# What's Your Favourite "Story" Song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598 "2009-05-25T19:59:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lily\_Milliner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8edcca/32.png) [@Lily\_Milliner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lily_Milliner)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/21 "2009-05-26T02:00:43Z")
Oh, come on, people! Let’s up the cheesiness quotient a bit, shall we? Knock Three Times Copacabana ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/22 "2009-05-26T02:05:34Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > [The Road Goes On Forever](http://www.ely.com/LoveAndDanger.html#The%20Road%20Goes%20on%20Forever) by **Joe Ely** \* > > “Sonny’s playin’ eight-ball at the joint where Sherry works > When some drunken out-a-towner put his hand up Sherry’s skirt > Sonny took his pool cue–Laid the drunk out on the floor > Stuffed a dollar in her tip jar and walked on out the door > She’s runnin’ right behind him, reachin’ for his hand > The road goes on forever and the party never ends.” > > - Written by Robert Earl Keen, Jr. Heh–once Joe Ely’s performed a song, it becomes “his”–no matter who actually wrote it. He did a pretty good job on his own [Me & Billy the Kid](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzClIWElrco&feature=related). Here we see the Flatlanders back Tom Russell in Joe’s [Indian Cowboy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tYh7qlyusE). Which Townes van Zandt used to play, along with his own story songs like “Tecumseh Valley” & “The Ballad of Poncho & Lefty.” There are lots of folkie stories sung down here–but I sang along many times to Stan Rogers’ “Barrett’s Privateers” as sung by Bill Staines, a visiting New Englander. And was amazed when Paul Gross used it in _Due South_… Edited to add: No, I can’t pick just one. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/23 "2009-05-26T02:06:59Z")
> [@Ro0sh](#): > > Alice’s Restaurant. Duh. Came in to post that one. Also my favorite thanksgiving song. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/24 "2009-05-26T02:12:52Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > You might like another Marty Robbins song called Utah Carroll. > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apq8EDzflPI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apq8EDzflPI) > > Marty has a bunch of very good story songs.The best story teller in the history of music, IMO. > > The Masters Call > Running Gun > The two sequels to El Paso; > El Paso City > Feleena [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOPD-p8tM4M](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOPD-p8tM4M) > (I really like this video,simple but very neat) > > Strawberry Roan > They’re Hanging me Tonight > Big Iron > Billy the Kid > > Several others Much as I love Marty Robbins, the best storyteller in the history of music is Tom T. Hall. In addition to writing Harper Valley P.T.A., he also wrote gems like God Came Through Belleville, Georgia, I Remember the Day that Clayton Delaney Died and, of course, Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine. He also wrote tons of crap, but at his best, there was no one who could tell a story in 2 1/2 minutes like Tom T. Hall. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/25 "2009-05-26T02:26:27Z")
Hows about some more Arlo Guthrie? City of New Orleans Coming into Los Angeles ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/26 "2009-05-26T02:55:55Z")
The REAL “City of New Orleans” was by Steve Goodman, though I believe his “passing towns that have no names” was improved by Arlo’s “passing trains that have no names.” “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” is special, to me, because I knew a guy who sailed on that run. They supposedly stopped in either Cleveland, Gary or Chicago (I don’t recall), he got drunk and into a fight (the two went together for him), and missed the boat when it sailed the next morning. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/27 "2009-05-26T03:13:10Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” is special, to me, because I knew a guy who sailed on that run. They supposedly stopped in either Cleveland, Gary or Chicago (I don’t recall), he got drunk and into a fight (the two went together for him), and missed the boat when it sailed the next morning. One of my very best friends lives(or lived) right next door to the captain of the SS Arthur M. Anderson,the ship that was trailing the EF when it went down. ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/28 "2009-05-26T03:14:47Z")
