Great Story Telling Songs

[Raxo]

What are some really good songs that tell a story? Post your favorites and explain what the song is about and why you like it so much.

A Boy Named Sue- Johnny Cash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M89c3hWx3RQ&feature=related)- It's a country song but it's a funny story about a boy whose father names him Sue before he leaves his family. The kid tracks his dad down they fight and he finds out he really likes his dad.

I Gave You Power- Nas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TllbGtempQ4)- A rap song where Nas tells the story of his life as if he were a gun. Great song for an interesting view from the way a gun sees things. I can't think of any other song with such a different perspective.

also too many people already know how great Dance with The Devil by Immortal Technique is so I'll mention it here.

[Pelican Man]

I know this thread is intended as a song with lyrics that tells a story, but upon reading the thread title, I immediately thought of Hall of the Mountain King.
It's a classical piece that is instantly recognizable, and tells a story by the feelings in the notes.

"The sequence illustrated by the music of In the Hall of the Mountain King is when Peer sneaks into the Mountain King's castle. The piece then describes Peer's attempts to escape from the King and his trolls after having insulted his daughter."

It starts off slowly, the music being a slow creep, showing Peer creeping through the castle.
Then this theme is continued, but by different instruments playing the notes higher, indicating the guards of the Mountain King also walking around within the castle.
The 2 parts seem to avoid each other for a fair while, showing Peer and the guards walking without knowledge of one another, then suddenly they clash, and this meeting is followed by the music ascending into a chase tempo.
Then the music signifies the Mountain King himself joining the scene, and Peer flees.
The tune ends with powerful, sharp beats, which is taken 2 different ways;
1. Peer escapes the castle, the beats are the sound of the entranceway collapsing and killing the guards.
2. The guards and Mountain King catch up to Peer, and the beats are Peer being stabbed.

[Android]

Did you know that Shel Silverstein, poet, cartoonist and author of "Where the Sidewalk Ends" wrote A Boy Named Sue? He also wrote a majority of Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show's hits (Cover of the Rolling Stone.) He put out an album in 1969 of songs he wrote called "Freakin at the Freaker's Ball."

On the album he sings the songs, most of which are really dirty, and is backed musically by Dr. Hook. Most of the tunes are perverted brilliance, "I spend each dime I can afford. I swear it's gonna win an academy award. I saw Polly in a porny with a pony, and the pony seemed a little bored."

Great stuff.

[timbot]

Shel Silverstein was a perv. He did more than a little stuff for Playboy if I'm not mistaken.
But, that's off the topic.
One specific song that immediately comes to mind is by Bob Dylan called "House Carpenter." It's about a house carpenter (surprise) who is just returning to his true love after being away for a long time, he convinces her to come on his boat and they sail away together...to hell.
Another I really like is "The Mariner's Revenge Song" by The Decemberists. This one is told by a man from the belly of a whale. Basically, two men have been swallowed alive by a whale, while they were out at sea on different ships. The narrator slowly reveals that he is the son of a woman whom the other man took advantage of an deserted, and the narrator has been seeking revenge for years. And, he gets his revenge at the end of course.

[blltmssgy]

Jack Straw - Grateful Dead
Tells a story about two bandits on the run.

My Brother Essau - Grateful Dead
Paints a picture of the Vietnam war through Biblical references, really cool.

Other Grateful Dead story songs - Me and My Uncle, Stagger Lee, and Samson and Delilah. The Dead wrote many, countless story songs, these are just the best.

Alaska - New Monsoon
Tells the story of a man and his daughter on the run from the law.

[SLjimbolian]

King Diamond - "The 7th Day of July 1777"

Great song about revenge and murder with a 18th-century goth setting. In fact, this is off of Abigail, in which the entire album is a story itself.

[Boof]

I try to keep my taste in music as broad as i can, but all thats coming to me at the moment is hip hop songs. Here's my list:

Joe Budden - "The Sides To A Story"
Told from the perspective of three different people: a boy in his mid-teens, his younger sister, and their stepfather (who abuses the kids and actually impregnates the girl).

