Norm Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 The Rock & Roll revelation thread got me thinking. What's my favourite story told through song? I did like Stones' "Sympathy For The Devil", the whole idea that Satan's actually a likeable guy who happens to do the odd bad thing intrigued me at the time. But on reflection, I think I have to give the award to Kenny Rogers' "Coward Of The County". I still get that feel good factor every time Tommy watches the last Gatlin boy fall. Memorable mention also to Mr Rogers' other classic "The Gambler". Curious as to what other JKB members think. I'm expecting probably a fair bit of punk to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nephilim Scotty Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Emma ~ Hot Chocolate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Drago Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 cant not mention Common People by Pulp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Harris Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Bob Dylan - Hurricane The Fields of Athenry folk music is full of songs that tell stories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neave Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Pig Destroyer's Prowler In The Yard is all about the stalking, threatening and brutal murder of some poor woman. Charming chaps. Surprisingly, it's a feckin' good album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondejamtart Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Bat Out Of Hell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leginten Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Tom Waits - Burma Shave It's a brilliant story. I just don't have a clue what it's about, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Sifter Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Sinatra - Bad Bad Leroy Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I P Knightley Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Bob Dylan - Hurricane The Fields of Athenry folk music is full of songs that tell stories. That one goes on for ever but saves you from having to watch the movie! Tom Waits - Burma ShaveIt's a brilliant story. I just don't have a clue what it's about, though. Tom Waits has a few. Kentucky Avenue is a cracker - not so much a tale being told as a string of reminiscences. Beautiful song. My own first thought was Up the Junction by Squeeze "I never thought it would happen with me and the girl from Clapham Out on the rainy common, that night I ain't forgotten..." and on it goes. Down in the Tube Station at Midnight also tells a tale memorably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neave Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Johnny Cash - Big John, A Boy Named Sue and Give My Love To Rose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I P Knightley Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Sinatra - Bad Bad Leroy Brown "the baddest man in the whole damn town" Brilliant song! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mighty Thor Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Stan - Eminem In his own style he tells a good yarn in that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Sifter Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 "the baddest man in the whole damn town" Brilliant song! "Badder than ol' King Kong......and meaner than a junkyard dog"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Harris Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 The Boxer - Paul Simon Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen New York Mining Disaster 1941 - The Bee Gees (probably their best IMO) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Whittaker's Tache Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Great Story Would bring a tear to a glass eye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King of the North Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 You can't go wrong with Coward of the County - 'you coulda heard a pin drop when he stopped and locked the door'. Stan Ridgway 'Camouflage' for me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leginten Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Great Story Would bring a tear to a glass eye Great shout. I'd put Beeswing and Galway To Graceland in the "great story" category too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durdmeister Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Hurricane and the Death of Emmett Till - Bob Dylan Amazing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Whittaker's Tache Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Another favourite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc86_Weoye0&feature=related Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Harris Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 metallica - one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWL Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 The band played Waltzing Matilda by The Pogues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandyman Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Jesus of suburbia - Green Day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Harris Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 The band played Waltzing Matilda by The Pogues great song - originally by peebles born Eric Bogle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyjambo Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 The Rock & Roll revelation thread got me thinking. What's my favourite story told through song? I did like Stones' "Sympathy For The Devil", the whole idea that Satan's actually a likeable guy who happens to do the odd bad thing intrigued me at the time. But on reflection, I think I have to give the award to Kenny Rogers' "Coward Of The County". I still get that feel good factor every time Tommy watches the last Gatlin boy fall. Memorable mention also to Mr Rogers' other classic "The Gambler". Curious as to what other JKB members think. I'm expecting probably a fair bit of punk to be honest. A lot of the Stones music tells stories but for me one of the best is Kenny Rogers "Ruby dont take your love to town" great story of the period it was written and one of the best anti war songs ever produced. IMO (always wanted to say that) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobreath Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit About the lynching of two black men in Indiana 1930. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Spackler Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Tom Brown by Bob Dylan American Pie by Don McClean - Brilliant story because nobody really knows what it's all about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddie fenwick Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 up the junction-squeeze Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddie fenwick Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Tom Brown by Bob Dylan American Pie by Don McClean - Brilliant story because nobody really knows what it's all about! buddy holly dying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Chat Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Down in the Tube Station at Midnight - The Jam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Spackler Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 buddy holly dying? This lad seems to know the score http://www.understandingamericanpie.com/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wicker Man Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Killing of Georgie - Rod Stewart Day trip to Bangor - Fiddlers dram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddie fenwick Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 This lad seems to know the score http://www.understandingamericanpie.com/index.htm