jerry | |||
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | Around The World | All around the world. We can make time. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| Reel Big Fish | Last Show | This is the last show I will ever play with you. | - Lizzie | |||
| Reel Big Fish | She Has A Girlfriend Now | She has a girlfriend now. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| Relient K | Let It All Out | "Let It All Out, get it all out.." | - Heidi | |||
| Rex Harrison and Robert Coote | You Did It | Tonight old man you did it. | "You Did It" right after the scene at the horse races in the musical, "My Fair Lady". It is a duet by Higgins (Rex Harrison) and Pickering (Robert Coote). The character of Pickering sings the first line in amazement about how Higgins has transformed Eliza. - Peter | |||
| Richard Beymer | Maria | Maria ... The most beautiful sound I ever heard, Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria ... All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word, Maria, Maria, | The rest of the opening line is: ... Maria, Maria ... Maria!" "Maria" is from the 1957 Broadway musical and 1961 motion picture, "West Side Story". "West Side Story" was one of the most successful Broadway plays and motion pictures ever. It was unique for it's time for presenting New York City and Italian and Puerto Rican gangs in a way that many young people could identify with (and even many ordinary people). But Leonard Bernstein who wrote the music and Stephen Sondheim who wrote the lyrics set in an ephermal setting and within the setting of one of the longest stories known to man, liberally borrowing from William Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" with the gangs taking the place of the feuding families. "Maria" is sung shortly after the lead male character of Tony (from the Italians) meets the beautiful Puerto Rican girl, Maria. Richard Beymer is probably better identified with the song, because of playing Tony in the motion picture. The original thespian who played Tony on Broadway though is Larry Kert. - Peter | |||
| Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood | Somewhere | Somewhere there must be a place we can feel we're free, Somwhere there's got to be some place for you and me. | "Somewhere" is another song from the Bernstein and Sondheim musical, "West Side Story". Sung by the lead characters of Tony and Maria. It shows up later in the musical after Tony is killed (after he thought Maria was killed) and Maria tries to get both gangs to stop the violence. In 1986, Barbra Streisand would rework the song for her "The Broadway Album" and again set in ephermal environment, but make it song of hope for the future. - Peter | |||
| Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood | Tonight | Tonight, tonight, It all began tonight, I saw you and the world went away. | "Tonight" is another one of the songs from Bernstein and Sondheim's "West Side Story" (this musical would began the very successful career of Sondheim and his musicals becoming the stuff of legends in the world of Broadway). "Tonight" was sung first by the lead characters of Tony and Maria (I'm crediting the thespians from the 1961 motion picture, but originally on Broadway they were played by Larry Kert and Carol Lawrence). "Tonight" would be revisted later in the musical when it would become a chorus piece. - Peter | |||
| Richie Valens | La Bamba | La la la la la bamba. | Covered by Los Lobos for the movie. - Brian Kelly | |||
| Rick Nelson | Garden Party | I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends, A chance to share old memories and play our old songs again. | "Garden Party" was a #3 hit for a more grown up Rick Nelson (no longer, Ricky), in 1971. It actually details a party he went to where the audience wasn't too happy with a new and more grown up version of "Ricky" Nelson's songs, and ends with the good advice of "You can't please everybody, so you got to please yourself". - Peter | |||
| Rick Springfield | Rock Of Life | I feel the big beat, the rock of life; big beat talk to me, waking up blind with the house on fire. | From his 1988 Rock Of Life album. - Vic George | |||
| Rick Springfield | State Of The Heart | It's just the state of the heart; I'm waiting for you in the state I'm in. | From his 1985 Tau album. - Vic George | |||
| Ricky Nelson | String Along | String along, that's all I am is just your String along, someone that you just seem to Bring along whenever you are all alone, need some company You | The rest of the opening line: "... always turn to me." "String Along" was a #25 hit for Ricky Nelson in 1963, it was written by Bobby Doyle and J. Duncan. - Peter | |||
| Ricky Nelson | Hello Mary Lou | Hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart | - crazydon | |||
| Ricky Nelson | Travelin' Man | I'm a travelin' man, made a lot of stops | Probably the earliest song ever to have a concept video made of it, the video aired after an episode of "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet." - crazydon | |||
| Right Said Fred | I'm Too Sexy | I'm too sexy for my love. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| Robbie Robertson | Broken Arrow | Who else is gonna bring you a broken arrow? | Famously covered by Rod Stewart. - Brian Kelly | |||
| Robert Preston | Gary, Indiana | Gary, Indiana! | "Gary, Indiana" is yet one more song from Meredith Wilson's musical, "The Music Man". Robert Preston as Professor Harold Hill starts out the singing on this song, supposedly about his hometown, which would become a chorus piece as it goes along. - Peter | |||
