# Why Are There No Story Songs Any More? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 1, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539 "2001-08-01T21:04:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/21 "2001-08-02T18:11:27Z")
These tell stories and they were all singles within the last ten years (since “Jeremy” came out.) Depressing stories for the most part, but stories- at least as complete as the example “3 steps”- none the less. Nickleback- Leader of Men 3rd Eye Blind- Losing a Whole Year Splender- Yeah, Whatever Tom Petty- Mary Jane’s Last Dance/Wildflowers Alanis Morrisette- Your House Sheryl Crow- All I Wanna Do Everything But the Girl- Missing Wheatus- teenage dirtbag Cowboy Mouth- Whatcha Gonna Do? Indigo Girls- Closer to Fine Verve Pipe- Freshmen Better Than Ezra- Desperately Wanting Wallflowers- one Headlight Goldfinger- Here in Your Bedroom The Urge- Jump Right In Matchbox20- 3am/Push Live- Lighting Crashes Jars of Clay- Flood Meredith Brooks- What Would Happen No Doubt- Sunday Morning Liz Phair- Polyester Bride PJ Harvey- Elise Santana and Everlast- Put Your Lights On Savage Garden- To The Moon and Back Paula Cole- Where Have All the Cowboys Gone Dandy Warhols- Bohemian Like You Bif Naked- Lucky Chris Issack- Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing Sublime- Date Rape Red Hot Chili Peppers- Breaking The Girl Creed- My Own Prison Moby- Natural Blues (short story:) ) G Love- Rodeo Clowns Marvelous 3- Sugar Buzz Dada- Bob The Drummer Eliot Smith - Walz #2 Save Ferris- Goodbye Limp Bizkit- No Sex Jane’s Addiction- Been Caught Stealing (or maybe this is older than 91’ I forget.) Weezer- Say it Ain’t So Self- Paint By Numbers Tool- Aenema Blink 182-- Dammit Offspring- The Kids Aren’t All Right/ Gone Away Crash Test Dummies-- Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm Dishwalla-- Counting Blue Cars Seven Mary Three- Water’s Edge (a good companion to Hazard by Richard Marx, actually) White Town- Your Woman Reel Big Fish-- Sell Out etc… There are a lot more that have been made but many of them have never made it to the radio, so unless you own the albums you’d never know it. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/22 "2001-08-02T18:36:36Z")
Re: “story songs”, specifically, some of those posted by **elfkin477** : Songs such as Jane’s Addictions’ “Been Caught Stealing” and Offspring’s “The Kids Aren’t All Right” I don’t see as story songs, in the sense that they aren’t really telling a story. They’re more a series of related vignettes perhaps, but there isn’t anything that might be considered a “plot” in the song (for me, the ultimate “story song” is the aforementioned “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot - _that_ is storytelling). For example, “Been Caught Stealing” is pretty much some guy talking about how he steals things. Not much of a story there. “The Kids Aren’t All Right” is pretty much about a bunch of kids who wound up screwing up their lives in one way or another, but again, there is no “story” there. The same can be said of songs like “88 Lines About 44 Women”, by I-forget-who, or Butthole Surfers’ “Pepper”; they are certainly _about_ something, and they may have a theme, but I wouldn’t say they are telling a story, _per se_. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/23 "2001-08-02T19:13:16Z")
Yeah, I’ll echo what **Darwin’s Finch** has said. Most of your examples don’t hold up, **elfkin477**. They aren’t beginning-middle-end stories. They may contain some narrative descriptions, or snippets of the singer’s memories, or even related vignettes, but there are few of them I would classify as “story songs.” “My Own Prison,” _e.g._ How the heck is that a story song? “Lightning Crashes?” Same thing. A few narrative snippets, but no story. Ditto “Closer to Fine.” Etc., etc. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/24 "2001-08-02T19:30:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spoke- \* > \*\*“Lightning Crashes?” Same thing. A few narrative snippets, but no story. \*\* How does this differ from 99 Red Balloons? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/25 "2001-08-02T19:52:24Z")
Granted, **99 Red Balloons** may be one of the weaker entries, but it does tell a complete story. 99 red balloons float away, they get misidentified as incoming Russian missiles, they provoke a nuclear response, and the song ends with the singer walking around “in this dust that was a city.” A full story. In hindsight, though, I should probably remove “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” Doesn’t quite make the cut. Tell you what. In its place I’ll put “Killing Me Softly.” I could easily list many more from the 70’s alone. Full stories, too, not just narrative snippets sprinkled here and there in the song. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/26 "2001-08-02T20:49:56Z")
Don’t forget the story song that nobody likes but everybody knows the words to: Escape (The Pina Colada Song). ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/27 "2001-08-02T20:54:58Z")
_Groan_ Maybe the death of the story song is not such a bad thing after all. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/28 "2001-08-02T21:13:21Z")
Oh, but we could also add **Copacobana** … Since music and passion _ **were** _ always the fashion…:D:D:D Now, as for concept albums - I don’t mourn the loss of Pretentious Self-Indulgent Twaddle-Sprewn Albums of the likes of yes. But with a slightly broader vew of the term - i.e. an album that truly is greater than the sum of its parts - I think the last one I personally encountered was Bjork’s [Homogenic](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/instant-recs/107-7690937-7399725) of 1997. (Which, btw, I can’t recommend more - it’s a truly brilliant, enduring work.) ---