Hilltop Hoods - "Stopping All Stations"
These guys are a very talented Aussie hip hop group and actually have quite a few more "story" songs. This song is similar to the previous one, told from three perspectives: an old man, a poor teenager desperate for money, and a female bystander. This is the story of an old man getting robbed and killed on a train.

Metallica - "One"
You've all probably heard this song so i shouldn't have to explain.

Lupe Fiasco -
Pretty much at least 2/3 of his new album are story songs, and some of his last album. Lupe has an amazing imagination. One of the songs from his new album is actually told from the perspective of a cheeseburger...

Immortal Technique - "Dance With The Devil"
Probably another one many of you have already heard. Definately a recommended track.

Tonedeff - "Porcelain"
Tonedeff gives us a story of his childhood all the way to after graduation, focusing on his dream girl that he never had the guts to ask out. They meet once again a few years after high school graduation, he takes her on a date, and she breaks his heart. Tonedeff is an extremely talented rapper and his performance in this song is amazing.

Nas - "Surviving The Times"
An autobiography of the rappers life compressed to three verses. Nas fans here should be familiar with this song.

Thats all i can think of right now.

[opn4bzns]

The Hurricane - Bob Dylan. The true (apparently) story of a boxer framed for a triple murder. You've probably heard of it, so I won't go into huge detail.

[Profane Methane]

Psycho - Beasts of Bourbon. Not sure who it was who written by originally , but this song is a great tale of man who's talking to his mother about killing a bunch of people and has a great twist at the end.

[Quadros]

Shining On By Big D and the Kids Table is effectively a 'day in the life' story about living an ordinary life and how even through the down times you can't help but smile.

The Dirty Glass By Dropkick Murphys is a story/lovers' tiff between a guy and either a pub or the landlady he fell in love with, it's not very clear, but it's a brilliant duet.

The Spicy McHaggis Jig also by the Dropkick Murphys is about a bagpiper's escapades on a drunken night, and it's hilarious.

Weird beard by the Mad Caddies is a song about a pirate crew who go drinking in a town. It's brilliant.

[Corcho]

Julito Maraña - Julio Voltio feat Tego Calderon, the story of a ganster since he was a kid

[timbot]

Detachable Penis by King Missle
It's about a guy who loses his penis and then has to go searching for it, and eventually buy it from dude on the street. What's not to love?

[abbey]

I'm so surprised no one's mentioned these yet!

Tribute - Tenacious D
It's about Jack Black and Kyle Gass. They encounter a shiny demon who tells them to "sing the best song in the world, or [it'll] eat [their] souls." Great song.

Actually, most, if not all, Tenacious D songs tell a story.

[Mr Anorexia]

John Wayne Gacy Jr. - Sufjan Stevens. It's about John Wayne Gacy, the serial killer.

[Hats of!]

Musical Box - Genesis.
It's about two young children who plays some croquet. The boy (named Henry) has the lead and the girl (named Cynthia) is very mad about this, so when Henry is about to hit the ball, Cynthia raises her croquet mallet and removes Henrys head from his body and, follow this, kills him.
Anyways, Cynthia then raises intrest for Henrys Musical Box, a box that plays the melody "Old King Cole". While playing on the Musical Box Henry is returned to life! Yes, but he is aging quickly. His mind and everything starts to get very horny, you see, since he is now an adult he wants to mate, so he goes after Cynthia.
Then his nurse comes in the door and throws the Musical Box at Henry making him dead, again.

And, then there are alot of Rock-Operas, concept-albums when all of the songs follows a story, amongst the most worth noticed are:
Tommy - The Who
About a blind, deaf and dumb boy and how everyone is mean to him.
The Wall - Pink Floyd
About a rocker with a troubled life and how he imagine himself as a dictator.

