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 😄

Oh yes the baby shoes song! I forgot about that one!
Just remembered Skater Boy by April Lavigne (think that’s how you spell it)

What's that one about "I swear I left her by the river, I swear I left her safe and sound"?

Stone Roses - Sally cinnamon
Levellers - battle of the beanfield

Sting has a song from the soul cages album, title evades me, about a kid whose dad is injured working in the shipyards

@wannabebetter you’re thinking of Hazard by Richard Marx
Lots of the Levellers songs tell a story. Really like their version of The Devil Went Down to Georgia

Anything by billy Bragg ‘Must I paint you a picture’ or June tabor ‘pigeon song/ strange affair’ or Joni Mitchell. ‘Circle game/ case of you’

Witchita Lineman is always a beautiful one

Most of Chuck Berry's - You Never Can Tell, No Particular Place To Go.....and of course, Memphis Tennessee.

Oh gosh, anything country/bluegrass/roots and folk.

I love a narrative song.

Although, a favourite of mine is Banana Split for my Baby by Louis Prima (the coolest only second to Phil Harris)

Tapestry - Carol King

Twice Daily - Adge Cutler and The Wurzels

The Diary of Horace Wimp - ELO

Could Well Be In -The Streets

[quote cravingthelook]@everyonesmama if we are going Dixie Chicks it has to be Not Ready to make Nice[/quote]
Ooooooooor Earl's gotta die!

Many of Kirsty Maccoll's songs e.g. My Affair, Soho Square, Can't Stop Killing You, and some great ones from her last album Tropical Brainstorm, In These Shoes and the sublime England 2 Columbia 0.

On similar lines Eddie Reader: e.g. Patience of Angels, The Exception and Dear John (written by KM).

Forever Autumn (WOTW).

Goodbye Earl Dixie chicks
Travelling soldier Dixie chicks
While I was waiting Chely Wright
Me and little Andy Dolly Parton
Joshua Dolly Parton
Down from Dover Dolly Parton
Coat of many colours Dolly Parton
The Gambler Dolly Parton

Stan by Eminem

To the excellent suggestions already received, can I add:

By The Time I Get To Phoenix - Jimmy Webb
1952 Vincent Black Lightning - Richard Thompson.

Both sad (as many narrative songs seem to be!)

The ballad of Lucy Jordan. Dr hook.
The last resort. The Eagles.
Lyin’ eyes. The Eagles.
Memphis Tennessee Chuck Berry.

@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 😄

@RobertaTheGreatI heard this too on the radio, it was such a good good song! Never heard it before either!

I like “ode to billy Jo” - that’s worth a listen... also a big fan of Sunday Morning Sidewalks (Johnny cash) and The Joker - Kenny Rogers

I HATE Coward of the Country.... there’s just a bit too much relish the way he sings a gang rape

I'll throw the band The Young'uns into the mix for some amazing story songs.

about these events is heart wrenching and beautiful.

Also Carriage 12 about an attempted terrorist attack, and Dark Water about a Syrian refugee trying to swim to Europe, among others.

Loads of songs by The Decemberists are narratives, particularly on their earlier albums. Most (if not all) the songs on Castaways and Cutaways, Her Majesty the Decemberists, Picaresque, and The Crane Wife are narratives. The Hazards of Love is like some kind of prog rock musical. There are narrative songs on the more recent albums too.

The Lumineers’ most recent album is a narrative of sorts, as are several songs on the album before that (Cleopatra). There’s a video compilation of 4 of them that make up The Ballad of Cleopatra, which is apparently based on the life story of a taxi driver the singer once met.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=tXsQJhoauxc

Hotel California x

Remembered another one - The Ballard of Marty Groves - it was on an episode of Inspector George Gently. “Gently with class’

Arrggghh! Bloody autocorrect! The Ballard of Matty Groves - not Marty

Teenage Dirtbag, Weetus
Another Cup of Coffee, Mike and the Mechanics (thanks for that this morning Ken Bruce)

Beautiful South:
The Woman in the Wall
Old Red Eyes is Back
A Little Time (already mentioned)
I'll Sail This Ship Alone
Don't Marry Her
You Keep it all in
From Under the Covers

Disco 2000, Pulp