# Story-songs (other than Alice's Restaurant) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 20, 2021, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802 "2021-10-20T01:34:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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 20, 2021, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/41 "2021-10-20T04:45:09Z")
Mississippi Squirrel Revival by Ray Stevens has already been mentioned (and he’s right – it’s a hoot). Another by Ray Stevens that probably meets the OP’s requirements is _The Streak_. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XtzoUu7w-YM/hqdefault.jpg "Ray Stevens - "The Streak" (Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtzoUu7w-YM) Also perhaps Gitarzan: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/293Irm-vxtE/hqdefault.jpg "Ray Stevens - "Gitarzan" (Music Video) [from Get Serious]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=293Irm-vxtE) He’s done a lot in that style, but the others I’ve heard seem rather less inspired. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/42 "2021-10-20T04:56:46Z")
Came in to suggest “Lily Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts” but been beaten to it _twice_ dangit! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/43 "2021-10-20T05:09:14Z")
[When the Beatles Hit America - John Wesley Harding](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afCZQyhrn6U) [July 13th 1985 - John Wesley Harding](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmBPZDOQMyk) (about attending Live Aid) [A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request - Steve Goodman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewnTNlNBXGw) (who also wrote _City of New Orleans_) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/44 "2021-10-20T05:20:12Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iJRWtKePKuY/maxresdefault.jpg "The Road Goes On Forever") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJRWtKePKuY) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/45 "2021-10-20T05:26:53Z")
_Deeper In_ **Drive-By Truckers** No, I’m not gonna post a link. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/46 "2021-10-20T05:56:47Z")
Another Harry Chapin: “Bummer,” about a kid who never really had a chance in life. Lived on the streets, petty crime, and so on. He’s shipped off to Vietnam, where he manages to win the Congressional Medal of Honor, but finds that life back in the US is no better than it was before, Congressional Medal or not. After trying to rob a grocery, the police kill him with gunfire. He’s got his Congressional Medal on him, but the police doubt that it’s really his, and he is denied a burial at Arlington. Elton John didn’t do many songs that would fit the “story song” category, but one stands out: “Ticking,” from his _Caribou_ album of 1974. Bluntly put, it’s about a mass shooting in a barroom. “An extremely quiet child,” who is now an adult but who has never held a gun, just snaps, walks into a New York bar with a gun, and opens fire, killing 14 people. The song’s title is in reference to a “ticking time bomb,” looking for a time to go off; but as history has shown in subsequent shootings, sometimes it’s those who are quiet and obedient that bottle things up before letting loose. “Hear it, hear it, ticking, ticking.” ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/47 "2021-10-20T06:02:30Z")
I did not see these two, but they were both suggested to me by _Big John_ above. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OWkOeK5AmI8/hqdefault.jpg "Battle of New Orleans") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWkOeK5AmI8) This one is more song than story perhaps but having ancestors who worked the coal mines as immigrants, this was a standard part of my childhood and always with a glass raised in toast to “Papa”, their grandfather (my great grandfather). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3tXJokkWQjY/maxresdefault.jpg "Sixteen Tons") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tXJokkWQjY) And this one is autobiographical and tells a hell of a story about a hell of a man (in his own humble opinion): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0WTrMuZOZvM/maxresdefault.jpg "It's Hard to Be Humble") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WTrMuZOZvM) > [@Spoons](#): > > he is denied a burial at Arlington. This reminded me of this one that was often on the turntable of the other side of my family: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/itQg-SUQDAE/hqdefault.jpg "Ballad of Ira Hayes - Johnny Cash 1964") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itQg-SUQDAE) ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/48 "2021-10-20T06:17:51Z")
Thought of one more: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2rdEMcTMls) ---
**Author:** ![SailorHG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SailorHG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SailorHG)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/49 "2021-10-20T07:22:49Z")
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald reminded me of [The Rime of the Ancient Mariner](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7zk4as9kzA) by Iron Maiden. Lots of other Maiden songs would likely qualify as well. But what I came here to post was this one, by Kate Miller-Heidke: [Fire And Iron - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLPch6Wp3MQ) . It gets pretty gut-wrenching (to me, anyway) as the story goes on. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/50 "2021-10-20T07:35:06Z")
Bruce Springsteen, [Thunder Road](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2X0Gf9jfz8) John Mellencamp, [Jack and Diane](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h04CH9YZcpI) ---
**Author:** ![the\_art\_of\_rolling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@the\_art\_of\_rolling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_art_of_rolling)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/51 "2021-10-20T09:10:59Z")
… And,of course, a whole raft of dead people/dogs/horses. Ebony eyes - The Everly Brothers, Old Tige and The blizzard - Jim Reeves et al. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/52 "2021-10-20T09:13:55Z")
Johnny Horton “Sink the Bismarck” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KecIdlEAKhU) Streisand and Diamond “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers Any More” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z3yu2c-0_w4/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgWShIMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAQwxLZfnZKs5nLiFkbvL6qPKRwYA "Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand - You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3yu2c-0_w4) Larry Verne “Please, Mr Custer” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/E_Bt18kMmWs/hqdefault.jpg "MR. CUSTER ~ Larry Verne 1960") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_Bt18kMmWs) ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/53 "2021-10-20T10:26:04Z")
OK I’m really not a huge country fan, but somehow the only examples I can think of are country songs about bar altercations. I guess this form had a big run when I was a kid in the 70’s-80’s. [_Uneasy Rider_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJrRwTTqm0o) by Charlie Daniels [_Gimme Three Steps_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adCGtpOZvjU) by Lynrd Skynrd [_Coward of the County_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRpV0GePYeM) by Kenny Rogers ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/54 "2021-10-20T10:26:24Z")
I just went through the whole thread pretty fast, but I didn’t see this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1HtG9ef5XI4/hqdefault.jpg "I Spent My Last $10 (On Birth Control and Beer)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HtG9ef5XI4) My favorite. And I’ve actually met the band members. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/55 "2021-10-20T10:30:32Z")
[_I Hung My Head_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M53FcPoWtA) by Johnny Cash. Also covered by Sting. [_Rocky Raccoon_ by the Beatles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqA4ZiQaGtU) ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/56 "2021-10-20T11:11:57Z")
Did anyone mention “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda”? ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/57 "2021-10-20T11:21:50Z")
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia by Vicki Lawrence. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/58 "2021-10-20T12:05:38Z")
Roger Miller “Kansas City Star” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NBeXnzjvMrk/maxresdefault.jpg "Roger Miller - Kansas City Star") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBeXnzjvMrk) Roger Miller “Chug-a-Lug” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KsNWlM3fWmI/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGE8gZShLMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDVCZ6FyItL38YAKaE4ZSAybtAZvQ "Chug-a-lug ~ Roger Miller") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsNWlM3fWmI) Johnny Horton “North to Alaska” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BLONWy46gIE/maxresdefault.jpg "Johnny Horton - North to Alaska (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLONWy46gIE) ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/59 "2021-10-20T12:10:59Z")
How about Talkin Song Repair Blues by Alan Jackson? ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802/60 "2021-10-20T12:16:33Z")
Don’t forget Fairport’s “Tam Lin.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/story-songs-other-than-alices-restaurant/952802.md?page=4)