Best Opening Lyrics: No. 2
- Posted by Spinner Staff
- Comments (57)

--The Rolling Stones' 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'
We don't know if they're referring to World War II England or if this is another drug reference. Either way, it's pretty tough.
Listen to the line!
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Reader Comments(1 of 3)
brienat 8-20-2008
The line doesn't reference any of that stuff. the song is inspired by Mick's old creepy gardener who he called "Jumping Jack". The lyrics are just nonsense. It
s rock n roll, guys, not james joyce.
jsbluesmanat 12-20-2008
Without question, the opening to Sympathy For The Devil is the absolute best Stones opening EVER!
samanthaat 12-28-2008
Um p kennelly,
The lyrics are "I was born in a CROSS FIRE hurricane"
I think I would know because I peformed that song, and listen to that song constantly.
lvrpool1at 6-18-2009
Hey allyou guys...and gals out there...do some lmore research and you'll find that it Jumpin' Jack Flash, was inspired by the antics and behaviour of a gardener of Keiths...assisted on by Bill Wyman, who never got credit...due to an "agreement" by Alan Klien and Mick and Kieth.
xxpureinstinctxxat 6-22-2009
I was surpried not to see Cutting Crew's "(I Just) Died In Your Arms" song up there. That intro is pretty popular
Jackie Boy !at 9-04-2009
All through the countdown I was saying to myself, "Self? If they don't put this exact line in their list they totally blow." Well #2 isn't so bad, but 2nd to "She's a very freaky girl"???? That lyric sounds like Rick James thought of it on the spot. Still both great songs, however I am biased as a Stones oficionado, that and my name is Jack. Watch the opening of Gimme Shelter. Opening night of their 1969 tour at Madison Square Garden. To me it's the best version of the song. Check youtube maybe it's there. I have it on DVD, hoping for a nice Blu-Ray Transfer.
Danat 10-12-2009
The opening is neither "I was born in a Class Five hurricane" nor "a cross-fire hurricane". It is "Watch it!"
Philat 1-08-2010
I was forced to attend some workshops in 1973 at NYCCC and one was about how R&R lyrics made no sense, and he used this as an example. I stood up and protested (as I was wont to do) that this song was about a boy who's home life was full of anger and violence, and his survival mechanism was to go into a fantasy world. It worked so well he adopted the persona intpo adulthood. Being the bull in a china shop that I am, I left the presenter speechless and the presentation toothless.
p kennellyat 8-06-2007
I believe that the lyric is "I was born in a CLASS FIVE hurricane."
prlunicornat 12-26-2008
You really need to watch "Jumpin' Jack Flash" with Whoopie Goldberg. There's a lesson in misheard and lyrics for this song if ever there was one!
deesjointat 6-10-2009
i believe you shouldn't say what you believe until you know that what you believe is correct....CROSS FIRE HURRICANE...those words you've been singing all these years? stop that...
Hello!at 6-22-2009
I believe you are a CLASS FIVE idiot
Thyme2dreamat 8-06-2007
Well, maybe thats how it was originally intended, but not the way Mick sang it;-)
chrisat 8-06-2007
kinda stinks to post a comment here and be so foolish looking huh?? i believe (actually im certain) the lyrics are correct and definately NOT CLASS FIVE HURRICANE.....have you ever heard this song p kennelly????
Robat 8-06-2007
No way p kennelly.Do u really think thats what the lyrics are?
Starpunkat 8-06-2007
I saw the Stones 10 years ago and they are still showing everyone else how it's done. Check out their recent albums, starting with "Steel Wheels" from 1989. They're really very GOOD! The Stones are the first hard rock band and they still inspire today. They put out much better music than all those other British acts that are popular today. Check them out.
Jo Brewerat 8-06-2007
Can't believe "If I leave here tomorrow. Would you still remember me." wasn't in there. >FREEBIRD
Lynard Skynard
Pageat 8-06-2007
P Kennelly I have to agree with Chris. I'm guessing your way to young to even know who the Rolling Stones are. In this song he is not referring to a hurricane in the sense that only people who have never heard the song think of it. He actually means that he was born in a time when political rising and war was previlent. Meaning he was born in the middle of a shit storm. Read up on things before you comment.
Flapjack Bobat 8-06-2007
I don't think that opening line is as good as "honky tonk woman" : "I met a gin soaked bar room queen in Memphis....
chiliat 8-06-2007
Just for the record, this single was released in 1968 and the system for catagorizing hurricane strength wasn't invented until the 1970's... are we suprised if Mick might have been slurring a little in '68?