I'm going to list the first lines of 30 of my songs in random order. The person who correctly guesses the most titles wins a free digital recording of the song of your choice. (And no, you probably don't already own everything I have recorded.)

EDIT: Well, someone already got all 30. So, the amended rules are: Everyone who correctly guesses all 30 gets a free digital recording of the song of your choice. (That's the great thing about digital recordings—they don't cost me anything to make, so I can give away as many as I want!)

Comments are screened, so you can leave a comment with your guesses, or you can message me privately. This contest runs until Saturday, September 17th at 12:00 noon PDT (UTC-07:00). The winner (EDIT: winners now) will be announced at the Geeky Music Show first, then I'll post the winners here the following day.

1. I woke this morning and I could not see the light


2. There's a place in this town where I can be found


3. Ring! I sit bolt upright


4. Hush, little darling, be glad you're alive


5. Hey, crazy old carney clown with your laughing gas and your acid flower


6. She always looked good in a tux


7. "What brings you out so far?" ...


8. There's an old homeless rag-man


9. Come in, my dear lady, and sit here by me


10. I've done all this before, and I'll do it all again


11. I remember flowers and the candles in the night


12. I have the power to change the world


13. I moved into this town last weekend


14. Well, I was feelin' kinda stressed out in Heaven on high


15. My friend the big badass fights bad guys out in R.V.


16. I slept really badly; my back's all twisted up


17. Some hippies sing songs of biting political protest


18. I can't stand that guy


19. It was a good thing; hit me out of nowhere


20. I sit at home with my radio


21. That's odd; it starts with The Train Job


22. I ask you, please don't write


23. Here's a girl who's dressed like Phoenix


24. Stephen left home, for where to I'm not certain


25. I know it's quite romantic to think that no one's ever felt the way we do


26. Welcome, weary traveler; there's a place here by the fire


27. My name is Lambert; I am a hobbit


28. Thunder rolling and the smell of rain


29. Have you heard the call, the one that's galvanized us all


30. Aldebaran is great, okay, and Algol's pretty neat

Rules:
Step 1: Put your MP3 player on random.
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 15 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song. (I made an exception for songs that have no words—obviously!—and for classical pieces, since many of them have the same words.)
Step 3: Let everyone guess what song and artist the lines come from.
Step 4: Bold the songs when someone guesses correctly. (Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!)

Those that aren't guessed by Monday morning, October 18th, I will re-post with the second lines added.

1. I light your cigarettes, I bring you apples from the vine—"Anything But Down" by Sheryl Crow, off of her self-titled album. Guessed by koressa.
   
2. The late light of the desert made the mountains a silhouette
   
3. Yo me recuerdo aquel dia—"Amor, Amor" by the Gipsy Kings, off of their self-titled album. Guessed by snobahr. (Wow! I expected this one to stump everyone.)
   
4. As I took step number four into the close of your tenement
   
5. When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now—"When I'm Sixty-Four" by The Beatles, off of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Guessed by snobahr.
   
   
6. I was standing all alone against the world outside—"Love Will Keep Us Alive" by The Eagles, off of Hell Freezes Over. Guessed by koressa.
   
7. I left my anger in a river running highway five
   
8. [Title] in the way she moves—"Something" by the Beatles, as performed by Jim Sturgess on the Across the Universe soundtrack. Guessed by scifantasy.
   
9. Take to the highway, won't you lend me your name—"Country Road" by James Taylor, off of Sweet Baby James. Guessed by wrenn.
   
10. You think you walk on water, don'cha?
    
    
11. Here we stand at the edge of the day
    
12. The human condition is society's cancer
    
13. Well the river done, the river done be spoiled
    
14. Yesterday is just a dream I don't remember—"Today (Watch Me Shine)" by Everlast, off of Whitey Ford Sings the Blues. Guessed by wrenn.
    
15. In line, in line, it's all in line

We had a good showing this week. Only four remain unguessed, and two of them are in Zulu.

The lines that remain after this post and this one are:

3. Bayeza abafana ban!ane wema! (x2)/Baphethe iqwasha, baphethe ibazooka—"One (Hu)'man, One Vote" by Johnny Clegg and Savuka, off of Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World.
   
   
5. Some folks say that life is just a veil of tears/Not me man I can't pack enough into these years—"Here on Earth (I'll Have My Cake)" by the Crash Test Dummies, off of The Ghosts That Haunt Me.
   
   
7. Bamba! [Title]! Siyayibamba [title]!/Ngithibamba [title]! Fetch it! [Title]!—"Siyayilanda" by Juluka, off of Scatterlings of Africa.
   
   
14. First thing we climb a tree, and maybe then we talk/Or sit quietly and listen to our thoughts—"Ahead By a Century" by the Tragically Hip, of off Yer Favorites.

The unguessed lines from this post, with second lines added.

Was this one really that hard? Only three people even tried guessing.

