# 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:** 4
**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:** [December 28, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/61 "2014-12-28T18:44:59Z")
Has anybody said “Ride Forever” yet? ---
**Author:** ![Dougula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b19c9b/32.png) [@Dougula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dougula)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/62 "2014-12-28T19:46:52Z")
I got one Harry Chapin - Cats in the Cradle . ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/63 "2014-12-28T19:59:58Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > Steve Earle has a ton of them. I recommend “Taneytown,” “Tom Ames’ Prayer,” and “The Week of Living Dangerously.” You forgot [Copperhead Road](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvaEJzoaYZk). And the Pogues [Waltzing Matilda](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZqN1glz4JY), still on the “what happened after I came back from war” theme. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/64 "2014-12-28T20:08:48Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > And the Pogues [Waltzing Matilda](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZqN1glz4JY), still on the “what happened after I came back from war” theme. **Son Of A Rich** posted that in #6. Actual title _“And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda”_ ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/65 "2014-12-28T20:18:41Z")
[_Waltzing Matilda_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwvazMc5EfE)-Slim Dusty. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/66 "2014-12-28T20:39:21Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > **Son Of A Rich** posted that in #6. > > Actual title _“And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda”_ :smack: Missed that! Yeah, lots of excellent covers of that song. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/67 "2014-12-28T20:43:07Z")
John Prine has a zillion of them: A few of my favorites: Sam Stone Hello in There Paradise The Great Compromise Six O’Clock News Donald and Lydia ---
**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 28, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/68 "2014-12-28T21:23:47Z")
One of my favorites: “Louise” by The Human League. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XIPNBIwqZNY/hqdefault.jpg "The Human League - Louise, By EMI") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIPNBIwqZNY) ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/69 "2014-12-28T21:39:59Z")
[To Her Door](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZrfG9P6_D0) - Paul Kelly ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/70 "2014-12-28T22:16:31Z")
“X Offender” and “Susie and Jeffry” by Blondie. “Take the Money and Run” by Steve Miller Band. “Here I Go” by Syd Barrett. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/71 "2014-12-28T22:39:38Z")
“American Pie”-Don McLean “Convoy”-C.W. McCall “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”-Jim Croce “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim”-Jim Croce ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/72 "2014-12-29T01:01:30Z")
> [@CheshireKat](#): > > 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 Of course, Townes van Zandt wrote Pancho & Lefty. He appear in the “official” video of Willie & Merle’s version (which I could not find on YouTube). Joe Ely didn’t write The Road Goes On Forever but he tends to make any song “his.” Here, Townes sings Joe’s [Indian Cowboy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_qO6PQsbq8). (From Townes’s _Roadsongs_ album; all “covers” that he included in his shows.) Joe does his own [Me & Billy The Kid](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3KEFraQYo0). (Need to watch the rest of that show–with Lyle Lovett & John Hyatt sharing the stage.) Steve Earle & his son Justin Townes Earle sing Townes’s [Mr Gold & Mr Mudd](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aYydNQiT5Q); first, Steve Earle tells A Townes Story. Steve tells another story here & sings his own [Dixieland](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2qyqZvW_AY). Why not end with [Don’t Take Your Guns to Town](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlBzre4-Krc) by Mr Cash? ETA: The reason not to end yet is Townes singing Peter LaFarge’s [Ballad of Ira Hayes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2o8zgAza54)… ---