**Author:** ![DaveX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/96bed5/32.png) [@DaveX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveX)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/29 "2001-08-02T21:42:40Z")
I think you answered your question in the OP… there is storytelling out there, it’s just not "pop"ular right now. Pop music tastes wax and wane, and we happen to be in style over substance cycle right now. And you all are missing my favorite narative of all, “Dixie Drug Store” by Grant Lee Buffalo. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/30 "2001-08-02T22:37:07Z")
Fastball, “The Way” jayjay ---
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/31 "2001-08-03T00:03:03Z")
XTC, “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead”, early 90s ---
**Author:** ![silent\_rob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@silent\_rob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silent_rob)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/32 "2001-08-03T00:17:35Z")
I’m pretty sure that Ben Folds Five’s “Army” would qualify, too (saw “Brick” mentioned, but I didn’t see this one; if it is, sorry). ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/33 "2001-08-03T00:34:34Z")
Maybe it shows how much good taste kids today have. I remember the story songs of my youth. I know the words to most. They usually do not stand the test of time very well. Escape, Copacabana and Patches have already been mentioned. Does anyone remember “Run Joey Run” or “Delta Dawn”. I think we should be thankful no one has produced this generations “Tie A Yellow Ribbon”. P.S. Patches is the most agonizing, godawful pap ever set to music. It is the suckiest sucker that ever sucked a suck. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/34 "2001-08-03T01:22:09Z")
Wow, so many memories here! I was going to add _Escape_ to the list, but I see someone’s beat me to it. How about [_The Gambler_](http://www.crosswinds.net/~andreapinkus/lyrics/gambler.html). * * * Jeg elsker dig, Thomas ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/35 "2001-08-03T02:00:31Z")
Date Rape by Sublime. ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/36 "2001-08-03T02:06:32Z")
Oh, and “Wrong Way”, also by Sublime. “Maria” by Rage Against the Machine. “Scenes from an Italian” restaurant (although that may be too old) ---
**Author:** ![VitrolicBump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a587f6/32.png) [@VitrolicBump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VitrolicBump)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/37 "2001-08-03T02:33:15Z")
I don’t know, but I have been listening to a few songs by The Cure. Here they are - “Strange Attraction”(FTR, this song makes me cry), “The 13th”, “Lullaby”, “Hot, Hot, Hot”(or not, I don’t know), “Just Like Heaven”. Also Placebo’s “Haemoglobin”. Some of these are reaches, but here are the [Placebo](http://www.thebsh.com/lyrics/bmm.htm#haemo) and [The Cure](http://www.thecure.com/lyrics.html) song lyrics if you want to make your own decision. And I am sure I could find more. Or are these not what you are looking for? If not, then shoot! I went through all that trouble for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Grok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Grok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grok)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/38 "2001-08-03T03:25:53Z")
Here are a couple that haven’t been mentioned yet: \*\*Hot Rod Lincoln Lola \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/39 "2001-08-03T03:25:58Z")
Hijack: Originally posted by spoke-: Pink Houses (Jack and Diane) I’m not sure why the parenthesis is there, perhaps just misused. FTR, these are two separate songs. FWIW, Jack and Diane has a sequal entitled Eden Is Brurning – those two American kids seem to have found that “holding onto sixteen” just didn’t work. Also, gex gex, I really don’t think the Beatles are acclaimed as being brilliant soley based on short attention-span pop hits like “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.” Their brilliant songs, imho, would include “A Day In The Life,” “Eleanor Rigby,” “Norwegian Wood,” etc. Story songs, all. In fact, I’m gonna guess (and hope) that you well know that isn’t the case and just grabbed that song to make a quick point, or attempt to anyway. Even so, I wouldn’t classify the Beatles as an example of purveyors of short attention span songs based on just one song. Yes, they had many short little pop tunes, especially from about 62-65, but I wouldn’t just lump them with one example. Nor would I lump/classify any group with just one example. End of hijack. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539/40 "2001-08-03T03:31:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*Maybe it shows how much good taste kids today have. I remember the story songs of my youth. I know the words to most. They usually do not stand the test of time very well. > > Escape, Copacabana and Patches have already been mentioned. Does anyone remember “Run Joey Run” or “Delta Dawn”. I think we should be thankful no one has produced this generations “Tie A Yellow Ribbon”. > \*\* huff…huff…but I _like_ **Delta Dawn**! I mean, I ask you, who writes sentimal songs about stalkers anymore, hmm? Who? And let’s throw in _Fancy_ for good measure. Where are the people writing songs about selling your daughter into prostitution? P.S. You haven’t lived 'til you’ve heard [Lady Bunny’s](http://www.queenmother.tv/nycgirl/bunny/bunn.html) version of Fancy. I don’t know if she’s ever recorded it, but she sure should - I remember first hearing her singing it at Wigstock '92 or '93. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-story-songs-any-more/74539.md?page=3)