When I come across a good line, I almost always put it first. In fact, I’d say a good first line is the most determining factor in whether a song I’ve written sees the light of day. “The ashtray says / You were up all night,” “When you’re back in your old neighborhood / The cigarettes taste so good,” “I’m surprised staring at the knives / Lying silent in the drawer.” All of those lines, to me, carried enough imagery and intrigue to propel me into the rest of the song. So, lose the restraint. Songs aren’t generally paced like novels or short stories, even. They’re often more like bumper
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