[Pyro]

Date Rape - Sublime
The first one that wasn't posted in this thread and popped into my mind. It's a story about a date rape and isn't really that deep of a song but it's still nice.

[fabz]

John Barleycorn

It's about making beer. Lots of people have recorded it including Traffic.

[NewShades]

I give Country music some credit for storytellin'

John Micheal Montgomery-The Little Girl song
Clay Walker-Chain of Love

[Pelican Man]

A Little Piece Of Heaven by Avenged Sevenfold.

It tells the story of a dude who kills his girlfriend, and keeps her dead body to do with what he wishes. She comes back from the dead, kills him, and together as spirits they get married and torment people.

A sick idea, but great song.

[TheHighwaySong]

Props to the guy who mentioned Lupe Fiasco. He is definitely a great story teller, and one of the best rappers today, if not ever.

Last Letter Home by Dropkick Murphys
The band had finished writing a song, but then got a letter saying that a big fan of theirs had just gotten killed in Iraq. They were sent letters old letters from the soldier to his mother where the he writes thanking his mom for the DKM CD's he was sent. They rewrote the song completely, and made it include excerpts from the letters he wrote.

Thanks mom, I got your package today,
I love the Fields of Athenry
I swear I want them to play that song on the pipes in my funeral
When I die.

Just as he wished, the band played Fields of Athenry as his casket entered the church at his funeral.

[SWiTCH]

Pain - Chuck Al Hashib

Best story song ever.

[Con-Con]

Rockstar by Nickelback.
Everyone had to have heard this one. It just tells how everyone wants to be a rockstar really.

[SkanHockey10]

Hurt - Johnny Cash

[Android]

Hurt - Johnny Cash

I think you mean NIN since Cash's version was a cover. Although the Cash version is admittedly better given that he was dying when he recorded it, and the accompanying music video.

[I_Smell]

The Streets- A Grand Don't Come For Free album.

Eleven tracks about how he had a grand in a shoebox and one of his mates probably nicked it.

[fabz]

Hurt - Johnny Cash

There isn't a story in that song. Rather just a person looking back on his life and saying how he would do things differently.

[Oofie]

The Hurricane - Bob Dylan. The true (apparently) story of a boxer framed for a triple murder. You've probably heard of it, so I won't go into huge detail.

A lot of Bob Dylan songs tell great stories, e.g. 'Like a Rolling Stone'. I love that song.

[Biguardo]

Rockstar by Nickelback.
Everyone had to have heard this one. It just tells how everyone wants to be a rockstar really.

Everytime I hear this song, I want to scratch the skin off my face. Nickelback is the most worthless group of people in the world.

Great story telling Songs are every song of Coheed and Cambria.
Wikipedia Summary of the Plots of album 1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Second_Stage_Turbine_Blade), 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Keeping_Secrets_of_Silent_Earth:_3), 3 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Apollo%2C_I'm_Burning_Star_IV%2C_Volume_One:_ From_Fear_Through_the_Eyes_of_Madness), 4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Apollo%2C_I'm_Burning_Star_IV%2C_Volume_Two:_ No_World_for_Tomorrow).

In short, every song of Coheed and Cambria tells the story of two main characters, named Coheed, and Cambria. ( :rimshot: )
They visualized the first few of these stories as graphic novells and are planning to shoot a movie, I believe. The story itself is way to far out to explain it in a couple of short sentences, but after all, I think this is a pretty unique concept.

[Android]

Perhaps one of the best story tellers is folk singer Arlo Guthrie (son of Woody Guthrie, author or This land is your Land).

Arlo's song, "Alice's Restaurant" is without a doubt, the best story telling song I've ever heard. It's funny, socially critical, and 20 minutes long. I have actually had the pleasure of meeting Guthrie after one of his performances, got some photos and autographs. He is a real stand up guy.

[Mr Anorexia]

Pints of Guiness Make You Strong - Against Me!

It's about the lead singer Tom Gabel's grandparents.

