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 😄

The girl with April in her Eyes by Chris De burgh is so sad.

@KeeOe

a selection of snippets that could have been the most amazing narrative songs ever recorded...

😆😆😆 That's going on the family WhatsApp!

Love narrative songs
The hardest button to button - the white stripes
Ziggy stardust- David Bowie
I'm still waiting- Diana Ross

Ode to Billie Joe - Bobbi Gentry

I just thought of Common People by Pulp.

Blur must have at least one...

Tracy Jacks?!

For Tomorrow?

I'm not sure Parklife counts as it doesn't really get any more exciting than feeding the pigeons and sparrows.

Charmless Man?

There are other songs like Miss America, Blue Jeans, Beetlebum that seem like they're going to be narrative songs but end up going nowhere (Damn you, Damon's heroin habit!)

Down in the Tube Station at Midnight - the Jam

Lola - The Kinks. In fact, there will be several by the Kinks I'm sure.

Jimmy Jimmy - The Undertones.

Squeeze too, Pulling Mussels from the Shell? Labelled with Love too maybe?

Suzanne Vega - My name is Luca

Have we had Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks yet?

Copacabana, Barry Manilow
Pianoman, Billy Joel
What's the one with the king and the queen of the prom (Brenda and Eddie) in it...?

Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty. That one once caught my mood as I was driving to work at a difficult time and the line "one more year then you'll be happy" hit me and I was sobbing.

The Living Years, Mike and the Mechanics (a bit of Genesis overlap via Mike Rutherford there)

Almost anything by Ralph McTell. Peppers and Tomatoes is one of my favourites, an absolute gut-punch of a song.

Romeo and Juliet, Dire Straits.

Rest stop - Matchbox 20

@LiveFatsDieYoGnu

Almost anything by Ralph McTell. Peppers and Tomatoes is one of my favourites, an absolute gut-punch of a song.

I'd never heard Peppers and Tomatoes. I've just listened to it and completely get why you say it's a 'gut punch'.

@CodenameApollo

Loads from Joan Baez and Bob Dylan

Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts
Long Black Veil
Hurricane
North Country Blues

Loads more

Oh, yes!

I came on to say Tangled up in Blue

@RobertaTheGreat if I remember correctly he wrote it in response to the conflict in Yugoslavia. It brings to mind another fantastic story song - You Stay Here by Richard Shindell, also beautifully covered by Show of Hands.

Something For The Weekend by The Divine Comedy
House of Fun by Madness

Possibly the ultimate - Tall Ships by Show of Hands (it's 22 minutes long )

Come Dancing - The Kinks
Jack and Diane - John Mellencamp
He thinks he'll keep her - Mary Chaplin Carpenter.

Mary Chapin Carpenter I mean!

Mr Bojangles
Running Scared
Me And Bobby McGee

Half Man Half Biscuit are the masters of this.

The Unfortunate Gwatkin , National Shite Day and Descent of the Stiperstones are probably the most obvious contenders, but I'd also make a case for Terminus and Thy Damnation Slumbereth Not.

Copacabana - Barry Manilow

Under Your Thumb by 10cc is a great one.

Lots by Ralph McTell, peppers and tomatoes mentioned, also Easter
Lilies, his new album has a few too which are well worth a listen.

He has also done a stunning song about the unknown soldier which is very moving. Hope the link works..

Hmm, that was a long vid, The unknown soldier bit starts at about the 5 min mark, have just watched it again and there is something in my eye...