2. Would you join a [title] and take pleasure in your leaving?/As the ferry sails and tears are dried and cows come home at evening—"Slow Marching Band" by Jethro Tull, off of The Broadsword and the Beast. Guessed by Jocelyn (on FB).
   
3. Bayeza abafana ban!ane wema! (x2)/Baphethe iqwasha, baphethe ibazooka
   
4. The lunatic is on the grass (x2)/Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs—"Brain Damage" by Pink Floyd, off of Dark Side of the Moon. Guessed by scifantasy.
   
5. Some folks say that life is just a veil of tears/Not me man I can't pack enough into these years
   
   
7. Bamba! [Title]! Siyayibamba [title]!/Ngithibamba [title]! Fetch it! [Title]!
   
8. It's a [title] and a violet in full bloom/And the small birds are singing love songs on each spray—"Rosebud in June" by Steeleye Span, off of Below the Salt. Guessed by wrenn.
   
9. I've been [title]. Of all drunkards, count him first/For a God of steel and fire learns the cruelest edge of thirst—"Drinking With Gonvannon" by Allison Lonsdale, off of Live at Lestat's. Guessed by scifantasy.
   
10. Old woman, your hands are thin, and I think as scarred as mine/Old woman, is this all a lark, or is it how you spend your time?—"Blackened Page" by Boiled in Lead, off of Alloy. Guessed by wrenn.
    
    
12. I've seen those big machines come rolling through the quiet pines/Blue suits and bankers with their Volvos and their Ballantines—"No Man's Land" by Billy Joel, off of River of Dreams. Guessed by zyxwvut.
    
    
14. First thing we climb a tree, and maybe then we talk/Or sit quietly and listen to our thoughts

Sorry, I've missed these for a month. Guess I've been distracted. Anyway, here are the weekly first lines once again.

Rules:
Step 1: Put your MP3 player on random.
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 15 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song. (I made an exception for songs that have no words—obviously!—and for classical pieces, since many of them have the same words.)
Step 3: Let everyone guess what song and artist the lines come from.
Step 4: Bold the songs when someone guesses correctly. (Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!)

Those that aren't guessed by Monday morning, October 11th, I will re-post with the second lines added.

1. It's of a farmer's daughter, so beautiful, I'm told—"The Banks of Sweet Dundee"* by Andy M. Stewart, off of Donegal Rain. Guessed by Elizabeth (on FB).
   
2. Would you join a [title] and take pleasure in your leaving?
   
3. Bayeza abafana ban!ane wema!
   
4. The lunatic is on the grass
   
5. Some folks say that life is just a veil of tears
   
   
6. Stop worryin' that the world ain't right—"Resolutions" by Eben Brooks (me), off of Mirrors. Guessed by tmixtli.
   
7. Bamba! [Title]! Siyayibamba [title]!
   
8. It's a [title] and a violet in full bloom
   
9. I've been [title]. Of all drunkards, count him first
   
10. Old woman, your hands are thin, and I think as scarred as mine
    
    
11. Now on the day I was born, the nurses all gathered 'round—"Bad to the Bone" by George Thorogood and the Destroyers, off of The Baddest of George Thorogood and the Destroyers. Guessed by tmixtli.
    
12. I've seen those big machines come rolling through the quiet pines
    
13. Donald's come up the hill, hard and hung-e-ry—"Donald McGillavry" by Silly Wizard, off of Live Wizardry. Guessed by tmixtli.
    
14. First thing we climb a tree, and maybe then we talk
    
15. City's breaking down on a camel's back—"Feel Good Inc." by the Gorillaz, off of Demon Days. Guessed by tmixtli.

-------

*I love this song particularly, because it takes the traditional Irish/Scottish trope of "Help, my evil dad is making me marry a jerk, so instead my true love and I will die/be killed for our love while both Dad and my jerk fiancée get off Scot free" and gives it a happy ending. And a satisfying one, too. :D

Oops! I never posted the remaining answers to the first lines in this post or this one.

Here they are:

2. She won't call me, this I know/She won't take the time to learn the way I play—"Something Pretty" by Seth Horan, off of Notwithstanding.
   
   
5. Indigo light as the day starts to fade/Still enough light for me to stand in your shade—"King Without a Queen" by Minnie Driver, off of Seastories.
   
   
9. Your daddy was a Sergent Major/You didn't wanna, but he made ya—"All Or Nothin'" by Tom Petty, off of Into the Great Wide Open.

These are the lines that weren't guessed in this post, with second lines added.

2. She won't call me, this I know/She won't take the time to learn the way I play
   
   
4. All for me grog, me jolly [title]/It's all for me grog and tobacco—"Jolly Grog" as performed by Raggle Taggle on Celtic Castaways. Guessed by wrenn.
   
5. Indigo light as the day starts to fade/Still enough light for me to stand in your shade
   
   
9. Your daddy was a Sergent Major/You didn't wanna, but he made ya
   
   
12. Seinn an duan seo dhan Innis Àigh/An innis uaine as gile tràigh—"An Innis Àigh" as performed by The Chieftains & The Rankin Family on Celtic Tides. Guessed by wrenn (who even got the exact recording right!).