good stuff:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slfjambo Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 HALF A LIFE AWAY a song about a man who acted in self-defence and got sent to prison.in other words: INJUSTICE! Gill and Galloway were working late On a summers night in '58 In a small town Alabama hideaway In the U.S.A. The two cops were knocking on the door Of a young black boy It was a quarter to four They said: "Hey [filter edit]! Hit the floor. You're about to be history." Pop Bickham was the young black man He couldn't work it out, he didn't understand But when they come with their guns you do what you can So he picked up his rifle and he shot them down They said he killed them in cold blood And the jury they agreed They said: "you'll be sorry for what you've done" And the whole town they agreed Chorus: They picked you up and they sent you down A poor black boy in a rich white town And for 38 years you never made a sound That was half a life away You see one of the cops had something to hide He'd raped Pop's sister more than once or twice And Pop wasn't going to let it go this time So the cops had to take him out But the courtroom didn't hear all of the story They held back facts from the all white jury No doubt what the verdict would be Take him down, he's guilty (Chorus) All these years in a prison cell Never once complaining Half your life gone to hell All because of hatred and bigotry You're a better man than me (Chorus x2) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beverley Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Killing of Georgie - Rod Stewart good call!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsHnEHf0sW0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyBalboa Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Eminem - stan Black and white from upper level too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geddy Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 double post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geddy Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 "Bad bad Leroy Brown" is wonderful. I love it. A lot of Tom Waits and Springsteen is very good. (Thunder Road is wonderful). "Shine on you crazy diamond" by Floyd is also a well told story. The whole of "scenes from a memory" by Dream Theater is excellent. Overblown but well told. Nice to see Squeeze mentioned, as they wrote lovely little vignettes, which "Up the junction" was a belter. Another which is a cracking song (a story as a song) is Ian Drury's "Billericay Dickie". I have met folk like the guy in the song. Drury was an excellent wordsmith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Lots and lots. Just from Dylan I could suggest Isis, Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts and The Ballad Of Hollis Brown as 3 personal favourites. The band were masters of it as well with songs like The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Acadian Driftwood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWL Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Janice Ian .........17 Ode to Billie Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.T.F.Robertson Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Claire http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Clair-lyrics-Gilbert-O'Sullivan/32514CDCCAF4749548256A0800173B8C Alone again (naturally) http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Alone-Again-Naturally-lyrics-Gilbert-O'Sullivan/86E2407D7F132AA548256A080020DCD0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoddyhmfc Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 The Libertines - Cant stand me Now the song tells everything that has to be said about the break up of Carl and Pete... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I P Knightley Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit About the lynching of two black men in Indiana 1930. I'll defer to the OP for judgement on this but although it is a great song and highly allegorical, it doesn't come out and, in-yer-face tell a story as do many of the other songs listed eg: "Georgie-Boy was gay I guess, Nothing more, nothing less, The kindest guy I ever knew..." I mentioned Kentucky Avenue which isn't a "he did/she did/he was/she was" story but between the lines conveys beautiful images. Probably shouldn't be in this list but elsewhere with Strange Fruit. Similarly, I'd say, for Janis Ian which I grudgingly admire; as with American Pie. Eric Bogle as well as doing The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, wrote a song called The Flowers of the Forest which was once acclaimed by Tony Blair as the finest anti-war protest song ever written. How a man could know the words and sentiments of that song yet still send an army to a futile, unjust war beats the hell out of me and if he ever comes near me I hope to have the opportunity to repay the favour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stella_jambo Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 traveling wilburys - tweeter and the monkey man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DikT. Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Basically all Country and Western and Folk music tells stories. As it happens they are my fav types of music. Lots of good ones medtioned, but I like Two little boys. Brings a tear to the eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DikT. Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Eric Bogle as well as doing The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, wrote a song called The Flowers of the Forest which was once acclaimed by Tony Blair as the finest anti-war protest song ever written. How a man could know the words and sentiments of that song yet still send an army to a futile, unjust war beats the hell out of me and if he ever comes near me I hope to have the opportunity to repay the favour. Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity man. Two wrongs do not make a right, and violence is childish and un-needed. Forgive him man, chill out, God has forgiven him, so can you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor jambo Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Oddly a couple of songs that move me were written by Rolf Harris Two little boys and Going Home to Darwin Both anti war and much underrated IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I P Knightley Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity man. Two wrongs do not make a right, and violence is childish and un-needed. Forgive him man, chill out, God has forgiven him, so can you. You're right. I'll leave him be. But he just better not start any more trouble! Oddly a couple of songs that move me were written by Rolf Harris Two little boys and Going Home to Darwin Both anti war and much underrated IMO Don't know 'Going Home to Darwin' but 2 Little Boys is a good call. Rolf has quite an armoury of story-telling songs. Not all are good songs, though:wacko: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegas-voss Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 I Stopped To Fill My Car Up - Stereophonics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Doctor Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Coward of the County immediately for me, even if the Gattlin' Boys were innocent, Becky was a slut. Paul Revere by the Beastie Boys Don't know if it's a story as such but Eleanor Rigby has some amazing vignettes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felix Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Biko by Peter Gabriel "September '77, Port Elizabeth weather fine Business as usual, in police room 619 ......" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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