| Robert Preston | Seventy-six Trombones | Seventy-six trombones led the big parade With a hundred and ten cornets close at hand. | "Seventy-six Trombones" is another song from Meredith Wilson's musical, "The Music Man". Robert Preston who played Professor Harold Hill, the lead character, would not only play the character in the original Broadway run, but also play Hill in the 1962 motion picture. Later in the musical, "Seventy-six Trombones" is chorus and full cast piece. - Peter | |||
| Robert Rounseville | When The Children Are Asleep | When the children are asleep we sit and dream, The things that every other dad and mother dream. | "When The Children Are Asleep" is another song from Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel". Robert Rounseville sang this tune in the motion picture version of "Carousel". - Peter | |||
| Roberta Flack | Killing Me Softly With His Song | Strumming my pain with his fingers, Singing my life with his words, Killing me softly with his song, Killing me softly with his song, Telling my | The rest of the opening line is: "...whole life with his words, Killing me softly with his song ..." Flack's second #1 was able to move up the charts a lot quicker then her first. It was a #1 song in 1973 and the #1 song of the year. "Killing Me Softly With His Song" was written by Flack in response to Don McLean's "American Pie" that was the #1 song in 1972. The Fugees would have a successful remake of the song in the 1990's. - Peter | |||
| Roberta Flack | The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face | The first time ever I saw your face I thought the sun rose in your eyes. | Good 70s MOR song. - Rich Braham | |||
| Roberta Flack | First Time Ever I Saw Your Face | The first time ever I saw your face I thought the sun rose in your eyes And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave To the dark and the empty skies | The rest of the first line: ", my love, To the dark and the empty skies. "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' was the first #1 song for Roberta Flack, back in 1972. It also won the Grammy, in 1973, for Song of the Year. But this tune had a longer history than that before reaching #1 for Flack and the Atlanta record company that she recorded it for. It was written by folk singer, Ewan MacColl back in 1957 for his wife, Peggy Seeger. The unknown Roberta Flack first recorded and released it back in 1968, but it went nowhere. It was released again, and became a hit when it was featured in the Clint Eastwood movie, "Play Misty For Me". - Peter | |||
| Robin Mark | "I Heard The Sound Of Voices" | I heard the sound of voices, from every tribe and nation | - Vic George | |||
| Robin Mark | Behold The Son Of God | Behold the Son of God, who dies upon the cross. | From his 2001 Come Heal This Land worship album. - Vic George | |||
| Robin Mark | "Jesus, All For Jesus" | Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am and have and ever hope to be. | - Vic George | |||
| Robin Mark | "Days Of Elijah" | These are the days of Elijah, declaring the Word of the Lord. | - Vic George | |||
| Robin Mark | You're The Lion Of Judah | You're the Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain. | Sometimes the title of the song is "The Lion Of Judah". - Vic George | |||
| Rolling Stones | Neighbors | Neighbors, neighbors, neighbors | That is the opening line, but Mick Jagger really belts this one word three times. A track from the Rolling Stones' 1981 album, "Tattoo You". - Peter | |||
| Rolling Stones | Lady Jane | My sweet Lady Jane When I see you again Your servant am I And will humbly remain. | From the Rolling Stones' 1966 album, "Aftermath". - Peter | |||
| The Rolling Stones | Angie | Angie, Angie! | - Hunter M. | |||
| Rolling Stones | Have You Seen Your Mother Baby, Standing In The Shadow | Have you seen your mother, baby, standing in the shadow | A 1966 single for the Rolling Stones. - Peter | |||
| Rolling Stones | (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction | I can't get no satisfaction | The first #1 song in the states for the Rolling Stones was this July 1965 #1, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction". - Peter | |||
| Rolling Stones | Time Is On My Side | Time is on my side, yes it is | - Peter | |||
| Rolling Stones | Under My Thumb | Under my thumb, The girl who once had me down. | - Peter | |||
| The Romantics | What I Like About You | What I like about you, you hold me tight. | - Brian Kelly | |||
| Rosemary Clooney | Come On-A My House | Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you candy | "Come On-A My House" was a #1 song for Rosemary Clooney back in 1952 and probably Clooney's most memorable tune. Rosemary Clooney was the paternal aunt of actor George Clooney. Rosemary Clooney passed away a few years ago. - Peter | |||
| Roy Orbison | Dream Baby | Sweet dream baby, Sweet dream baby, Sweet dream baby, How long must I dream. | "Dream Baby" was one of the very early (1958) top five hits for Roy Orbison (born Roy Kelton Orbison on April 23, 1936 -- died: December 6, 1988). - Peter | |||
| Ruby & the Romantics | Our Day Will Come | Our day will come and we'll have everything. | "Our Day Will Come" was the only hit for the group, Ruby & the Romantics (#1 in spring 1963). It has been covered by many artists since Ruby & the Romantics took it to #1, including the Four Seasons. - Peter | |||
| Run DMC | Rock Box | Run DMC! Rock box! | They also leave no doubt as to who's performing the song. - Brian Kelly | |||
| Run Kid Run | Love at the Core | We want love, love at the core | I like bursting in with the chorus at the beginning, it gives this song a certain originality. - Alex | |||
| Rush | The Big Money | Big money goes around the world. | - Michael |
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