# Has there ever been a better "story song" than... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2015, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526 "2015-10-13T06:08:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/21 "2015-10-13T10:02:04Z")
[Operator](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaE-sBJQixg) Jim Croce [Rocky Raccoon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k8W4LE2xts) Beatles [Me and Bobby](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-J7mLyD3yc) McGee Kris Kristofferson ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/22 "2015-10-13T10:14:08Z")
Big John (Jimmy Dean) The Logical song (Supertramp) Copacabana (Barry Manilow) ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/23 "2015-10-13T10:59:52Z")
My favorite song that has a story _behind it_ is [The Wind Cries Mary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9c2NbpUjNk&list=PLFLxSw9gDnsthbV_M1jYL1zh5TtptWWzK&index=3) by Jimi Hendrix: [songfacts](http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2204) \*Jimi wrote this in 1967 for Are You Experienced?; it was inspired by his girlfriend at the time, Kathy Mary Etchingham. He’d gotten into an argument with her about her cooking. She got very angry and started throwing pots and pans and finally stormed out to stay at a friend’s home for a day or so. When she came back, Jimi had written “The Wind Cries Mary” for her. Kathy Mary recalled, “We’d had a row over food. Jimi didn’t like lumpy mashed potato. There were thrown plates and I ran off. When I came back the next day, he’d written that song about me. It’s incredibly flattering.” (Source Q magazine February 2013)\* I really like A Whiter Shade Of Pale [Songfacts](http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1131) and started thread about it [here](http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1131) on SDMB, this original video has footage of the [band walking around London](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA) in (1967?) and looks really cool. Where do we draw the line to what is a story? Most of these are autobiographical or historical, not quite a story song but good songs: Sunday Morning Coming Down - Kris Kristofferson Positively 4th Street - Bob Dylan Five Years - David Bowie Last Thing I Needed - Willie Nelson I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am - Merle Haggard The Way It Was in '51 - Merle Haggard Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen My Hometown - Bruce Springsteen Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple Sweet Jane - Velvet Underground Stan - Eminem Fourteen Years - Guns N Roses Jigsaw Puzzle - Rolling Stones Jane Says - Jane’s Addiction Jeremy - Pearljam April 29, 1992 - Sublime Cleaning Windows - Van Morrison The River - Bruce Springsteen Half the album of [Nebraska](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska_(album)) is could fit on the list directly above These are story songs right:? [Seven Spanish Angels](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8A9Y1Dq_cQ) - Ray Charles and Willie Nelson [Johnny 99](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAjhHbtZyQU) - Bruce Springsteen [Space Oddity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP6xBFyA_aw) - David Bowie ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/24 "2015-10-13T11:05:32Z")
I came in here to say “American Pie”, which someone else mentioned. How about “Tribute” by Tenacious D? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/25 "2015-10-13T11:16:43Z")
Here’s one of my favorites- [1952 Vincent Black Lightning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0kJdrfzjAg) by Richard Thompson. [Lyrics here](http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/r/richard_thompson/1952_vincent_black_lightning.html) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/26 "2015-10-13T12:34:22Z")
Another vote for Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts. Also have to mention the Traveling Wilbury’s homage to Springsteen - “Tweeter and the Monkey Man”. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2015, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/27 "2015-10-13T12:42:00Z")
_[The Man From Snowy River.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW7rgnNqgjE)_ Originally a poem by [“Banjo” Paterson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banjo_Paterson)( who also wrote _Waltzing Matilda_). Set to music and performed by [Slim Dusty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slim_Dusty). ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/28 "2015-10-13T12:45:46Z")
_The Star–Spangled Banner_ _Video Killed The Radio Star_ _The Ballad of the Green Berets_ most Meat Loaf songs ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/29 "2015-10-13T12:48:27Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > The Ballad of Irving the 144th Fastest Gun in the West I hope you don’t have Irving on your “Fantasy Gunslinger” team, because he was actually 142nd: A hundred and forty-one could draw faster than he, But Irving was looking for one forty-three. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/30 "2015-10-13T13:50:52Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Here’s one of my favorites- [1952 Vincent Black Lightning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0kJdrfzjAg) by Richard Thompson. > > [Lyrics here](http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/r/richard_thompson/1952_vincent_black_lightning.html) Was coming in to post this one, too. Though, I prefer the Del McCoury Band’s (bluegrass) interpretation of it. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/31 "2015-10-13T15:10:54Z")
[Wildwood Weed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I28sQls3R9A) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/32 "2015-10-13T15:26:42Z")
The story song seems to have been a staple of pop radio in the 70s. In fact, we’ve discussed them here at least once. I have these on my Ipod: _The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia_ - Vicki Lawrence _Ode to Billy Joe_- Bobbie Gentry _Dark Lady_- Cher _Billy Don’t Be a Hero_ - Bo Donaldson _Gypsies Tramps & Thieves_ - Cher I’ll add _Solsbury Hill_ - Peter Gabriel ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/33 "2015-10-13T15:27:44Z")
Marty Robbins [El Paso](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL6puxUeIqU) Meat Loaf [Paradise by the Dashboard Light](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTDHjVKQyo) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/34 "2015-10-13T15:30:11Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > Another vote for Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts. > Also have to mention the Traveling Wilbury’s homage to Springsteen - “Tweeter and the Monkey Man”. Another vote for the Jack of Hearts. But a question: other than being set in New Jersey (and I think you need more than that), how is “Tweeter” a homage to Springsteen? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/35 "2015-10-13T15:34:03Z")
Here’s one that tells the story of something I lived through: [It Sprinkled, It Rained, and It Poured](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7Q9xHjcv_g&index=1&list=FLAzgJc1Jc9YNWMO96QZRHiA) by John and Marina Nickerson. This record was a huge regional hit; if you lived in upstate New York back in 1972, you may remember it. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/36 "2015-10-13T15:37:53Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Marty Robbins [El Paso](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL6puxUeIqU) > > Meat Loaf [Paradise by the Dashboard Light](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTDHjVKQyo) El Paso, absolutely. John Henry was a steel drivin’ man, second. Maybe the one by Baez about Georgie wrecking his engine and dying by the firebox door… ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/37 "2015-10-13T15:44:32Z")
God’s Own Drunk - Jimmy Buffett ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/38 "2015-10-13T15:45:36Z")
[The Carter Family-Engine 143 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy4a2XB_dAU) Engine 143 ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/39 "2015-10-13T15:54:56Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > how about Harry Chapin ? > Almost all his songs tell a story, and with emotion. > > _Taxi_ and its sequel are probably his best. I came in here to mention Chapin and _Taxi_; also _Cat’s Cradle_. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/40 "2015-10-13T15:59:21Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > The story song seems to have been a staple of pop radio in the 70s. In fact, we’ve discussed them here at least once… Do you have a link to other discussions? I’m wondering if a poll would be in order – of course I usually do when the number of candidates gets big enough. Which asks, "have we had such a poll already? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526.md?page=3)