Rules:
Step 1: Put your MP3 player on random.
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 15 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song. (I made an exception for songs that have no words—obviously!—and for classical pieces, since many of them have the same words.)
Step 3: Let everyone guess what song and artist the lines come from.
Step 4: Bold the songs when someone guesses correctly. (Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!)

Those that aren't guessed by Monday morning, September 13th, I will re-post with the second lines added.

1. Colors on the street, red, white, and blue—"Rockin' In the Free World (Acoustic Version)" by Neil Young, off of Freedom. Guessed by Scott (on FB).
   
2. She won't call me, this I know
   
3. Walking in the park just the other day, baby—"Misty Mountain Hop" (erroneously listed in the liner notes at "Misty Mountain Top") as performed by 4 Non-Blondes on Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zepplin. Guessed by Jocelyn (on FB).
   
4. All for me grog, me jolly [title]
   
5. Indigo light as the day starts to fade
   
   
6. [Title], won't you come out to play—"Dear Prudence" by The Beatles, off of The Beatles (otherwise known as The White Album). Guessed by aries_jordan.
   
7. Lift McCahill Og your face—"Follow Me Up to Carlow" as performed by Jim McCann on 20 Great Irish Drinking Songs. Guessed by egonbrauer.
   
8. Desmond has a barrel in the marketplace—"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by The Beatles, off of The Beatles (otherwise known as The White Album). Guessed by aries_jordan. And yes, two White Album tracks did come up randomly in such close proximity.
   
9. Your daddy was a Sergent Major
   
10. Yuh hmm boh hum, yuh hum boh hum—"Scatterlings of Africa" by Juluka, off of Scatterlings. Guessed by caprine.
    
    
11. Can't you hear the whistling wind?—"Black Train" by Eben Brooks (me!), off of Mirrors. Guessed by caprine.
    
12. Seinn an duan seo dhan Innis Àigh
    
13. [Title], don't make it bad—"Hey Jude" as performed by Joe Anderson on the Across the Universe soundtrack. Guessed by aries_jordan.
    
14. Hello, old lady.—"Jig of Life" by Kate Bush, off of Hounds of Love. Guessed by caprine.
    
15. I am, [title], and I know what's happening—"I Am Superman" (also sometimes just called "Superman") as performed by R.E.M. on Life's Rich Pageant. Guessed by caprine.

These are the unguessed first lines from the 9/2 first lines post and the subsequent second lines post:

2. Some sing of their glory. Few tell the true story./Most men, they don't need it. [Title], he kills for it.—"White Man" by Steeleye Span, off of Portfolio.
   
3. Trees bowed to greet me as I passed by/Where those lucky enough to be wounded did lie—"More Thumbscrews" by Cats Laughing, off of The First Album.
   
   
5. [Title] since we been apart/I know I was wrong. Baby, please come home.—"Rainin' In My Heart" by James Cotton, off of Baby, Don't You Tear My Clothes.
   
   
8. She take a drive by the [title] building/Whenever she thinks to leave Manhattan far behind—"Brownstone" by Maia Sharp, off of Sets Exposed.
   
9. No change, no pleasure, no jokes, no sex/No choice, no morals, no ethics, no depth—"Witnesses" by Agua de Annique, off of The End Records Free Sampler.
   
   
11. Ese amor llega asi de esta manera/No tiene la culpa—"Bamboleo" by the Gipsy Kings, off of their self-titled album.

These are the lines that weren't guessed in this post, with second lines added.

(I seem to be unable to do this on Sunday morning, so I think I'm going to switch it to Monday morning. And yes, I know this is Tuesday, but yesterday was a holiday. Grumble...)

2. Some sing of their glory. Few tell the true story./Most men, they don't need it. [Title], he kills for it.
   
3. Trees bowed to greet me as I passed by/Where those lucky enough to be wounded did lie
   
4. Still don't know what I was waiting for/And my time was running wild—"Changes" by David Bowie, off of ChangesBowie. Guessed by Wolf (on FB).
   
5. [Title] since we been apart/I know I was wrong. Baby, please come home.
   
   
6. My mistress is a shuttlecock composed of cork and feathers/Each battledove sits on her deck and bumps her on the leather—"Character of a Mistress" by The Wild Oats, off of Weed 'em and Reap. Guessed by caprine.
   
   
8. She take a drive by the [title] building/Whenever she thinks to leave Manhattan far behind
   
9. No change, no pleasure, no jokes, no sex/No choice, no morals, no ethics, no depth
   
   
11. Ese amor llega asi de esta manera/No tiene la culpa
    
12. All the fear has left me now/I'm not frightened anymore—"Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" off of the album of the same name, by Sarah McLachlan. Guessed by ladymora.
    
13. My own love said to me "My mother won't mind/"And my daughters won't slight you for your lack of kind"—"He Moved Through the Fair" by The Chieftains and Sinéad O'Conner, off of The Long Black Veil. Guessed by frausensei.