Narrative songs

[RobertaTheGreat]

They played 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia' by the Charlie Daniels band on the radio the other day, which obviously got me furiously playing my air fiddle, and also got me thinking about other narrative songs, and how songs that tell a story don't seem to be such a thing anymore. They were quite popular back in the day but I can't think of many modern ones. So what are your favourites/least favourites? That's chart songs, not songs from musicals.

Another one I thought of, that became an ear worm yesterday, is the Pina Colada song - which provides a lesson for us all 😄

Up the Junction by Squeeze

I hadn't thought of that one! Used to really like Squeeze.

A lit of songs by the late Jim Croce are narrative songs.

Try 'You don't mess around with Jim' and 'Bad bad Leroy Brown'.

Genisis:
No son of mine
Driving the last spike

Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush: Don't give up

Oh yes I know 'Bad Bad Leroy Brown'. Haven't heard that one for I don't know how long!

Are there any modern narrative songs? All the ones I can think of are old ones, like 'Delilah' (which is pretty questionable when you think about it).

'Don't give up' is a great one! It always brings a tear to my eye. Apparently Gabriel initially wanted Dolly Parton to sing it with him. Kate Bush's voice is perfect for it imo.

I love narrative songs. There are a lot of country songs that tell stories. "Harper Valley PTA" is a famous one. "Tell Laura I love Her", "Austin", "The Baby", "Ol' Red", "Don't Take the Girl" "Whiskey Lullaby".

Spanish Train by Chris deBurgh
Coward of the County by Kenny Rogers

I hate the pina colada song.

Trying to think of recent ones...

Tribute - Tenacious D

Country music in general is very narrative. Rap music too.

Yes country songs are often narrative aren't they? I just thought of 'A Boy Named Sue'.

The Cat in the Cradle by Ugly Kid Joe - I think it’s a cover actually but not sure who did it first

Always wear sunscreen?

Yeah most country is like this.

Many folk songs. I like Fairport Convention's Matty Groves, A Sailor's Life, Reynardine... too many to mention here!

Sylvia’s Mother- Dr Hook (I think).

That song about the child charging his mum for doing jobs around the house...

Camouflage by Stan Ridgeway. It's absolutely brilliant and very witty in places.

Hazard by Richard Marx. Whiskey Lullaby by Brad Paisley. Camouflage by Sinfuli.

@pointythings got the artist right - it's not Sinfuli!

That song about the child charging his mum for doing jobs around the house Oh, I think that was called 'No Charge'.

What's that one with the lyrics "while you were having your fun, did you think I was having none? '?

I love all these songs!

What about that 60s one where she begged him not to go out on his motorbike, and he crashes and dies??

Is that “A Little Time” by the Beautiful South?

@RobertaTheGreat beautiful south a little time?

Tell Laura I love her MacBook?

Roberta a little time by the beautiful south.

Eminem - Stan