# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/81 "2005-02-13T01:56:30Z")
> [@vl\_mungo](#): > > **Call of the West** - Wall of Voodoo Good call! Stan Ridgeway is full of great stories. On one of his more recent albums, “Snakebite” I think…(I’m to lazy to go look), he does a song called “Talkin’ Wall Of Voodoo Blues” where he tells the the story, good and bad, about his old band. It’s like a four minute “Behind The Music”. Awesome stuff. The whole album is great. Stan Ridgeway’s albums are a must for anyone who likes good story songs. Stan’s WoV replacement, Andy Prieboy is no slacker when it comes to story songs either. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/82 "2005-02-13T02:01:48Z")
So many choices, so little bandwidth _Alice’s Restaurant El Paso Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald_ I’ll mention a couple that I didn’t see my first time through _Ira Hayes_ by Johnny Cash _Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine_ by Tom T. Hall ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/83 "2005-02-13T02:21:44Z")
**Cat’s in the Cradle** and **Taxi**. Chapin was the best at this. But in deference to the postings regarding **Billy the Mountain** , I have to admit to spending a good amount of college singing, “A mountain is something you don’t want to fuck with!” in the shower. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/84 "2005-02-13T02:53:36Z")
A couple by **Johnny Cash** … **I hung my head** and **The long black veil** And a concept album by **Willie Nelson** … **Red Headed Stranger** ---
**Author:** ![Baggins111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@Baggins111](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baggins111)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/85 "2005-02-13T03:19:18Z")
I’ll go ahead and get the Grateful Dead tunes out of the way… **Me and My Uncle** **Reuben and Cerise** **Black Throated Wind** **Terrapin Station** and too many others to list. **Wildwood Weed** by Jim Stafford - “We just smiled and waved / sittin’ there on that sack of seeds” ---
**Author:** ![Baggins111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@Baggins111](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baggins111)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/86 "2005-02-13T03:20:27Z")
And I’ll second **Red Headed Stranger** ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/87 "2005-02-13T03:23:12Z")
> [@wheelie](#): > > 1. Greggary Peccary by Frank Zappa You made me put on Studio Tan. I’m listening to it right right now. Gregory is driving his little red Volkswagon through the ugly part of town as I type. 🙂 Hey I think I’ll put on The Illinois Enema Bandit on next. Now there’s a story. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/88 "2005-02-13T03:32:49Z")
Well, most of mine have already been mentioned, including the ones which need repeating - The Who, Dylan’s Hurricane, and Seeger most notably. Seeger and both Gutheries, for that matter, have many great story songs. And, although I feel awful mentioning both in the same post, Bright Eyes really does have some good story songs, although I doubt they would be the _best._ My favorite, despite all of the above, would have to be the live version of Camper Van Beethoven’s All Her Favorite Fruit. Something oddly compelling, mystifying, and dark about it that just might be glurge, but seems to be so much more compared to the rest of their body of work. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/89 "2005-02-13T05:37:00Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I can’t believe I forgot **He Stopped Loving Her Today** by George Jones. That’s been a favorite of mine for many years. Damn, I forgot that one too! Country music is great for story-songs. **Indyellen** , have you heard the sequel to Uneasy Rider? I believe it’s called Uneasy Rider '88. Funny stuff. ---
**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 13, 2005, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/90 "2005-02-13T05:52:11Z")
> [@LifeOnWry](#): > > **Indyellen** , have you heard the sequel to Uneasy Rider? I believe it’s called Uneasy Rider '88. Funny stuff. Yes, I have. Very good, very funny. Oh, I forgot to mention **Ray Stevens** - particularly _Shriner’s Convention_ and _Mississippi Squirrel Revival_ as other favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/91 "2005-02-13T06:11:15Z")
1. **El Paso** by Marty Robbins. I actually use “Wicked Felina” as my wife’s SO name on another board. Nobody’s figured out the reference yet. 2. **Racing in the Street** by Bruce Springsteen, live version. Perfectly captures the sad loneliness of a faded relationship. Honorable mention: Half a dozen other Springsteen story songs: “The River”, “Thunder Road”, “Cautious Man”, “Working on the Highway”, “My Hometown”, “Johnny 99”. ---
**Author:** ![Goofus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@Goofus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goofus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/92 "2005-02-13T06:17:32Z")
> [@Kaitlyn](#): > > Honorable mention: Half a dozen other Springsteen story songs: “The River”, “Thunder Road”, “Cautious Man”, “Working on the Highway”, “My Hometown”, “Johnny 99”. I was just about to nominate _Highway Patrolman_. Also _Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold_ by Townes Van Zandt. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/93 "2005-02-13T06:22:18Z")
> [@Goofus](#): > > I was just about to nominate _Highway Patrolman_. > > Also _Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold_ by Townes Van Zandt. Crap, can’t believe I forgot that one. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/94 "2005-02-13T06:22:59Z")
American Pie and Ode to Billie Joe. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/95 "2005-02-13T17:22:07Z")
I have more. _At Seventeen, Bright Lights and Promises , Page Nine, Dance With Me, and Thank Yous_ Janis Ian Dance With Me is a Viet Nam war protest song. It always makes me sad and angry. One stanza : " I heard of a plan in the president’s mansion, high up in the sky, And it called for a sacrifice and my brother paid the price. Sent him home in a bag the American flag was draped around the box, And the coffin lid was locked, and the note said “Thanks a Lot.” ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/96 "2005-02-13T19:31:00Z")
Though I’ve listed my top two, I’ve not seen this mentioned and think it deserves mention: The Hostage by Tom Paxton ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/97 "2005-02-13T20:21:29Z")
_Snoopy vs. The Red Baron_ - The Royal Guardsmen _Sink the Bismarck_ - Johnny Horton ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/98 "2005-02-13T20:43:07Z")
I missed a couple of Peter Gabriel-era Genesis “story” songs which were amazing if only for their surreal creativity: **The Return of the Giant Hogweed** and **Get 'Em Out By Friday**. The latter is a future scenario in which things can go a little wrong when the government’s bureau of genetic control starts dabbling in land speculation. Not exactly Jim Croce, I know… ---
**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 13, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/99 "2005-02-13T21:51:23Z")
Aww hell, why not add a couple more… **One Piece At A Time** - Johnny Cash **Andersonville** - Dave Alvin ---
**Author:** ![arjee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@arjee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arjee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-two-story-songs/289676/100 "2005-02-13T22:41:31Z")
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