# Best Story Songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850 "2013-03-02T21:41:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/81 "2013-03-04T18:17:00Z")
“Beep Beep” by the Playmates. (I always thought it was called “His Horn Went Beep, Beep, Beep.”) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/82 "2013-03-04T18:18:31Z")
_Oh Life (There Must Be More)_ by Alan Parsons _30KFT by Assemblage 23_ (these are also my go-to songs for “depressing songs” threads, but they do fit as story songs too. 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/83 "2013-03-04T18:34:25Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > **Maragritaville by Jimmy Buffet** (what the hell is wrong with you people?) > > Also > > [Uneasy Rider by Charlie Daniels](http://youtu.be/952h-AJ3Bcg) > Loads of Irish songs > > [Molly Malone](http://youtu.be/vdxLxnhGnvo) as sung by the Dubliners > > [Don’t Go for the One](http://youtu.be/iWxYajqvRHM) by Gaelic Storm > > [Darcy’s Donkey](http://youtu.be/TVzY69iZxlo) by Gaelic Storm (a total blast of a song) Oh the Irish are great for the stories. [Kilkelly, Ireland](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bek36IMNQog)It’s a true story and depressing as hell. [Four Green Fields](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsaQPobUZiM) [Fields of Athenry](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtQ6a8gA7qk) Johnny Horton was good for it too. [Sink the Bismarck](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KecIdlEAKhU) [Battle of New Orleans](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50_iRIcxsz0) And don’t forget Gene Pitney. [The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDN4L7cAQf0) ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/84 "2013-03-04T18:42:07Z")
“John Barleycorn Must Die” (trad. but Traffic’s version is great) “Back by Fall” - Wendy Waldman “Our Town” - Iris DeMent “Hippie Boy” - Flying Burrito Brothers 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![dexter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dc4da7/32.png) [@dexter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dexter)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/85 "2013-03-04T18:51:24Z")
Lots of great recommendations so far, but can’t believe that Tom T. Hall (The Storyteller) hasn’t been mentioned. Ballad of 40 dollars is good one. [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJS6ZsxG2tI) And if you want to laugh and get some good advice at the same time, try Tim Wilson’s “100 Things Every Man Should Know”. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qJYeVe0u7hk/hqdefault.jpg "Tim Wilson - 100 Things Every Man Should Know") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJYeVe0u7hk) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/86 "2013-03-04T18:51:32Z")
“Old Admirals” by Al Stewart is a biography; the narrator goes from his first voyage at age 15 to his retirement. “Saturday Night Fish Fry” by Louis Jordan. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/87 "2013-03-04T18:53:53Z")
Jim Croce’s “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” or “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim.” ---
**Author:** ![dexter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dc4da7/32.png) [@dexter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dexter)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/88 "2013-03-04T19:22:42Z")
Oh, and I just have to add Alan Jackson “The Talkin’ Song Repair Blues” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Kn2IaQ7ECUY/maxresdefault.jpg "Alan Jackson - The Talkin' Song Repair Blues (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn2IaQ7ECUY) ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/89 "2013-03-04T19:32:19Z")
Another vote for Stan Rogers’ oeuvre. Those songs already mentioned, but also: [_The Jeanie C._](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXDSGJky4qk) For other artists work: I’d also second the vote for [_Dawson’s Christian_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w34fSnJNP-4). (I believe this is being sung by Duane Elms, but I wouldn’t care to wager anything I can’t afford to lose based on that belief.) I’ll second _Cold Missiouri Waters_, the version I’m familiar with is the one from the [Cry, Cry, Cry album](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgQNeGPJdcQ). Great Big Sea has a number of excellent ones. Right now my current favorite is the title track from their most recent album, [_Safe Upon the Shore_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjtJPTlIBPM). More cheerful is [_The Mary L. McKay_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnHOKwUfWJw), here performed by Schooner Fare. And general recs for most anything by Harry Chapin. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/90 "2013-03-04T19:58:43Z")
