How about those angsty death songs from the '60s?
Laurie
Teen Angel
Last Kiss
Leader of the Pack
Into: Conditional Discharge/ Don’t try to lay no boogie woogie on the King of Rock & Roll by Long John Baldry
Uneasy Rider by Charlie Daniels Band
Smoke on the Water is a story song.
Thirded, and adding Utah Carol, Feleena(which is El Paso from the woman’s view) andThe Master’s Call … so many more by Marty.
Steve Earle Copperhead Road,The Devil’s Right Hand
“One Piece At A Time” Johnny Cash
Another Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg (based on a true story)
Esther and Fee, both by Phish.
The Highwayman, Phil Ochs (Alfred Noyes)
Rainy Night House, Joni Mitchell
Story of Isaac,Leonard Cohen (Suzanne Vega version)
Ocean Gypsy, Renaissance
Tam Lin, Fairport Convention
The Wild-Eyed Boy From Freecloud & Space Oddity by Bowie
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: The Ballad of Robert Moore and Betty Coltrane, The Curse of Millhaven.
Snatch and the Poontangs: Hey Shine (language is NSFW).
Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner by Warren Zevon.
Red Barchetta by Rush.
The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota by Weird Al Yankovic
Better Place to Be and Mr. Tanner–Harry Chapin
Pancho and Lefty and Marie --Townes Van Zant (This is two different songs–it looks like it all runs together when I read it.)
Just to complete the trilogy, El Paso City, in which a modern day man (well, in the 1970s) has past-life visions of the events in those two songs.
Speaking of western story songs about tragic romances between a cowboy and a beautiful Mexican girl, Gringo’s Guitar. (Perry Como had a much bigger hit than this version, but I much prefer the Sons of the Pioneers.)
The Red Headed Stranger is a Willie Nelson concept album, but the title track is a good story on its own.
Also a great one. Need to add Strawberry Roan on the Marty list.
He Stopped Loving Her Today - George Jones
Seven Spanish Angels - Willie Nelson and Ray Charles
And since I think every song on the album has been listed, just look up Marty Robbins The Gunfighter album.
I’ve been on a Meat Loaf kick lately so I’m going to go with
Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad
Bat Out Of Hell
Paradise By The Dashboard Light
I think these all count as story songs, although maybe not as much as songs like El Paso which is about as clear cut of a story song as you get (and one of the best songs ever written).
Just in case you want to look it up it’s called Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs.
Joe Ely: Me & Billy the Kid And his Indian Cowboy; I like Townes’ version better–but it’s not available. Joe does a great version of Robert Earl Keen’s “The Road Goes on Forever”–but let’s listen to the Highwaymen…
You could listen to Lightnin’ Hopkins tell the one about Mr Charlie–it really does turn into a song…
Or hear Lowell George’s sad tale: Dixie Chicken…