Songs that tell a story

NIMAN

Not a fan of Billy Joel at all, but heard Piano Man this morning and it's such a great song.

It's a song that really tells a story, and one which makes you imagine a time and place. And characters.

Any more suggestions for such songs?

Another couple of notable mentions for Back Home In Derry and Grace.

BrenMar

Eleanor Rigby

barneygumble99

Stacey’s mom

https://youtu.be/dZLfasMPOU4

karlitob

The band played waltzing Matilda.

what a song

callaway92

Generally, Arcade Fire have good storytelling in their music, and it’s good too (and understandable lyrics on first listen)

Sprawl II

Song off new album, Age of Anxiety I is pretty good

Difficult to pick just one but The Humpty Dumpty Love Song by Travis tells a great heartbreak story.

chrisire

A lot of Bob Dylan songs,Hurricane is great

randomname2005

Back when Eds songs of praise was on Sunday night on today fm he did a story version. If you can find the podcast or listen back it is one of my favorite 3 hours radio slots.

Song list https://www.todayfm.com/music/eds-songs-praise-090220-964635

podcast https://www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/eds-songs-praise-aHR0cHM6Ly9jZG4ucmFkaW9jbXMubmV0L21lZGlhLzAwNS9hcmNoaXZlLzIzNDg1Mi1lZHMtc29uZ3MtcHJhaXNlLzA5XzAyXzIwMjAubXAz

NIMAN

Thanks for the links, will check that out.

Ed, proper dj.

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119662015#Comment_119662015

I loved one of his more recent ones, Murder Most Foul. Pure class.

olestoepoke

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzMKTZdkaU4&ab_channel=AHMETARI

Does the story have to be true? Tweeter and the Monkey man is a great story/song

sydthebeat

Last train to Clarksville

amber69

Telegraph Road. Dire Straits

RockOrBog

Cooperhead Road

Nickla

Ode to billy joe - by Bobby gentry - there was a movie made after inspired by the song.

Ger Roe

Rainy night in Soho - The Pogues.

Bob Harris

Simon and Garfunkel - America. Should be taught in schools.

BENDYBINN

The wild colonial boy……suprised nobody has mentioned it..

Ger Roe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119662123#Comment_119662123

Convoy - by C.W. McCall.

There was a movie made after that too.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058264783/songs-that-tell-a-story

Townes Van Zandt bit left of field but oddly haunting.

HBC08

Stan by Eminem,

Whatever you think about the guy and his music that is a banger of a tune and tells a story throughout.

SEPT 23 1989

https://youtu.be/hgI8bta-7aw

..

HBC08

The River, Bruce Springsteen

Jack and Diane,John Mellancamp

Into The Great Wide Open, Tom Petty

Against The Wind ,Bob Segor

Stephen_Maturin

Teenage dirtbag - Wheatus

eamonnq

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058264783/songs-that-tell-a-story

Some other Billy Joel songs are similar with a decent story to them... Allentown, Movin Out,

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119662015#Comment_119662015

Didn’t hurricane turn out to be an awful human being in the end

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119662102#Comment_119662102

I actually heard the story of sultans of swing on Brian Johnson’s show , a two piece band playing in practically empty pub and those who were there we’re playing pool or chatting and the band finished up “good night we’re the sultans of swing” 😂😂😂

The Nal

Do yourself a favour and put 18 minutes aside a listen to this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m57gzA2JCcM&ab_channel=Stiletto

Former Former Former

The Defamation of Strickland Banks by Plan B is an entire album that tells a single story, and it's incredible music.

zetecescort

Chris de Burgh has many story songs too, Spanish train and The Tower would be personal favourites

kirk.

Johnny cash stuff ,, boy named sue

Is that all there is Peggy lee

muloc

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OLVWEYUqGew

Anything by John Prine

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119662780#Comment_119662780

Crusader all great stories. CB is great.

Alex86Eire

Hurt by Johnny Cash

American Pie

Most old Irish songs would fit the bill. Joe McDonnell immediately comes to mind

finglashoop

Sniper - harry chapin

Count Dracula

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119662780#Comment_119662780

I am obsessed with Chris De Burgh, he is very underrated and underappreciated as a songwriter and performer. I think he has suffered from music snobs throughout the seventies and eighties, he wasn't cool enough.

All his songs tell some sort of a story, he is a natural.

Borderline ( it even has a sequel ), The Crusader, In a country Churchyard, etc etc - Patricia the Stripper...ad lib to fade.

The Lady in Red got overplayed, but that is not his fault though?

Count Dracula

The Lakes of Ponchartrain

Count Dracula

little bo peep

sorry my bad. I am going now.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119662873#Comment_119662873

Waiting for a Hurricane is great.

His early stuff is all great songs with a story.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119662835#Comment_119662835

Thought of this

Choochtown

Listen to this ... it's a film crammed into 4 minutes ... beautiful and tragic

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tme3jpzxEG4

Choochtown

This is great as well ...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fHG5s6JFf1g

thehairygrape

The river is a short story. Bruce Springsteen.

as mentioned, anything by John Prine.

Desperados waiting for a train. Guy Clark. He had another one about a knife. Can’t remember the title exactly.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119662873#Comment_119662873

I loved cdb as a kid and probably went off him in my teens , along with Phil Collins who I now appreciate as an absolute genius, both solo and in genisis

Count Dracula

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119663058#Comment_119663058

More of Peter Gabrial man myself, but I can see how Collins is appreciated. I do like Collin's 80's love songs, it is real Miami Vice stuff or I defy anyone to not get the creeps when against all odds is played loudly.

But I am not sure about Collins as a storyteller?

Flinty997

Very Miami Vice.

HazeDoll

Richard Marks - Hazard.

Ger Roe

Harry Chapin was a good man for a story song.

W.O.L.D.

Cat's in the cradle

Flowers are red

They are all songs with a strong moral conclusion.

finglashoop

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119663202#Comment_119663202

Most of his are stories tbf

Coreys coming

The mayor of candor lied

Taxi (2 parts)

Mam of 4

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119663108#Comment_119663108

Another Day In Paradise...

Truthful lyrics imo.

Count Dracula

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119663223#Comment_119663223

Is it a story though?

I always found it to be fairly virtue signally? It is almost contextualizing a deficiency in modern society and its' neglect of homeless people and the less well off?