I’m not sure how to define a “story song,” but I think it’s a song that tells a story, and does not have a chorus.
Wait, even better. Country Death Song by the Violent Femmes. Depressing and captivating.
Tindersticks - My Sister. One of the most depressing songs I know of.
Paradise by the Dashboard Lights, by Meatloaf.
The Ballad of John and Yoko, by the Beatles
Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water is a song on the album Machine Head
It’s also the story about how Machine Head was recorded.
I’m really surprised the thread has gotten this far without mention of Ode to Billie Joe.
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!
By your definition, not mine.
Great song–I prefer the original version by Robert Earl Keen, who also wrote the song.
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.
"Whisky in the Jar ",many versions
“Dawson’s Christian”
“Like Their Feet Had Wings”
“Antelope’s Run”
(all filk)
Another one , "Summer Wine ", Nancy Sinatra
Lucille, by Fred Eaglesmith
A man revisits an affair with a much older woman from his wild youth, after his wife buys him a classic car.
A Horse with No Name-America
You didn’t win anything. You have to pay fifty dollars and pick up the garbage.
World by Five For Fighting, tells a kind of a story.
Viva La Vida by Coldplay has some vivid imagery in the lyrics.
It’s also worth mentioning that the first half of Arlo’s monologue (Thanksgiving, Garbage, Trial) is a slightly embellished true story. The second half (Pre-Induction Physical) is fiction, although pretty true-to-life IMO.
Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts, yet another Dylan offering.