Although the historicity of the events themselves is questionable, Metallica’s Creeping Death is about the plagues YHWH visited upon Egypt while the Hebrews were enslaved to them.
Might be a stretch as well, but Strange Machines by The Gathering is about traveling in time and space to witness historical events.
Christy Moore’s City of Chicago is about the Famine and immigration to…somewhere.
“Wreck of the Old 97” The version I knew was by Johnny Cash, but it’s been recorded by many and dates back to the 1920’s.
“No Man’s Land” (aka “Green Fields of France”), Eric Bogle.
“Éamonn an Chnoic” (“Ned of the Hill”) a/k/a “Young Ned of the Hill” (Pogues version) is about Éamonn Ó Riain, a Catholic outlaw in post-Cromwell Ireland.
A couple by Genesis -
“The Return of The Giant Hogweed” refers to the actual introduction of an exotic invasive weed.
Long ago in the Russian hills
A Victorian explorer found the
regal Hogweed by a marsh
He captured it and brought it home
Botanical creature stirs, seeking revenge
And “The Battle Of Epping Forest” was based on a news story of modern-day gang fights.
I didn’t add The Marine Corps Hymn because I thought a Marine should do the honors, but it’s getting late and noone has mentioned it yet, so I will. “The halls of Montezuma and the shores of Tripoli” refer to actual events in Marine history.
I Don’t Like Mondays - Boomtown Rats
About the school shooting spree of Brenda Ann Spencer.
Strange Fruit (Billie Holiday); historical in a general sense, about racism and the lynching of Black Americans.
The entire album “Harbour of Tears” by Camel is about the experiences of Irish immigrants coming to America, and those they left behind.
Arlo Guthrie - Alice’s Restaurant
Celtic Thunder - When New York Was Irish
Rush - Manhattan Project (Imagine a time when it all began/In the dying days of a war/A weapon that would settle the score)
Rush - Countdown (A Shuttle Launch)
Sublime - April 29, 1992 (The Rodney King riots)
Woody Guthrie - Dust Bowl Refugee (and a 100 others by him)
Crispy - Licky Licky
Same for “Aliens” by Horslips.
Black Day in July - Gordon Lightfoot
I dont recall anyone mentioning “Battle of New Orleans”
They ran through the hills and they ran through the bushes
They ran through the brambles where a rabbit couldnt go
They ran so fast even we couldn’t catch 'em
From the hills of Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
Re-read the OP.
Here’s seventy of them, every one of which features untimely death!
Depending on your definition of “historical,” some of these might not qualify, but they are all true.
I don’t believe anyone has mentioned Gordon Lightfoot’s Canadian Railroad Trilogy yet…
Darn it! Late again.
I have this box set and it’s pretty good. Just don’t listen to too many songs at one time - a wee bit depressing.