Best Storytelling Songs

[Tussell]

This was on another forum. I thought it was a great topic, so I decided to see how it would be received when brought over here.

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.

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, for lack of a better term, annihilate humans.

That's pretty much it for now.

[Honkymagoo]

Christ, I know I have a bunch in my library but it's going to take me awhile to dig them up. I'm going to throw Cat's in the Cradle and the Silver Spoon out there because it's the most obvious one. =P

[Sanction]

American Pie anyone? Don McLean (sp?) wrote it because of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper dying in a plane crash.

YouTube - The Meaning of American Pie

[onemorechanc]

I like songs that have a story to them ... one that comes to mind right now is "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle.

[R Rated Love]

Against Me! - Pints Of Guinness Make You Strong

The song is about Tom's grandmother dealing with the loss of her husband, James.

I like the song because they're a great band, and it's one hell of a song. Not my favorite song of theirs, but it's up there.

evelyn sits by the elevator doors, it's been 37 years since james died on st. patrick's day in 1964. but she could not hold it against him. there were times when there was nothing she could do but lie in bed all day beside a picture of them together, a picture of better days. and just like james i'll be drinking irish tonight. and the memory of his last work-week will be gone forever. evelyn i'm not coming home tonight. if we're never together if I'm never back again well i swear to God that i'll love you forever evelyn i'm not coming home tonight. in all the years that went by she said she'd always love him, and from the day that he died she never loved again. in his wallet she kept in her nightstand an a.a. card and a lock of red hair. she kept secrets of pride locked so tight in her heart it killed a part of her before the rest was gone. she said, "if I would have known just how things would have ended up I just would have let myself die."

[synister EFFECT]

There's Letters of War by Mark Schults, good song with a good story.

Also, if this counts, there's that deal with Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album going perfectly with The Wizard of OZ

[kiwi18]

Date Rape- Sublime
Stairway to Heaven- Led Zeppelin

are two of my favorites!

[Jicholls]

One - Metallica... I think its a story about war.

[jarhead1990]

I'm pretty sure you can say "Like a Rolling Stone" is a story telling song. It's also the best song EVER.

[I Lynch012 I]

Every Coheed and Cambria song is about a huge story spanning all of their albums. That's what I read some where I don't listen to them that much but yeah.


The Number of The Beast- Iron Maiden

The Wall by Pink Floyd(all of it)

[The Pants Party]

For some reason I can't think of any but the Mariner's Revenge Song by the Decemberists at the moment, though that is a pretty good one. Most Decemberists songs are, actually.

Oh, most Minus the Bear songs follow a loose plot. The quote in my sig is of one of their songs.

[x KuKuKachoo x]

as said above pink floyd has a ton of meaning behind it specially The Wall
there is SOO much meaning behind it

[Pez]

Near enough EVERY song by The Streets is a story. Most of them are good too, especially their older stuff.

How about Riot Van by The Arctic Monkeys too. One of my fave songs by them.

[Tussell]

as said above pink floyd has a ton of meaning behind it specially The Wall
there is SOO much meaning behind it
So care to explain?
I was hoping people wouldn't only list the songs, but give the story/reason they picked it.

[Honkymagoo]

One - Metallica... I think its a story about war.

The song's theme is based on Dalton Trumbo's 1939 novel Johny Got His Gun. It is based on the story of a soldier whose body was severely damaged after he stepped on a land mine during World War I. His arms, legs, eyes, nose and ears were gone and he could not see, speak, or hear — but his mind functions perfectly, leaving him a prisoner in his own body.

Input - Fate is an Assassin
DJ Shadow - Fuck What Ya Heard

I'd upload the songs on youtube but I'm actually not sure how to go about that.

[onemorechanc]

So care to explain?
I was hoping people wouldn't only list the songs, but give the story/reason they picked it.

