# What are your top two story songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676 "2005-02-12T00:48:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/21 "2005-02-12T02:38:13Z")
“A Quick One While He’s Away” by The Who (though it’s more of a suite than a song, even though it’s listed as a single song) “Tonya’s Twirls” by Loudon Wainwright III ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/22 "2005-02-12T02:44:32Z")
Why just two? **Alice’s Restaurant** , natch **30,000 Pounds of Bananas** , Harry Chapin **Hot Rod Lincoln** , Bill Kirchen’s live version is my favorite **Travelin’ Man** , as performed by Doc Watson **Folsom Prison Blues** , Johnny Cash **Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill** , the Beatles ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/23 "2005-02-12T02:47:57Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > **Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts** by Bob Dylan. Ditto. Also **American Pie**. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/24 "2005-02-12T03:01:03Z")
Oh man…How could I forget about Alice Donuts “Lisa’s Father (Waka Baby)” which is even better than a story, its a Chick Tract! ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/25 "2005-02-12T03:09:29Z")
**Hey Joe** Jimi Hendrix **Rael** The Who **Phenomenal Cat** The Kinks **Frank’s Wild Years** Tom Waits ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/26 "2005-02-12T03:17:46Z")
Dan Fogelberg’s “Another Auld Lang Syne” Beatles, “Day in the Life” Chapin’s “Taxi” Gordon Lightfoot’s “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” Arlo (Woody?) Guthrie’s “Riding on the City of New Orleans” (is that the title?) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/27 "2005-02-12T03:18:01Z")
A few new ones to consider: Jaime Brockett - “Legend of the USS Titanic” The Shangri-Las - “Leader of the Pack” Traffic - “John Barleycorn Must Die” Barenaked Ladies - “If I Had $1000000” Al Stewart - “Roads to Moscow” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/28 "2005-02-12T03:23:40Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Dan Fogelberg’s “Another Auld Lang Syne” > > Beatles, “Day in the Life” > Chapin’s “Taxi” > Gordon Lightfoot’s “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” > Arlo (Woody?) Guthrie’s “Riding on the City of New Orleans” (is that the title?) “Same Old Lang Syne” - I’m glad I’m not the only person who likes this one. “City of New Orleans” is the title of the other one. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/29 "2005-02-12T03:37:04Z")
Thanks. I am terrible with song titles and celeb names… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/30 "2005-02-12T03:40:18Z")
One more: **The Train from Kansas City** The Shangri-Las I’m done, g’nite. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/31 "2005-02-12T03:44:03Z")
I wonder if anyone outside my neck of the woods has ever heard “Ballad of Spider John,” by the excellent Willis Alan Ramsey. If not, seek it out. Like almost everything Willis Alan has recorded, it’s pure perfection of its kind. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/32 "2005-02-12T03:47:03Z")
“And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda,” while not something I can stand to listen to very often (the wracked-with-sobs look is “out” for this season, I fear), is probably my _favorite_. “Fairytale of New York,” by the Pogues and that lovely female vocalist whose name escapes me. “Walking in Memphis,” of which I like the Cher version best, and of course a few dance classics: “Shut Down,” by the Beach Boys “Jailhouse Rock,” by Elvis Presley “Centerfold,” by the J. Geils Band. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/33 "2005-02-12T03:48:45Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Number one my list should be everyones. > > (1) **Alices Restaurant** of course. By **Arlo Guthrie**. He has updated the song. Updated? Is it no longer just a half mile from the railroad track? ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/34 "2005-02-12T03:53:20Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > Updated? Is it no longer just a half mile from the railroad track? Maybe now you can get anything you want, including Alice? ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/35 "2005-02-12T03:58:14Z")
Tam Lin - Fairport Convention Allison Gross - Steeleye Span Ocean Gypsy - Renaissance The Highwayman - the Phil Ochs version The Gallery - Joni Mitchell > [@Reeder](#): > > Number one my list should be everyones. > > (1) **Alices Restaurant** of course. By **Arlo Guthrie**. He has updated the song. A Thanksgiving morning tradition here at the 'addi house. You know, if three people post it…can you imagine, three people logging on and posting Alice’s Restaurant and logging out. They may think it’s an organization. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/36 "2005-02-12T04:01:10Z")
I’ll go with **The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald** , too. It always gets me teary. And for something different; **The Highwayman** , Loreena McKennitt ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/37 "2005-02-12T04:02:30Z")
**Hijo de la Luna** , Mecano **Mortal City** , Dar Williams **Albuquerque** , “Weird Al” Yankovic **The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota** , “Weird Al” Yankovic ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/38 "2005-02-12T04:18:10Z")
1. **Mystery Science Theater 3000 Theme Song** 2. **Gilligan’s Island Theme Song** ---
**Author:** ![docandjean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7993a0/32.png) [@docandjean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/docandjean)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/39 "2005-02-12T04:21:25Z")
Brian McNeill _Trains and My Grandfather_ Greg Brown _Canned Goods_ ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/40 "2005-02-12T04:28:55Z")
#1: **Mr. Tanner** ~ Harry Chapin #2: **Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald** ~ Gordon Lightfoot Both men have such amazing story songs, and I also enjoy most of the other ones mentioned here, but those two are definitely my favorites. 🙂 Being both a musician and a music lover I’ve listened to a lot of songs over the years, but _Mr. Tanner_ contains the lyrics that I identify with more than any other I’ve heard: “But music was his life, it was not his livelihood / And it made him feel so happy, made him feel so good / And he sang from his heart, and he sang from his soul / He did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676.md?page=3)