Lets have some fun with [Patricia the Stripper](http://www.asklyrics.com/display/Chris_De_Burgh/Patricia_The_Stripper_Lyrics/53143.htm) by Chris De Burgh. Also by de Burgh - _Crusader_, _Spanish Train_, and _Just Another Poor Boy_. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/29 "2009-05-26T03:41:55Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > The REAL “City of New Orleans” was by Steve Goodman, though I believe his “passing towns that have no names” was improved by Arlo’s “passing trains that have no names.” Agreed. A train without a name was a freight train. A train that had a name was a passenger train: the _City of New Orleans_, the _Twentieth Century Limited_, the _California Zephyr_–all well-known passenger trains. For train buffs, Arlo’s change conjured up a mind’s-eye vision familiar to any train traveller of passing freights on sidings. A “town without a name” just doesn’t work as well, IMHO. And good call, **kunilou** , on Tom T. Hall. I came in here to mention “Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine,” but you beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/30 "2009-05-26T03:53:41Z")
Tom Waits - **Romeo is Bleeding** , or **Frank’s Wild Years** , or **Murder in the Red Barn** _Now the ravens nest in the rotted roof of Chenoweth’s old place and no one’s asking Cal about that scar upon his face 'Cause there’s nothing strange about an axe with bloodstains in the barn There’s always some killing you’ve got to do around the farm_ ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/31 "2009-05-26T04:04:05Z")
[The Scotsman’s Song](http://www.allerdice.net/scotsman-song.htm). 😃 Seriously, it’s been my favorite “story” song since I was a kid. I used to hear it once a year (on New Year’s Eve… Midnight Special or something like that? On NPR), and even before I had a clue what it meant, it was the song I always looked forward to. Of course, 'round about 9 or so, I figured out what it was about, and I shocked myself! By high school, my girlfriends and I were singing it at the Ren Faire. No, we didn’t officially work there, we’d just start singing it in three part harmony. Made some fine tips, too! ---
**Author:** ![Charger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@Charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charger)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/32 "2009-05-26T04:07:24Z")
I would suggest these two as the best “story songs”: “Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels “Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/33 "2009-05-26T04:36:24Z")
> [@Charger](#): > > I would suggest these two as the best “story songs”: > > “Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels I thought I was gonna get to be the first one to mention this! Missed it by _that_ much! Yes, I love this song. Also, speaking of Harry Chapin, “Cat’s in the Cradle.” Billy Joel, “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” Sting, “[The Soul Cages](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIGtjCcdtr0)” \<– a very underrated song; I adore it. Jonathan Coulton, “Skullcrusher Mountain,” “Code Monkey,” “Creepy Doll,” “The Future Soon” … rather a lot, actually. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/34 "2009-05-26T04:39:06Z")
**Jeff** , I gotta find that one – I love murder ballards. _Long Black Veil_ is a favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Elyanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@Elyanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elyanna)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/35 "2009-05-26T04:49:00Z")
> [@Jorge\_Burrito](#): > > Favorite not mentioned so far is The Mariner’s Revenge by The Decemberists. I can came in here to mention that. Marvelously creepy revenge song. On a similar note, Flight of the Conchord’s “Petrov, Yelyena and Me.” Marvelously hilarious cannibalism. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/36 "2009-05-26T05:05:32Z")
Ooh! Mentioning Flight of the Conchords reminds me of the Main Street Singers’ “Potato’s in the Paddy Wagon” and Mitch & Mickey’s “The Story of Bobby and June.” ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/37 "2009-05-26T06:50:06Z")
**Dixie Chicken** Little Feat ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/38 "2009-05-26T06:52:27Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Pushed closely by Peter Gabriel’s “Biko” and “The Ghosts Of Cable Street” by The Men They Couldn’t Hang. No fair! I was going to say Gabriel’s _Biko_ and… _The Colours_ by TMTCH. I love the line “While Pitt stood helpless we were waiting for Bonaparte” ---
**Author:** ![Nicolas\_Bourbaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@Nicolas\_Bourbaki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nicolas_Bourbaki)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/39 "2009-05-26T08:50:39Z")
“Pleasures of the Harbor”, or “The Highwayman”, both by Phil Ochs. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598/40 "2009-05-26T12:39:37Z")
Tom Paxton’s [Born on the Fourth of July](http://www.mydfz.com/Paxton/lyrics/botfoj.htm), inspired by Ron Kovac’s book. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-story-song/497598.md?page=3)