[Raxo]

Props to the guy who mentioned Lupe Fiasco. He is definitely a great story teller, and one of the best rappers today, if not ever.

Lupe Fiasco is pretty good and a good story teller but he doesn't hold a candle to the greatest story telling rapper ever, Slick Rick

Slick Rick's Children's Story is one of greatest story raps and has influenced many a rapper, definitely a must have song for rap fans. A story of a kid who heads down the wrong path in life and gets what was coming to him in a tragedy. No one paints a picture as well as Rick.

[TheHighwaySong]

True dat. And now that you mentioned that song, I'm reminded of Gangsta's Fairytale by Ice Cube. Funny, but cannot surpass the greatness that was Children's Story.

[Phil_8equalsignD]

Wet Dream in the Gulf Stream by Dr. Demento
It's a pretty funny song.. its about a guy as a fish underwater talking about his day. Demento uses a whole bunch of sea/fish type puns

[KtotheT]

At The Bottom of Everything-Bright eyes. The intro is mainly the story part. It's about a plane crash, and mostly, how we should live our lives.

[Pelican Man]

Arlo's song, "Alice's Restaurant" is without a doubt, the best story telling song I've ever heard. It's funny, socially critical, and 20 minutes long. I have actually had the pleasure of meeting Guthrie after one of his performances, got some photos and autographs. He is a real stand up guy.

I'd totally forgotten about this song! I heard it last year as part of my English class, it's amazing. I found it funny, even if half the class didn't. Unlike most songs that are 10+ minutes long, I easily listened to the entirety and loved it!

The only other song I could say the same for would be Albuquerque, by Weird Al, which I guess also counts as a story song, albeit not as good as majority mentioned in this thread.

In short, every song of Coheed and Cambria tells the story of two main characters, named Coheed, and Cambria. ( :rimshot: )

That kind of names me think of Protest the Hero, whose songs usually always feature around the character 'Kezia'. Not sure who Kezia is meant to be, but she seems to be seen as a goddess of some sort. Not sure if PTH's songs count as story songs though.

They visualized the first few of these stories as graphic novells and are planning to shoot a movie, I believe. The story itself is way to far out to explain it in a couple of short sentences, but after all, I think this is a pretty unique concept.

That sounds pretty cool, if they bring out a movie, or even graphic novels, I'd buy them.

[Godly]

A couple of songs by Sufjan Stevens could be considered good story songs. Like Casimir Pulauski Day or Seven Swans.

Also Tim Minchin tells some good story's in his songs, plus, they're hilarious.

[Pelican Man]

Also Tim Minchin tells some good story's in his songs, plus, they're hilarious.

Any comedian songwriters do, like Tripod, Flight of the Conchords, etc.

[timbot]

The Streets- A Grand Don't Come For Free album.

Eleven tracks about how he had a grand in a shoebox and one of his mates probably nicked it.

I love that album. Glad someone mentioned it. It's cool to see a whole album tell one cohesive story.

I'll add The Fiery Furnaces Rehearsing My Choir. All their songs on all their albums are pretty much narratives. But this album, as far as I can untangle it, has the most sense of the same characters in every song and a real interconnection between all the songs.

[Crabstick]

Boney M - Rasputin and/or Ma Baker
Tenacious D - Pick of Destiny
John Mellencamp - Jack and Diane
Paul Kelly - To Her Door

[emokid72]

In short, every song of Coheed and Cambria tells the story of two main characters, named Coheed, and Cambria. ( :rimshot: )


Umm, the story only included Coheed and Cambria as plot devices in the first album. Their only role aside from the is as Claudio's parents. Inferno plays a bigger role through out the whole thing more so than his siblings.




Anyway...

Waterwings (and other poolside fashion faux pas) - Alexisonfire. Tells the story of a guy who would "git r done" everyday and got chlorine poisoning from it. He spent his days working to keep his family support and living a good life, though realized that he wasted all that time that he could have spent with them. I like it cause it the music in it actually seems to have the right tone for each stage (erratic at the start to more heavy at the end [lots of minor chords]).