**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 29, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/73 "2014-12-29T01:24:47Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Of course, Townes van Zandt wrote Pancho & Lefty. He appear in the “official” video of Willie & Merle’s version (which I could not find on YouTube). I love Townes van Zandt’s guitar opening and playing in [his version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zprRZ2wFQD4)of Pancho and Lefty. I wish it had been used in the Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard cover. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/74 "2014-12-29T01:51:14Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I’m really surprised the thread has gotten this far without mention of **[_Ode to Billie Joe._](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZt5Q-u4crc)** And Dylan wrote a kind of parody/response to it **Clothes Line Saga** available on both Basement Tapes sets. Lots of Dylan story songs - besides the ones mentioned we have [Black Diamond Bay](http://www.bobdylan.com/us/songs/black-diamond-bay), not to mention Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream and Talkin’ World War III Blues. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/75 "2014-12-29T03:54:32Z")
_The River_ - Springsteen _Come Dancing_ - Kinks ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/76 "2014-12-29T04:15:36Z")
Warren Zevon had some great story songs: Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Excitable Boy Frank and Jesse James Jeannie Needs a Shooter And many others. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/77 "2014-12-29T06:39:50Z")
> [@CheshireKat](#): > > 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 > [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Of course, Townes van Zandt wrote Pancho & Lefty. He appear in the “official” video of Willie & Merle’s version (which I could not find on YouTube). > > Joe Ely didn’t write The Road Goes On Forever but he tends to make any song “his.” Here, Townes sings Joe’s [Indian Cowboy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_qO6PQsbq8). (From Townes’s _Roadsongs_ album; all “covers” that he included in his shows.) Joe does his own [Me & Billy The Kid](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3KEFraQYo0). (Need to watch the rest of that show–with Lyle Lovett & John Hyatt sharing the stage.) > > Steve Earle & his son Justin Townes Earle sing Townes’s [Mr Gold & Mr Mudd](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aYydNQiT5Q); first, Steve Earle tells A Townes Story. Steve tells another story here & sings his own [Dixieland](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2qyqZvW_AY). > > Why not end with [Don’t Take Your Guns to Town](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlBzre4-Krc) by Mr Cash? > > ETA: The reason not to end yet is Townes singing Peter LaFarge’s [Ballad of Ira Hayes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2o8zgAza54)… And _Harper Valley PTA_ was written by Tom T. Hall: > [@](#): > > _Tom T. had planned a career as a journalist or novelist almost until ‘Harper Valley PTA’ won the 1968 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Vocal Performance and the CMA award for Single of the Year. Tom T. recently talked to The Boot about this hit song and what inspired him to write it:_ > > \*\* > The story is a true story. I didn’t make the story up. I chose the story to make a statement but I changed the names to protect the innocent. There were 10 kids in our family. We’d get up in the morning and my mother and father would get bored with us running around and we’d go terrorize the neighbors up and down this little road we lived on. After we had done our chores, of course. > > I was just hanging around downtown when I was about nine years old and heard the story and got to know this lady. I was fascinated by her grit. To see this very insignificant, socially disenfranchised lady — a single mother — who was willing to march down to the local aristocracy read them the riot act so to speak, was fascinating. > > I wrote the song 30 years later. That song was my novel. I had been reading Sinclair Lewis. As a young man I read Lewis’ novels ‘Babbitt’ and ‘Elmer Gantry,’ which is about hypocrisy. Babbitt is, of course, about the social structure of the small town. So being a big Sinclair Lewis fan, when I wrote ‘Harper Valley’ I incorporated elements of ‘Elmer Gantry’ into the song. From [Story Behind the Song: Jeannie C. Riley, 'Harper Valley PTA'](http://theboot.com/jeannie-c-riley-harper-valley-pta-lyrics/) ---
**Author:** ![Waymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Waymore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waymore)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/78 "2014-12-29T09:22:12Z")
Seems to be quite a few country songs in this category. Off the top of my head: Ballad of $40 by Tom T. Hall Week In A County Jail by Tom T. Hall Ballad of the Devil’s Backbone Tavern by Todd Snider Easy Money by Todd Snider Choctaw Bingo By Ray Wylie Hubbard Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton Streets of Bakersfield by Dwight Yokam and Buck Ownes ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/79 "2014-12-29T15:36:23Z")
[The Ballad of Hollis Brown](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiafR2q82Lw), Bob Dylan ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/80 "2015-01-29T16:07:14Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > [Uneasy Rider](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=952h-AJ3Bcg) by Charlie Daniels. I’d never heard of that song before (it’s from 1973), but just heard it on the radio. I loved it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187.md?page=5)