What is your favorite Story song?

[tooblue]

Originally Posted by RedHeadGal

What is missing from this list is Suzanne Vega--Tom's Diner, Luka, The Queen and the Soldier.

And this doesn't seem like a Dixie Chicks crowd, but Goodbye Earl should be on this list.

And I didn't realize I Hung My Head was Johnny Cash. I only know the Sting version. Interesting. I'm going to search for the Cash one.

I should've included Tom's Diner -great song!

[creekster]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

I have not googled. But I seem to recall that this particular song was penned by none other than Jimmy Dean, who is now a sausage broker. Correct?

Good job. Penned and sung by the sausage man himslef, Jimmy Dean. Old guys rule.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

LOL. Oops.

OK, I still like the Cash version better.

I have to admit I was not familiar with Cash's version. The thing that intrigued me about this song originally was the 9/8 time signature, which is pretty funky but which Sting perfroms effortlessly and very smoothly. Cash squares it off into a 4/4 time signature. I like Cash, but I think Sting's version is much more interesting musically.

[bluegoose]

I can't believe that no one has mentioned the most obvious answer which would have shut down this discussion after just one simple post:

Anything and everything by Garth Brooks.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by creekster

I have to admit I was not faniliar with Cash's version. The thing thaqt intrigued me abotu this sond originally was the 9/8 time signature, which is pretty funky but which Sting perfroms effortlessly and very smoothly. Cash squares it off into a 4/4 time sifgnature. I like cash, but I think Sting's version is much more interesting musically.

You've not mentioned anything by the Cars.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by bluegoose

I can't believe that no one has mentioned the most obvious answer which would have shut down this discussion after just one simple post:

Anything and everything by Garth Brooks.

Girth Books? You probably like Paul McCartney too.

[jay santos]

The first two that came to me were already covered: Boy Named Sue and The Gambler.

I gotta throw in a U2 song.

The lyrics obviously are not long and probably can't qualify as a story song, but the 7-8 minute live version creates so much tension that the story of the lyrics take on added meaning. About an older woman that takes advantage of a young man sexually. Great song.


An Cat Dubh (means The Black Cat in Irish Gaelic) / Into the Heart two songs sung together.

Say goodnight
She waits for me to
Put out the light
Lay there still
She waits to break my will

Yes and I know the truth about you
She cat

And in the daylight
A blackbird makes a violent sight
And when she is done
She sleeps beside the one

Yes and I know the truth about you
She cat

....

Into the Heart

Into the heart...of a child
I stay awhile...oh, I can go back

Into the heart...of a child
I can smile
I can go there

Into the heart
Into the heart of a child
I can go back
I can stay awhile

Into the heart...

[creekster]

Originally Posted by Archaea

You've not mentioned anything by the Cars.

you just did, sort of.

[Archaea]

Sting should do this one:

"Now this is the price of a stirrup-cup,"
The kneeling doctor said.
And syne he bade them take him up,
For he saw that the man was dead.

They took him up, and they laid him down
(And, oh, he did not stir),
And they had him into the nearest town
To wait the Coroner.

They drew the dead-cloth over the face,
They closed the doors upon,
And the cars that were parked in the market-place
Made talk of it anon.

Then up and spake a Daimler wide,
That carries the slatted tank:—
"'Tis we must purge the country-side
And no man will us thank.

"For while they pray at Holy Kirk
The souls should turn from sin,
We cock our bonnets to the work,
And gather the drunken in.—

"And if we spare them for the nonce,—
Or their comrades jack them free,—
They learn more under our dumb-irons
Than they learned at time mother's knee."

Then up and spake an Armstrong bold,
And Siddeley, was his name:—
"I saw a man lie stark and cold
By Grantham as I came.

"There was a blind turn by a brook,
A guard-rail and a fail:
But the drunken loon that overtook
He got no hurt at all!

"I ha' trodden the wet road and the dry—
But and the shady lane;
And why the guiltless soul should die,
Good reason find I nane."

Then up and spake the Babe Austin—
Had barely room for two—
"'Tis time and place that make the sin,
And not the deed they do.

"For when a man drives with his dear,
I ha' seen it come to pass
That an arm too close or a lip too near
Has killed both lad and lass.

"There was a car at eventide
And a sidelings kiss to steal—
The God knows how the couple died,
But I mind the inquest weel.

"I have trodden the black tar and the heath—
But and the cobble-stone;
And why the young go to their death,
Good reason find I none."

Then spake a Morris from Oxenford,
('Was keen to a Cowley Friar ):—
"How shall we judge the ways of the Lord
That are but steel and fire?

"Between the oil-pits under earth
And the levin-spark from the skies,
We but adventure and go forth
As our man shall devise:

"And if he have drunken a hoop too deep,
No kinship can us move
To draw him home in his market-sleep
Or spare his waiting love.

"There is never a lane in all England
Where a mellow man can go,
But he must look on either hand
And back and front also.

"But he must busk him every tide,
At prick of horn, to leap
Either to hide in ditch beside
Or in the bankes steep.

"And whether he walk in drink or muse,
Or for his love be bound,
We have no wit to mark and chuse,
But needs must slay or wound."

Rudyard Kipling was the first.

[The Borg]

Most of my favs have already been listed....

Big Bad John....Same Old Lang Syne....El Paso


Along with those that have been listed, here are some other classics in my books:

One Piece at a time - Johnny Cash
Leader of the Band - Dan Fogelberg
Uneasy Rider - Charlie Daniels Band (hilarious song)
Southern Cross - CSNY
We Didn't start the fire - Billy Joel (story line extraordinaire!)
The Last Resort - Eagles
Everything is Different Now - Don Henley

...some of these are taking me back to when I was a youngster, but, to me, their classics...