March on Electric Children (album) - The Blood Brothers. Story about a underground sex industry, based on what I can tell, child porn. Gang wars, abductions, and the almight downfall. Love the album.

Sic Transit Gloria (Glory Fades) - Brand New. Story about a virgin guy being pushed in sex too early into a relationship he didn't want to end. Catchy bassline, cool vocal effects on the recorded version.

Space Oddity - David Bowie. Self Explanatory.

Vermillion Pt1 and Pt2 - Slipknot. About that one person who you feel attracted to though just can't get close enough to see the dark side until it was too late.

You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette. About a break up in the works.

[Pelican Man]

Space Oddity - David Bowie. Self Explanatory.

Self Explanatory if you've heard the song. For those of us that haven't, enlighten us.

[Krabby]

Iron Maiden - Paschendale

About a soldier dieing in Paschendale.

[I_Smell]

Blake Sheldon - Old Red

I love this one, it's really western country all acoustic n shit.

[Jawbone]

Perhaps one of the best story tellers is folk singer Arlo Guthrie (son of Woody Guthrie, author or This land is your Land).

Arlo's song, "Alice's Restaurant" is without a doubt, the best story telling song I've ever heard. It's funny, socially critical, and 20 minutes long. I have actually had the pleasure of meeting Guthrie after one of his performances, got some photos and autographs. He is a real stand up guy.

Arlo Guthrie - Motorcycle Song http://youtube.com/watch?v=g266Uwp6ZnI

Brownsville Station - The Martian Boogiehttp://youtube.com/watch?v=RoHf3QjRB20

George Thorogood - one borboun one scotch one beer http://youtube.com/watch?v=ISmgOrhELXs

[Random_Hero]

Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head - Gorillaz (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd_ZyLqTd-Q
) is my personal favorite.

It tells a story about how corrupt our soceity can get with greed, and once our soceity gets involved with another, we can completely destroy it.

[Hickabod]

Copperhead Road by Steve Earle
A southen rock classic

[Ox]

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner by Warren Zevon.

The story of a Norwegian mercenary who was fighting in africa, was assassinated by the CIA and his headless body stalked the land, seeking revenge and continuing to fight. Truly awesome story, truly awesome song.

[Chocoholic]

Joe Metro - Blue Scholars

It tells the story of your average guy with a 9-5 job. It's pretty much about the things he sees while taking the subway.

Most of their songs tell a story and most are about your average everyday person.

Testify - Common
Tells the story of a man a trial for a crime he claims he didn't do. Nice little surprise twist at the end (and a great music video).

The whole David Bowie album Ziggy Stardust is a story. It's about a martian named Ziggy Stardust who is the ultimate rockstar until his awesome rockstar behavior (partying, drugs, etc.) pretty much destroys him.

The Who's Quadrophenia album is also one big story (which is a movie as well).

[haza]

A Little Piece Of Heaven by Avenged Sevenfold.

It tells the story of a dude who kills his girlfriend, and keeps her dead body to do with what he wishes. She comes back from the dead, kills him, and together as spirits they get married and torment people.

A sick idea, but great song.

Exactly what i was gonna say. Great song and story

[Chocoholic]

I can't believe I forgot Tyler (http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Tyler-lyrics-UB40/E8FC93E6199F5D954825689B0023FB59) by UB40.

It's based on a true story. It's about how a kid named Tyler (who was then 17) got framed for a murder (due to the fact he was black) he most definitely didn't commit and was sentenced to death for it. It happened in the 70's. Fortunately for Tyler the state of Louisiana later declared the death penalty unconstitutional so he didn't die. He's still in jail though (yes, even now).

Seriously look the case up. It's interesting as all hell.

[HappinessMan]

Devil Went Down To Georgia, and One are the only ones that come to mind.

[Iiro]

The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

Dance of Death - About some guy who's walking late at night through some forest and then gets dragged into this satanic ritual or something called the dance of death and stuff. Probably the coolest storysong ever.

