# Great story songs. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 26, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187 "2014-12-26T03:20:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/41 "2014-12-26T22:18:26Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I do have a really stoopid question, if no one minds the digression. I had literally never heard \*Alice’s Restaurant \*(that I know of at least)nor read the lyrics. I have, of course heard \*of \*it and am aware that it is an antiwar song. Upon reading the lyrics, I must say I’m left with a big WTF? > [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > I think you should give it a listen. Arlo Guthrie is a really great story-teller, and that doesn’t come through just reading the lyrics. Some jokes are really in how they are told. Indeed. This is like saying, “I’ve never heard/seen (famous comedy routine), but I read a transcript of it, and I don’t see what’s so great about it.” Given that it’s [readily available on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m57gzA2JCcM) you really have no excuse. This thread would not be complete without Weird Al’s Harry Chapin-esque “[The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcw326PJuDw).” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/42 "2014-12-26T22:33:58Z")
“Bitter Dregs” by Leonard Nimoy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/43 "2014-12-26T22:40:38Z")
“Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” “City of New Orleans” “Boy Named Sue” “Folsom Prison Blues” all preferably by Johnny Cash. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/44 "2014-12-26T22:41:42Z")
“In the Ghetto” “Cold Kentucky Rain” by Elvis Presley. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/45 "2014-12-26T22:43:38Z")
“Ghost Riders in the Sky” by Johnny Cash. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/46 "2014-12-26T23:00:58Z")
[Darcy Farrow.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRqU-CEN-D4) John Denver’s cover is the best. [It’s a Great Day To Whup Somebody’s Ass](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBjhGHLQnIE) - Paul Thorn. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/47 "2014-12-26T23:18:25Z")
[Peter Kagan and the Wind](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WniltiwKoS4)by Makem and Clancy. You can’t bloody get it in digital form or on CD, for some reason; only on tape or vinyl. As far as I can tell, you can get everything else Makem and Clancy ever did, which is pretty standard trad Irish music that you’d probably like if you’re into that…but this one song that’s in a whole different league, nooooo. ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/48 "2014-12-26T23:21:47Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > I’m sure this has been done but I just listened to [Joe Ely, _The Road Goes on Forever_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pgog03z8YI) again and thought I’d throw it out there. > > What ya got? As noted by **Tangent** upthread, that’s originally a Robert Earl Keen song. If you like that one, he’s got a bunch of other great story songs. [Gringo Honeymoon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWANCXep4SY) [Feelin’ Good Again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAJVH7RfwkM) [Shades of Gray](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RArZGbD9k-M) ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/49 "2014-12-26T23:28:07Z")
[God’s Own Drunk](http://youtu.be/fDIrJkNE4Jk) [Talking Vietnam Potluck Blues](http://youtu.be/eNaagJseikQ) [The Legend of the SS Titanic](http://youtu.be/4XFYMjkFYPg) [Mr. Bojangles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muG8kDYbZ5Q) By “Good Story Song”, do you mean the story has to be a good one, or can it be a crappy story but told well via song, like most of the hits of Red Sovine? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/50 "2014-12-26T23:34:54Z")
Me and My Uncle ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/51 "2014-12-26T23:46:58Z")
[Angie Baby by Helen Reddy](http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=7732) [Creeque Alley by The Mamas & The Papas](http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=5500) [El Paso by Marty Robbins](http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6820) ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/52 "2014-12-27T01:51:52Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Some of these are great; \*Country Death Song \*and _My Sister_ especially. > > I do have a really stoopid question, if no one minds the digression. I had literally never heard \*Alice’s Restaurant \*(that I know of at least)nor read the lyrics. I have, of course heard \*of \*it and am aware that it is an antiwar song. Upon reading the lyrics, I must say I’m left with a big WTF? Admittedly, I kind of lost interest right about the time they were handcuffed and put in the police car. > > Can someone give me a brief synopsis or even explain what is so compelling about this song? Is it mostly a matter of “You had to be there, it’s a product of its time” sort of thing? I was only a year old when it was released, yet I’m familiar with a lot of music from that time. No, I don’t know how I’ve managed to live 48 years without ever having heard this famous song and at this point I don’t really feel like I missed out on anything. Educate me, people! It’s not an anti-war song really. More of an anti-establishment song, but mostly it is just funny in a wryly silly way. It is certainly a product of its time, but I doubt I or anyone else would be fond of it just for the storyline. Gotta listen to it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/53 "2014-12-27T03:40:37Z")
A really short but poignant story: _Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)_ ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/54 "2014-12-27T03:52:19Z")
Two of my favorites: [Harper Valley PTA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOZPBUu7Fro) - Jeannie C. Riley [Pancho and Lefty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvdmxszsDM8) - Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/55 "2014-12-27T05:24:53Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > Me and My Uncle Yeah! Also [Famous Blue Raincoat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aRKZFR5imM) by Leonard Cohen. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/56 "2014-12-27T05:52:14Z")
Frank Zappa “Let’s Make The Water Turn Black” a hilarious, disgusting true story. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/57 "2014-12-27T06:44:52Z")
The Ballad of Thunder Road Brown Eyed Woman Sloop John B Lay down (Candles in the Rain) Sink the Bismark (original spelling) Lola Just about anything by Chapin - we’ve hit Taxi, so I’ll go with the obvious - Sequel ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/58 "2014-12-27T15:43:46Z")
The Highwayman - Loreena McKennitt Master Charge - Albert Collins I Got Some Outside Help I Don’t Need - BB King And to be honest, just about every blues song ever written ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/59 "2014-12-27T16:24:05Z")
Steve Earle has a ton of them. I recommend “Taneytown,” “Tom Ames’ Prayer,” and “The Week of Living Dangerously.” ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/60 "2014-12-27T17:08:26Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > I seem to remember from a Thread some time ago that I’m not the only Stan Rogers fan here. > For this Thread, I’ll suggest: > [The Mary Ellen Carter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhop5VuLDIQ) > …one of my all time favorite story songs. Yes! He has so many good ones. Athens Queen - bunch of guys loot a sunken ship Flowers of Bermuda - captain gives all lifeboat seats away and dies on his ship Barrett’s Privateers - pirating goes terribly wrong Oh No, Not I - fooling around with some guy goes terribly wrong A couple good ones from Steeleye Span: Let Her Go Down Gone to America [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187.md?page=4)