# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/101 "2015-02-02T20:25:22Z")
_Memphis, Tennessee_, by Chuck Berry. _Hot Rod Lincoln_. Can’t think of who wrote it at the moment, but I’m thinking of the cover by Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/102 "2015-02-02T21:28:27Z")
Billy Joel’s “Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Went Out On Broadway)” certainly fits as a story song (a story set in an alternative universe, when much of New York City was violently destroyed - although Queens could stay - and some of the few survivors eventually end up in Florida). A case could be made that his “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant” also qualifies, especially the middle “Ballad of Brenda and Eddie” section. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/103 "2015-02-02T21:52:52Z")
Rocky Raccoon. Perhaps some people think it’s a parody of a story song, which makes it all the better. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/104 "2015-02-03T18:11:10Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > _Hot Rod Lincoln_. Can’t think of who wrote it at the moment, but I’m thinking of the cover by Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. And that was actually a sequel – the original song was “[Hot Rod Race](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Rod_Race)”. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/105 "2015-02-04T04:43:33Z")
Detatchable Penis “I saw it sitting next to a broken toaster oven” ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/106 "2015-02-04T21:38:00Z")
_Copacabana_ by Barry Manilow _“Frankie and Johnny”_ ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/107 "2015-02-05T02:57:46Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > _Paradise by the Dashboard Lights_, by Meatloaf. Just about _any_ song by Meatloaf. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/108 "2015-02-05T03:16:10Z")
_~ Welcome …~ to the ~ Hotel California ~ ~_ ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/109 "2015-02-05T03:23:09Z")
I haven’t seen it listed, so I thought I’d add it in. A great song about a great man: _The Ballad of John Henry_ Lots of artists have done it, with lots of variations. I favor Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions. —G! ---
**Author:** ![YawningDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/848f3c/32.png) [@YawningDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YawningDog)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/110 "2015-02-05T03:52:19Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > A few of these examples are not what I’d call “story songs” but rather “vignette songs.” (“Pink Houses” is an example, though I don’t want to pick on just that one in particular.) To me, a story song has to tell a story, it has to have a plot: something has to happen in the course of the song. You’re right! I confused “Pink Houses” with “Jack and Diane.” But you’re still right, because “Jack and Diane” was really just a “little ditty.” 😃 ---
**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:** [February 5, 2015, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/111 "2015-02-05T04:12:07Z")
> [@Grestarian](#): > > A great song about a great man: _The Ballad of John Henry_ > > Lots of artists have done it, with lots of variations. > I favor Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions. [The definitive version is by the Smothers Brothers.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgfxgKRc4jo) ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/112 "2015-02-05T15:11:19Z")
> [@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. I think you made one more fan. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/113 "2015-02-05T15:20:16Z")
For us sci-fi fans: [The Ballad of Transport 18 by Leslie Fish](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=14&ved=0CGgQtwIwDQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DgaX3U1w2Kjg&ei=LInTVLfZD4axggSjxoKgDA&usg=AFQjCNFcoXHom1chyW8admGOd1D8y3ev5g&sig2=absJxAEXJlc-HWPFUb1I7Q&bvm=bv.85142067,d.eXY)🆒 By “Bitter Dregs” did you mean “Maiden Wine?” And you can’t really call “Maiden Wine” a story song - it’s not about a specific instance. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/114 "2015-02-05T15:54:49Z")
[The Original Waltzing Matilda By Slim Dusty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVK_JTmiGaY) [Translated by Johnny Cash](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL4v7UrqcF4) ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/115 "2015-02-05T15:59:05Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > [The definitive version is by the Smothers Brothers.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgfxgKRc4jo) My favorite version is by George Pal. Couldn’t find a good quality video online. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/116 "2015-02-05T16:20:32Z")
A couple of others worth mentioning (as much for the fact that they are brilliant songs) a couple have choruses but…hey, they are brilliant songs, one fairly upbeat, one melancholic and one that depresses you in the nicest possible way. Pulp - [Babies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38by00DGid0) Billy Bragg - [The Saturday Boy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CBWDp71UPM) Ben Folds Five - [Brick](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxZc-2pfsjg) ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/117 "2015-02-05T17:52:48Z")
Bob Dylan -Lily rosemary and jack of hearts from blood on the tracks. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/118 "2015-02-05T20:07:10Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Can someone give me a brief synopsis or even explain what is so compelling about this song? It’s a story-song satirizing the Vietnam War draft and bureaucracy in general. Briefly, Arlo was arrested one Thanksgiving for littering in sleepy Stockbridge, Mass., and after an overblown trial, was fined and made to clean up the garbage. Later, at his draft induction interview/physical, he was asked he had ever been arrested and convicted. Based on his story of the littering arrest/conviction, he was placed on the “Group W” bench and given a form that calling for him to describe his crime and asking: “Kid, have you rehabilitated yourself?” In response, Arlo gets to the crux of the story: > [@](#): > > I went over to the sergeant, said, “Sergeant, you got a lot a damn gall to > Ask me if I’ve rehabilitated myself, I mean, I mean, I mean that just, I’m > Sittin’ here on the bench, I mean I’m sittin here on the Group W bench > ‘cause you want to know if I’m moral enough join the army, burn women, > Kids, houses and villages after bein’ a litterbug.” He looked at me and > Said, “Kid, we don’t like your kind, and we’re gonna send you fingerprints > Off to Washington.” The song is memorable and beloved because of the vivid descriptions of the absurd confluence of events by which Arlo came to be asked whether he was moral enough to join the army, which was then engaged in what was perceived by many to be engaged in an immoral war. Admittedly, it is a bit of a shaggy dog story, but that’s part of the fun of it. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/119 "2015-02-05T20:18:19Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Indeed, he’s probably the modern master of the form. My favorite story song of his is [The Armadillo Jackal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBzQMAZyDzI). It’s actually pretty short for a story song, but he sets up an atmosphere and feel that makes me able to picture everything vividly. That it’s a life/death struggle expressed in modern economics makes it just about perfect. Heh–that’s exactly the song I came in here to post. I love it so much. ---
**Author:** ![chiquitita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@chiquitita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiquitita)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187/120 "2015-02-05T21:49:40Z")
The Pogues, The Old Main Drag [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/g-45xNr-udU/hqdefault.jpg "The Pogues - The Old Main Drag") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-45xNr-udU) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-story-songs/708187.md?page=7)