Best Opening Line of a Motown Song That's NOT the Song's Title:

[Boogiedown]

Any particularly strong lines stand out that set up the record, but are not the song's title?
The line gets used and then the song moves on ...
For instance I'm thinking:

People say I'm the life of the party, 'cause I tell a joke or two ....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNS6D4hSQdA

It's just a great lead in that rolls off Smokey's tongue ....

[Spreadinglove21]

Not as eloquent as Tracks of My Tears, but certainly:

"I know you're gonna leave me, but I refuse to let you go"

David Ruffin draws you into the story right away.

[motony]

"some other girls are fillin' your head with jive" Mary Wells' The One Who Really Loves You. "Callin' out around the world are you ready for a brand new beat" Dancing In The Street by Martha & the Vandellas.

[mysterysinger]

"It was the third of September, that day I'll always remember"
"Though you don't call anymore, I sit and wait in vain"
"In a world filled with so much sorrow, Every one is thinking of himself"
"Mother, mother, There's too many of you crying"
"Oh the night was dark and dreary, my whole body was tired and weary, as I listened to the tune of the raindrops"

[lockhartgary]

"I don't know how many stars there are up in the heavenly sky" - Maybe Tomorrow/J5

"Last week my life had meaning, it was beautiful and so sweet" - My Whole World Ended/David Ruffin

"What does every man look at first?" - First I look at the purse/Contours [[What a question!)

[copley]

Spring in the air, there's magic everywhere

By baby see you around

Sunshine, blue skies, please go away

Now if you feel that you can't go on [[can't go on)

Now if there's a smile on my face it's only there tryin' to fool the public

I remember when I was five and you were ten boy

[BayouMotownMan]

You are under my power, it is the power of love

[marybrewster]

The best: "Calling out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat?"

The worst: "Darling just relax, you melt me like hot candle wax."

[daviddesper]

Don't have too much time to think about this but how about "Said to the man at the railroad station, I want a ticket just for one."

[Motown Eddie]

"I bet you're wondering how I knew 'bout your plans to make me blue"-from "I Heard It Through The Grapevine".

[JohnnyB]

"I bet you're wondering how I knew 'bout your plans to make me blue"-from "I Heard It Through The Grapevine".

“As I walk this land of broken dreams, I have visions of many things…”

”Each day through my window I watch her as she passes by…”

[Motown Eddie]

"People Movin' Out, People Movin' In, Why, Because Of The Color of Their Skin"-from The Temptations' "Ball Of Confusion".
"There's Nothin' You Can Do Girl, Nothin' You Can Say, You're Talkin' to the Sky Babe, I've Just got to get Away"-from Rare Earth's "Born To Wander"
"Like A Fool I stayed away too long, Now I'm wanderin' if your Love's Still Strong"-from Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered [I'm Yours]".

[mowsville]

" If You Should See Me And Im Smiling"

[Jaap]

Not as eloquent as Tracks of My Tears, but certainly:

"I know you're gonna leave me, but I refuse to let you go"

David Ruffin draws you into the story right away.

That's the one opening line that immediately came to my mind. Love it.

[benross]

"Touch me in the morning/then just walk away/we don't have tomorrow/but we had yesterday..."

"Does your mama know about me?"

"Through the mirror of my mind/time after time/I see reflections of you and me..."

[Circa 1824]

“Mom was cooking bread.”

[Boogiedown]

I jotted down five intros that came to mind.
Besides the TRACKS OF MY TEARS opening....

These four:
I bet you're wondering how I knew
bye baby, ... see you 'round
it was the third of September
I've been really tryyyying, baby


and lots of other good ones mentioned!

[Motown Eddie]

"The best things in life are free. But you can keep 'em for the birds & bees"-from Barrett Strong's "Money [That's What I Want]".
"Hey fellas have you heard the news, these girls are tired of singing the blues"-from Eddie Holland's "Leaving Here".

[johnjeb]

I've always loved this opening line on The Dynamic Superiors first hit, Shoe Shoe Shine:

"First of all let's get one thing straight..."

And of course this line from Diana's The Boss is a classic:

"Fancy me, thought I had my degree..."

