# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/101 "2015-10-14T20:53:21Z")
^ Would that something to do with Sonny & Cher? And while we’re on the subject, what about “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”? ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/102 "2015-10-14T21:01:35Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I dis-disagree. The train is commenting on the behavior of his passengers–there is no identifying pronoun in that verse. I will concede the lack of pronouns, however, recall that the first line is ♫ **Ridin’** on the _City of New Orleans_ … ♫. The box cannot contain itself. In fairness, though, a later line states ♫This train’s got the disappearin’ railroad blues.♫ Going over the lyrics, I can see how it could be interpreted that way; this is just the first time I’ve heard of it. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/103 "2015-10-14T22:27:03Z")
King Tut The Streak My Girl Bill Seems to me that a lot of novelty songs quailfy The Night Chicago Died ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/104 "2015-10-15T02:53:16Z")
A few more that haven’t been mentioned: Leningrad – Billy Joel Fast Car – Tracy Chapman Travelin’ Soldier – Bruce Robinson Scenes From an Italian Restaurant – Billy Joel Tribute – Tenacious D Escape – Rupert Holmes (I hate that song) Albuquerque – Weird Al (And countless Scottish and Irish ballads.) ---
**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 15, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/105 "2015-10-15T02:58:41Z")
2 of my favorites of Bruce Springsteenthat haven’t been mentioned: [Rosalita](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXWVSussrt0) [Meeting Across the River](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTbX2LYZx2A) - imho the most underappreciated track on Born to Run. And one from the Dead - [Me and My Uncle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Ngb6CgUOI) ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/106 "2015-10-15T03:02:54Z")
Dylan was indeed the master of the story song, I’d add [Tangled up in Blue](https://www.google.com/#q=tangled+up+in+blue) and [Hwy 61 revisited](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXjAVqLhXuo) On another note I love [One Bourbon, One Scotch, and One Beer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISmgOrhELXs) because it is just so much fun. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/107 "2015-10-15T05:52:22Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > The Streak If you’re referring to the Ray Stevens song (or even if you’re not), this reminds me also of _Mississippi Squirrel Revival_. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/108 "2015-10-15T06:02:36Z")
Several mentions already of _El Paso_ by Marty Robbins (1959). This is a particularly lengthy saga, in that Robbins also did two later songs extending the story: _Faleena from El Paso_, 1966, a prequel telling the life story of Faleena from birth to death. (Yes, I’ve seen Faleena spelled a bunch of different ways.) _El Paso City_, 1976, a sequel set in modern times, in which an airliner passenger flying above El Paso imagines himself to be the reincarnation of the cowboy from El Paso. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/109 "2015-10-15T06:07:46Z")
_The Saga Begins,_ parody of American Pie by Weird Al Yankovic, telling the story of Anakin Skywalker. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/110 "2015-10-15T06:24:39Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > [“Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0qRqZTXNks) - Bob Dylan > “Pancho and Lefty” - by either [Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvdmxszsDM8) or [Townes Van Zandt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SjwO17gsqU)(who wrote and originally recorded it) I love Pancho and Lefty. I was listening to it the other day and came away from it differently that I had in the past. It dawned on me it was about betrayal. Lefty sold out Pancho the the federales who in turned killed Lefty. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Waz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@The\_Waz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Waz)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/111 "2015-10-15T11:09:02Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGmERAWVdWM) > **[He Went To Paris » Jimmy Buffett World](https://buffettworld.com/albums/a-white-sport-coat/he-went-to-paris/)** ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/112 "2015-10-15T11:47:40Z")
How could I have forgotten one of my favorite Dylan masterpieces, **Simple Twist of Fate**? ---
**Author:** ![Bonaventure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Bonaventure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonaventure)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/113 "2015-10-15T13:43:31Z")
The Decemberists’ “The Mariner’s Revenge Song” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/5Sw61oITuts/hqdefault.jpg "The Decemberists - "The Mariner's Revenge Song"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sw61oITuts) All story songs should showcase the accordion. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/114 "2015-10-15T16:36:24Z")
A couple of me favorites from the WABAC machine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3KeiPjbgcE ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/115 "2015-10-15T16:46:05Z")
Forgot to say…great choices everybody! 🙂 Another favorite… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LFlUj1mv4Ws/maxresdefault.jpg "Dixie Chicken , Little Feat , 1973 Vinyl") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFlUj1mv4Ws) ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/116 "2015-10-15T20:59:58Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Yes. [The Wreck of the Edmund Fitgerald](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgI8bta-7aw). Another one by Gordon Lightfoot: [_Canadian Railroad Trilogy_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzo6Otpgj-E). > [@Missy2U](#): > > Miami 2017 by Billy Joel is one of my absolute favorites. I’m partial to [_The Downeaster “Alexa”_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN4I1od02Dw) and the already-mentioned [_Scenes From An Italian Restaurant_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUz48xw_OiM) (which, as **Bonaventure** will be happy to know, features Dominic Cortese on accordion). ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/117 "2015-10-15T21:25:04Z")
I nominate [Juke Box Hero](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr6KVNt-1Ek). ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/118 "2015-10-15T23:13:09Z")
“Three Wooden Crosses” by Randy Travis. It’s glurge-y and religious, but it’s wonderfully constructed right down to the twist ending. “Swamp Witch” by Jim Stafford. If he’d just released this single and not the crappy rest of that album, he’d be remembered as the best Swamp Rocker around. Great Halloween music! ---
**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:** [October 15, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/119 "2015-10-15T23:52:16Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > Ok, yes, I’ve probably put wayyyyyyyy too much thought into this and have a pretty narrow definition of story song. 😃 Thanks for that description, which I mostly agree with. I have a few quibbles. First, any song, even autobiographical, is going to be a view of events and to some extent fictionalized. Dylan’s story songs about real events certainly are. My requirement is that story songs have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts, Black Diamond Bay, and Brockett’s Titanic song all do. Sultans of Swing does not, being a scene, not a story. Hard Rain isn’t either. To list two more Dylan story songs, I like Talkin’ WW III Blues and Bob Dylan’s 113th Dream. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-better-story-song-than/734526/120 "2015-10-16T01:18:15Z")
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