A couple others I wanted to get in: Silly Wizard has many, but one of my favorites is [_Twa Brithers_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruhUr9hjrOk). Maddie Prior (of Steeleye Span) and June Tabor collaborated on two excellent folk albums, as the duo Silly Sisters. They also have a number of excellent story songs. Two of them are: [_Geordie_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j545whIZfoQ) [_Rosie Anderson_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br13Ri470HQ). Finally, a compelling story, but deliberately left unfinished is Mercedes Lackey’s [_Lammas Night_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rwec-vVQTk), here performed by Alexander James Adams before he transitioned. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/91 "2013-03-04T20:03:57Z")
“Rime of the Ancient Mariner” - Iron Maiden ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/92 "2013-03-04T20:42:18Z")
In the hotly contested “Story Songs About Cannibalism”, we can only burp in awe at the Buoy’s [Timothy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGNdvKvbxYQ). My apologies if this sort of thing is not to your taste. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/93 "2013-03-04T20:46:05Z")
**Charlie Daniels** _Uneasy Rider_ **Looking Glass** _Brandy_ **Eagles** _Hotel California_ ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/94 "2013-03-04T20:47:29Z")
Another classic in song form – “Moby Book” by Steve Goodman. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/95 "2013-03-04T21:00:34Z")
[Snoopy vs. the Red Baron](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoopy_vs._the_Red_Baron_%28song%29) is quite a tale. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/96 "2013-03-04T21:27:05Z")
Steve Earle Copperhead Road > [@lisiate](#): > > _Copperhead Row_ is a great song. You are joking, right? ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/97 "2013-03-04T22:14:21Z")
I’m going to say “The Night Chicago Died,” cause I’m guessing no one else mentioned it! Also, “Love Vigilantes” by New Order. A fave of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/98 "2013-03-05T00:57:49Z")
[1952 Vincent Black Lightning](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lCH5JgWCZY) [Beeswing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrAyNn0PtJg) [Sidney Wells](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSumx-db4wk) [Guns are the Tongues](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUdwON9luYA) All by Richard Thompson [An Englishman Abroad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTsdXSVu9ZI) - Martin Simpson [Hollow Point](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI2YdHt_V7s) - Chris Wood [Tam Lyn (Retold)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bIvFg5fXUM) - The Imagined Village ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/99 "2013-03-05T01:17:31Z")
I’ll add some Fountains of Wayne songs to the list: Red Dragon Tattoo Action Hero Sick Day All Kinds of Time Someone to Love Richie and Ruben ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850/100 "2013-03-05T02:38:58Z")
A lot of these have probably already been mentioned (I haven’t read through the thread yet), but… Uneasy Rider (Charlie Daniels) Guitar Town (Steve Earle) Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine (Tom T Hall) Johnny Come Lately (Steve Earle) Apple Jack (Dolly Parton) The Marvelous Toy (Chad Mitchell Trio) Daisy a Day (Jud Strunk) The One on the Right Is on the Left (Johnny Cash) Talk to Me, Fiddle (Charlie Daniels) The Ballad of Ira Hayes (Johnny Cash) El Paso (Marty Robbins) One Piece at a Time (Johnny Cash) Harper Valley PTA (Jeannie C Riley) Ode to Billy Joe (Bobbie Gentry) Song of the South (Alabama) Golden Ring (George Jones and Tammy Wynette) Sink the _Bismarck_ (Johnny Horton) The Battle of New Orleans (Johnny Horton) Snoopy’s Christmas (Royal Guardsmen) The _Golden Vanity_ (Chad Mitchell Trio) The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia (Vicki Lawrence) The Gambler (Kenny Rogers) Bed of Rose’s (Statler Brothers) Convoy (C W McCall) Crispy Critters (C W McCall) Wolf Creek Pass (C W McCall) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-story-songs/651850.md?page=6)