[dameon5646]

No Man's land (Green Fields of France) by Eric Bogle
Willie McBride's Reply by Stephen L. Suffet -tune of: Eric Bogle "No Man's Land"

The first tells of a traveler, who rest at the grave of a WWI soldier.

The second is a reply in the point of view of the soldier to the traveler first song

[dameon5646]

No Man's land (Green Fields of France by Eric Bogle
Willie McBride's Reply Stephen L. Suffet -tune of: Eric Bogle "No Man's Land"

The first tells of a traveler, who rest at the grave of a WWI soldier.

The second is a reply to the first
Check out either the version by Dropkick Murphys or by Eric Bogle

[NobeS]

I straight away thought of 2112 by Rush.

This epic 20:33 minute song tells the story of a time in the future where remnants of mankind are controlled by an order of priests. These priests control everything, technology, arts, music... everything! Similar to the book 1984.

One day a man in this world stumbles upon an ancient relic in a cave, a guitar. He teaches himself to play it and is facinated by it. He then brings the guitar to the priests to show them this miracle. The priests are angered by this, saying it destroyed mankind before them, or the elder race of man, as they are refered to. The priests then destroy the guitar.

Upset, the man returns home and dreams of an oracle who shows hime the world of the elder race of man. The oracle promises they will return and overthrow the priests, and bring their gifts of art and music to all mankind. The man wakes, and is greatly depressed by what he has seen. He realises that his life could never be complete now that he knows of the existance of beautiful art and music, and that he may never create any. Depressed, the man kills himself.

The songs ends soon after with the echoing words "Attention all planets of the solar federation! We have assumed control!" Signifiying the return of the elder race of man, and the defeat of the priests.

I think its a beautiful story, accompanied well with excellent and skilled music that reflects the emotions the man feels as his story unfolds. I really love this song.

[Triple J]

I like Alyssa Lies by Jason Micheal Carroll
It's a song about a dad who found out his daughter's (kindergarden age I'm guessing) friend is being abused by her parents and lies about it. It is one of the only country songs I like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV-asb_ivVc&feature=related

Sheila by Jamie T It is just a song about a bunch of people and their stories. I can't explain it. Just listen to it. (this is the only full version I could find.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDhwoZteZqA

[stagger_lee]

Most of everything that Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Rasputina, The Decemberists, and Rush have done are great story-telling songs.

[blltmssgy]

Hey stagger_lee, does your name have anything to do with the story song Stagger Lee, that was performed by multiple artists?

[stagger_lee]

Yes it does.

[blltmssgy]

Ahh. That is a good song, and a great story telling song.

[Raxo]

What's the song about?

[blltmssgy]

It's about a man who shoots Billy DeLyon, and Billy's lover goes and gets Stagger Lee hanged by the city.
I'm probably thinking about the old hippie/blues version, and I just looked up on wikipedia, and one of the bands stagger_lee mentioned did a really violent version of the song about a decade ago.

[Slutty McBangerton]

Over the Hills and Far Away by Gary Moore

It's basically about a man who gets arrested and tried for a murder he didn't commit. He couldn't use his alibi, as basically he was sleeping with his friends wife during the murder and he didn't want his freind to get mad at him.

[AmareEstMors]

I'm really surprised no one has mentioned The Freshman by Verve Pipe.

Thats the only one I can really think of that hasnt been mentioned that I really like.

Oh and I forgot, Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus.
That one's less popular, so to explain its the story of a guy in highschool who has a crush on a girl he thinks he has no chance with. She ends up being just as much of a "dirtbag" as he is.

[BartS]

Father And Daughter, by Paul Simon. He wrote it for some bad film.
It tells a story about a father who loves his daughter very much and wants to do everything to show that to her.

[iFuchue]

I used to love her- Common
A gorgeous story of the transition for original hiphop, to churned-out crap.