Back in 1979 I saw a cute cartoon in Christopher Street, a gay magazine. I regret not buying the magazine because I loved the cartoon [[and the artist, who was featured regularly). It showed a man in a bathing suit walking along the beach holding a conch shell to his ear wearing a surprised and puzzled expression. Under the cartoon was the caption "Fancy me, thought I had my degree...". It represented how pervasive this song was that year, so much so that it could replace the sound of the ocean in a sea shell.

[Levi Stubbs Tears]

All day long, I hear my telephone ring. Friends calling giving their advice.

[brother_love]

For-real no joke since that first time we spoke...

[lockhartgary]

"Now if there's a smile on my face it's only there trying to fool the public"/Tears of a clown/SRATM

By the way, I was watching BEHIND THE MUSIC 1970 on YouTube and when the subject was Richard Nixon, a snippet of the above song played with those lyrics. Not only that, but during the same segment they also played parts of BALL OF CONFUSION by the Temptations and GET READY by Rare Earth [["Tweedlee dee tweedlee dum look out baby now here I come".) Great songs to use considering the political career of Richard Nixon.

[rovereab]

Years before anyone had a notion of girl power, The Marvelettes nailed assertiveness with Too Many Fish In The Sea as per:

Look here, girls
Take this advice, and remember always in life:

[tmd]

There's a train leaving here tomorrow-

Walk With me Take my hand

[arr&bee]

I love you girl with all my heart an soul-[girl why you wanna make me blue].

[Philles/Motown Gary]

What does every man look at first?
The Contours - "First I Look At The Purse"

Sweetheart, the night is growing old and my love is still untold
The Spinners - "For All We Know"

You are under my power -- it is the power of love
The Marvelettes - "My Baby Must Be A Magician" [[w/spoken intro by Melvin Franklin of The Temptations)

Here's a tear for a souvenir
Diana Ross - "I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You"

[kenneth]

"The best things in life are free. But you can keep 'em for the birds & bees"-from Barrett Strong's "Money [That's What I Want]".

This one has got to be the best pick. It’s a catch phrase that has almost entered the American lexicon!

Fun topic but I think “Touch Me in the Morning” is ineligible for obvious reasons!

[Motown1050]

I feel a pounding, in my brain - ice cold water, in my veins
Love's Gone Bad - Chris Clark

[tjl]

a couple of my favorites from the Mighty Miracles...

"When You Were Mine, I loved you so much - I got a thrill from your every touch" - My Girl Has Gone

"There you were, beautiful, the promise of love was written on your face"
- Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage

[Philles/Motown Gary]

"You're the bright, warm sunshine that fills my every day."

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - "Sweet Darling"

[mowest]

“Money, who needs it. Let me live my life free and easy.”

Junior Walker & Allstars, [[I’m A) Road Runner

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Don't put Detroit down. It's the home of The Motown Sound.
Jr. Walker & The All Stars - "Hip City"

[MIKEW-UK]

Stop right there! Let me picture you in my mind, for the last time. Just One Last Look. The Temptations

[TomatoTom123]

"You’re sweet! As a honey bee
But like a honey bee stings, you’ve gone and left my heart in pain
All you’ve left… is our favourite song
The one we danced to all night long!"
:)

[ms_m]

"Your grandma and my grandma, were sitting by the fire"....:p

[nevertoolate]

"Know, I'm the same man that gave the Function, remember the big affair down at the Junction. Mr. Party is my name and baby having big fun is my game."

Shorty Long--Night Fo' Last [[vocal).

[Philles/Motown Gary]

You've told me lots of times there's another on your mind
And you said you find it so hard to forget him.
No matter how I try I still envy the guy
Even though I'm sure that I've never met him

JIMMY RUFFIN
"As Long As There Is L-O-V-E Love"

RARE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF JIMMY RUFFIN
https://youtu.be/77CNr1T_A_0

[kje71]

I don’t know how many stars there are up in the heavenly skies, I only know my heaven is here on earth each time you look into my eyes -Maybe Tomorrow

[Mondeo]

Song Gonna Give Her All The Love I’ve Got
First Line There’s a Train Leaving Here Tomorrow