# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/61 "2005-02-12T15:51:45Z")
Can’t believe I forgot **The Legend of John Henry’s Hammer** - that might just be my #1. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/62 "2005-02-12T16:03:18Z")
**Her First Mistake** by **Lyle Lovett** ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/63 "2005-02-12T16:14:45Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer - George Thoroughgood This one’s been mentioned a few times. George’s version is a way better story, but let’s give credit where it’s due- it’s [John Lee Hooker](http://www.postman.pe.kr/blues/One_Bourbon.htm)’s song. My favourite story song by John Lee is **Boogie Chillun**. Lots of greats in this thread. The latest one I’ve been loving is **Van Lear Rose** by **Loretta Lynn**. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/64 "2005-02-12T16:48:35Z")
Heaps of Paul Kelly songs - **Who’s Gonna Make the Gravy** , **To Her Door** , **From Little Things Big Things Grow** ,\*\* Bradman\*\* and of course **Tribute** by Tenacious D ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/65 "2005-02-12T17:39:03Z")
> [@The Scrivener](#): > > “No Thugs In Our House” – XTC. Teenage Graham has joined the National Front, but the cops can’t convince the 'rents, and the boy’s father, a judge, keeps him out of jail. The vinyl single came with artwork of a theatrical proscenium and finger-puppet characters you could cut out and animate in front of the “stage”. Now that I’ve got out the old vinyl and had a fresh look at it, I have to correct and elaborate on this a bit 'cause the single’s just so cute. The vinyl single’s back side has the lyrics printed in the format of an actual play in three acts, complete with a cast of characters and scene description. The front side of the sleeve (with set design credited to XTC frontman Andy Partridge) has a gatefold of a rather Victorian-looking theater proscenium with a large cutout in the center, showing the drawing on the single’s sleeve of a crosssection of Graham’s house (kitchen downstairs, Graham’s bedroom upstairs). The insert of the song’s characters (Graham, his [literally portrayed] wasp-headed mother, his stodgy father, the cop, and the judge) has the figures standing on long rectangular strips that you’re encouraged to cut out and use as hidden puppet-poles, sliding them back and forth in front of their “stage,” in what would surely rank as one of the dorkiest indulgences of music fan geekery ever. And no, I have not and will not play with the stage puppets; that would ruin the value of my precious collectible! :wally This [fan site link](http://chalkhills.org/reelbyreal/s_Thugs.html) has it all: seven pics of the single and the artwork; the band’s comments about the recording of the song, lyrics, lyrics as printed out in play form, discography notes… ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/66 "2005-02-12T17:52:42Z")
_City of New Orleans_ Arlo Guthery _Vincent_ Don McLean - Cats in the Cradle\* Harry Chapin _Turn the Page_ Bob Seger ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/67 "2005-02-12T18:44:06Z")
(Ticky, Tacky) _Little Boxes_ (All in a Row) by Pete Seeger _The Flying Saucer_ by Buchanan & Goodman ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/68 "2005-02-12T18:54:21Z")
> [@Wile E](#): > > Weird coincidence. > Yesterday I saw the thread about “The Dot and The Line” and it got me thinking about a movie I saw as I kid and I couldn’t remember the title, only the song “Me and My Arrow”. So I googled the song and got my answer, Harry Nilsson’s The Point. Then I checked Amazon for the DVD and put it on my wishlist. Then I check this thread today and see it (the album) was mentioned, another SDMB Weird Coinkidink. My older brother turned me on to Harry Nilsson ages ago. I’ll date myself by saying this-when The Point was a new album, one of the Phila TV stations did a simulcast-you listened to the audio on your stereo. I have the album on vinyl, and also the VHS tape. Heck, I remember the Chrysler commercials for the Dodge Arrow that used Harry’s music. 😉 ---
**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, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/69 "2005-02-12T20:04:32Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > This is my first Nomination…Only heard the Pogues version, mesel’ I like Eric Bogle’s version, because it’s just him and his instrument. Very folksy and personal. It feels like you’re there in the room, listening to him tell the story. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/70 "2005-02-12T20:25:22Z")
Nobody does story songs like Steve Earle! There’s “Copperhead Road,” “Johnny Come Lately,” “Tom Ames’ Prayer,” “Taneytown,” etc. My number one Steve Earle story song, I guess, is **Billy Austin** , because the message is so damned powerful. Another master of the story song was Steve Earle’s mentor, Townes Van Zandt. My favorite of his would probably be **Pancho and Lefty**. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/71 "2005-02-12T22:04:45Z")
Cats in the Cradle (took 66 posts to mention this!) Fred Jones pt.2 by Ben Folds Five is an excellent one too. [http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/ben-folds-five/16548.html](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/ben-folds-five/16548.html) ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/72 "2005-02-12T22:21:46Z")
**Miss Otis Regrets** **Stagger Lee** ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/73 "2005-02-12T23:18:11Z")
**The Gift** - Velvet Underground **Call of the West** - Wall of Voodoo ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/74 "2005-02-12T23:27:59Z")
Sniper (Am I?) Harry Chapin Ode to Billie Joe Bobbi gentry ---
**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, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/75 "2005-02-12T23:31:46Z")
“Band on the Run” - Paul McCartney & Wings “Year of the Cat” - Al Stewart ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/76 "2005-02-12T23:52:12Z")
**The Devil Went Down to Georgia** has been mentioned, but no one has mentioned **Uneasy Rider** yet? Also, I’ll throw in **The Mary Ellen Carter** by Stan Fogarty as a companion to **Edmund Fitzgerald**. Also **One Week** by the Barenaked Ladies. In a slightly different vein, **Calypso Blues** , preferably as done by Harry Belefonte or Nat King Cole. Next? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/77 "2005-02-13T00:07:30Z")
> [@nitroglycerine](#): > > “The Butcher and Fast Eddie” by Rose Tattoo. The greatest story song bar none! > > For my number two pick? Hmm…I guess I’ll go with “The Curse Of Millhaven” by Nick Cave. Rose Tattoo is THE shit! My two faves (Butcher & Fast Eddy aside): _Rat Trap_ by **The Boomtown Rats** _Down in the Tube Station at Midnight_ by **The Jam** Not terribly storyish, but I prefer pithier fare. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/78 "2005-02-13T00:31:29Z")
Many of my favorites are listed here. One that nobody has mentioned yet: My Sister by Tindersticks. The story of a life that starts at the bottom and it’s downhill all the way from there. It’s very depressing. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/79 "2005-02-13T01:34:30Z")
I can’t believe I forgot **He Stopped Loving Her Today** by George Jones. That’s been a favorite of mine for many years. Agreed on **Tribute** by the D. I haven’t listened to that in awhile, I’ll have to dig it out now :D. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/80 "2005-02-13T01:52:50Z")
_Vincent_, Don McLean _Lola_, The Kinks And many of the others previously listed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676.md?page=5)