And he gets the girl- Lupe Fiasco
A cute nerdy love story.

I like these.

[Raxo]

I used to love her- Common
A gorgeous story of the transition for original hiphop, to churned-out crap.

And he gets the girl- Lupe Fiasco
A cute nerdy love story.

I like these.

I Used to love H.E.R is funny to me because it talks about Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg killing rap (not directly but it can be inferred) and now people today call that classic rap.

But still applies to all the profit making oriented music which will always be there in rap.

[BurgerKueen]

Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town by Johnny Darrell (Though I only know it because The Killers recently covered it).

Bright Eyes does have a lot (though they are mainly recollections of memories), he basically tells a story through the whole Fevers&Mirrors album. I also really enjoy Poison Oak too.

[Random_Hero]

Dancing With The Devil - Immortal Technique

Simply one of the single most powerfully expressed songs I've ever heard.

[redbayredneck]

The Ballad of Curtis Lowe- Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Devil went Back to Georgie- Done by multiple Country artists; its a sequal to Charlie Daniel's The Devil went down to Georgia

[Pelican Man]

Dancing With The Devil - Immortal Technique

Simply one of the single most powerfully expressed songs I've ever heard.

It's already been mentioned several times.

Here's one I remembered when I saw the above post:

The Ballad of Chasey Lane by The Bloodhound Gang. All of their songs are funny as fuck, and this is no exception. It tells the tale of someone writing fanmail to a porn star.

[BlakKohm]

Walk Like A Man - Murs

Brain Damage, As The World Turns, Kim - Eminem

[blltmssgy]

The General by Dispatch

About a general who is about to lead his troops into a fight against insurmountable odds.

[Casalen]

Iron Maiden does a few like that. One that comes to mind is 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner', based on a Coleridge poem of the same name. Of the poem:

"How a Ship having passed the Line was driven by storms to the cold Country towards the South Pole ; and how from thence she made her course to the tropical Latitude of the Great Pacific Ocean ; and of the strange things that befell ; and in what manner the Ancyent Marinere came back to his own Country."

And to other people posting here; telling a concept isn't the same as telling a story, no matter what sort of story can be inferred. That's high concept, which is different than specific stories.

[reigninblood666]

Creeping Death by Metallica: REfers to Exodus where the Angel of Death kills the first born sons of the Egyptians

Run To The Hills by Iron Maiden: Refers to Americans killing the Indian tribes.

[Triple J]

Woah I just found a song by Jamie t that actually may make sense.
So Lonely was the ballad
It's just like a typical story about some regular people. Then they talk about panic-attacks halfway through the song.
"And how it was they noticed
how the panic times subsided after listening to this tape,
so we would appreciate your feedback.
People who have panic attacks often
feel that they should be able to deal with them
and indeed the resources you need are already within you
its just that sometimes the appropriate responses to a particular situation
are not immediately accessible"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW3TSORCUkk

[Jallen]

Rocky Raccoon by the Beetles

About a man whose woman ran off with another man, then Rocky goes to have a duel with this fellow.

[Caplax]

Everything Goes Numb by Streetlight Manifesto.
It is basically about a guy who is about to rob a bank with a group of people, but he has second thoughts. to give you guys an example...
Ski mask (check)
Sawed off (check)
Guilty conscience, fear of death? (check check check)
Everything went numb when he stumbled upon what he thought,
was going to be another means to the end.
Silence.
Sirens.
it all went down like his nightmare the night before.
I don't want to hear,
I don't want to be near,
I do what I got to do just to keep my nose clean.

Basically every song by Streetlight Manifesto tell's a story, anyone want to prove me wrong?

[Halucinagenia]

Bottle dreams by Eyedea
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LKNRyh1RpaE

Song about a young musical prodigy who is sexually abused by her father and then commits sucicide.

.... weird stuff. but decent song.

[Torrance]

Rush song 2112 tells how one person found a guitar and then told his government, they destroy the guitar and later he 'runs away' and finds other people who appreciate music. the lyrics say it better than I can.

Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody tells how a young man killed someone and tells his mom not to cry. Shows the hardships about being poor in a big neighborhood.

[Iiro]

Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody tells how a young man killed someone and tells his mom not to cry. Shows the hardships about being poor in a big neighborhood.
What?!?

[Quadros]

Bohemian rhapsody's about coming out about having AIDS dumbass.

[tunacake]

I haven't read the whole thread so i don't know if anyone's mentioned Lady In Black by Uriah Heep. Incredible song from an awesome band about a guy after a big battle or invasion on his home. He's all full of anger and rawr! and wants to get his revenge. Then this goddess..ish deity pays him a visit and calms him down real horrorshow. Incidentally, she's wearing black.

[Pope]

Arlington, Trace Adkins

Piano Man, Billy Joel

Warrior's Code, Dropkick Murphies

[Petey2112]

Carolina Drama-The Raconteurs

its from their new album, Consolers of the Lonely...very good story about a kid witnessing a murder....give it a listen, those guys are really good



and whatever brainiac said that Bohemian Rhapsody is about a guy killing someone and not wanting to make his mom cry....are you serious?

[Extreme-Winz]

Well One by Metallica is about a guy who lost his arms, legs, sight, etc from a landmine and it tells his experiences (I'm not good at describing songs)

[BlackHood]

The Killing of Georgie by Rod Stewart; a young gay guy who leaves for New York and gets stabbed.

[barnesy111]

One - Metallica.
I'm not sure if this counts, even though it was based on a novel but I'm posting it anyway.

Edit: Just realised a guy above me posted the same song, so I'll give it a bit more background.
The song is written with inspiration from the book Johnny Got His Gun, by Dalton Trumbo. It is about a young man who was serving in WW1, who has just awoken in a hospital bed after being hit by a mortar shell. He has lost all of his limbs, and most of his face (resulting in not being able to see, hear, or talk). He tries to kill himself by holding his breath, but has a tube inserted into his trachea through an incision in his throat and cannot. He eventually manages to communicate with a war nurse through morse code by moving his neck up and down, asking for them to kill him. His wish is never granted.
Long story line, but it is a seven minute song.

Also, the album The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance tells the story of a man who has cancer, and his final hours followed by his death and his induction into the 'black parade'.

[Vin]

Tenacious D - Tribute/Wonderboy. Both are tearjerking tales of man's struggle against oppressive forces.

[SuEsq]

Any song by Jimmy Buffet, and I'm sure you can have an IQ of 70 and there'd be no misinterpretation.

[Tussell]

Amon Amarth - The Beheading of a King: Well, I've always been a fan of history, and Amon Amarth definitely fills the gap where music meets history for me. The song is great, and it's based off the Battle of Foteviken. When the song takes place, Sweden as a country didn't really exist. It consisted of smaller kingdoms and in Scania (Skåne) ruled king Erik. Scania however, was under influence of neighboring Denmark, and had to pay taxes to the danish king, but when Erik refused the Danish king decided to go to war. But I digress, it's a great song, and tells of a great story.

The Misfits - Saturday Night: I myself am a bit foggy about the true meaning behind this song. Some say that Graves has been quoted saying it's about a guy who lost his girlfriend to a drug overdose. For all I know the kid was lying, and Graves never said that. What I get out of it, is that he killed her. Either way, the song is my favorite 'Michale Graves Era' Misfits song.

1349 - From The Deeps: Again, a sweet story. I've always been fascinated with 'mysterious/unexplained' creatures such as sea monsters, Chupacabra's, Big Foot, Yeti's, etc. This song is calling out for the sea monsters to rise, and to annihilate humans.

That's pretty much it for now. It's funny too, because I've just listened to these songs before I came on and saw this thread.

[Shmuh]

At the Bottom of Everything - Bright Eyes. Tells the story of a bunch of people partyin' as a plane plummets too the earth. Cool.