Ok, I thought of another one ... "Hurricane" by Bob Dylan. It tells the true story of Rubin Carter and his wrongful imprisonment. Wikipedia describes it better than I can:

"Hurricane" is a protest song by Bob Dylan co-written with Jacques Levy, about the imprisonment of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. It compiles alleged acts of racism and profiling against Carter, which Dylan describes as leading to a false trial and conviction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_(song)

[theconodontuk]

Heres one for you, Pilgrims Address by Fish - pretty self explanatory really, like the last words of an unknown soldier.
http://www.the-company.com/images/lyrics/ldpadd.gif

[CantSeeMeFools]

I personally like "Two Weeks From Twenty" by Yellowcard.

[PerpetualHeaven]

Hurt by Johnny Cash. I know it isn't his lyrics, but it's a great song either way.

[Honkymagoo]

Hurt by Johnny Cash. I know it isn't his lyrics, but it's a great song either way.

I prefer the NIN version by far but hey, that's just me.

[freekwonder]

Arlo guthrie - Alice's Restaurant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice's_Restaurant

hell how many songs get made into a movie.

[Slormer]

The Devil Went Down to Georgia. Any artist, but the Primus one has a sweet video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q9tEdbwXxXw

[Tussell]

I prefer the NIN version by far but hey, that's just me.
You = Dog shit! :) Just kidding of course.

I don't know, I think Johnny Cash put more emotion to it... Much like 'Mad World' was meant more for Gary Jules than it was meant for Tears for Fears.

In the end it all comes down to opinion, but if anyone brought out the emotion the most, it was Johnny Cash. Therefore painting a better picture into my head of the lyrics. I mean, that video is tear-jerking!

[Silent Kitten]

The Message by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

[x CHANDMAN x]

Ok, I thought of another one ... "Hurricane" by Bob Dylan. It tells the true story of Rubin Carter and his wrongful imprisonment. Wikipedia describes it better than I can:

"Hurricane" is a protest song by Bob Dylan co-written with Jacques Levy, about the imprisonment of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. It compiles alleged acts of racism and profiling against Carter, which Dylan describes as leading to a false trial and conviction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_(song (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_%28song))

This is the first one that comes to my mind. Although Led Zeppelin wrote several songs about Lord of the Rings.

[anji2128]

Dark Saga - Iced Earth
Almost anything and everything by Nick Cave.

[Birky]

Of course American Pie is the first song that comes to my mind, but some other sillypus already said that.

My choice would have to be "The Unforgiven" by Metallica.

YouTube - Metallica - The Unforgiven

It is about a mans struggle in life and never being good enough. He can never please anyone and hates them for it. Hence, he feels they are 'unforgiven'. Best Metallica song, IMO. "The Unforgiven II" is also a great song, it is a much different story though; one of love, not of hate.


All of Angles and Airwaves songs tell good stories as well. Some say that all their songs are one story and you need to piece them together to understand the story correctly. I've read up on it and tried it a bit, it kind of works. If you listen real careful at the end of the songs you will hear 'clues' as to what song you should play next. It may only be a small quite guitar bit, or a muttering of a certain word. They are a great band, love all their stuff (except for "Everything's Magic" oh my God... its such a pop sell out bleeeeh) and they are great live!

[X monkfish69 X]

Eagles - Hotel California

Fantastic song. Lots of people have differing views as to what the story of it is all about. Some people say it's about visiting prostitutes, some say its about drugs, some say it's about none of the above.

I say it's a brilliant song.

[Sniper JZA80]

Well some have been mentioned already, One - Metallica and Hurricane - Bob Dylan.

But the Something Wicked trilogy - Prophecy, Birth of the Wicked and The Coming Curse - by Iced Eart. Now being made into a two cd epic, the first of which Framing Armaggedon is out now. The story obviously of the wicked thing that has come to destroy mankind.

And i know this isn't one song but Dream Theater's - Metropolis pt 2 - Scenes from a Memory. A full album epic telling the story of a man curious about his past after some strange dreams and he seeks regression hypnotherapy. Discovering in a past life that the girl he had been dreaming of, Victoria, was actually him in a past life and had been killed by her politician partner after he discovered she had an affair with his brother as they were deeply in love. The twist at the end...well I don't know if I should spoil it incase people decided to look into it for themselves.

The last is a fun one, The Who - Pinball wizard. I mean how can someone deaf, dumb and blind be that good at Pinball??!!

[R Rated Love]

I jokingly say, Vicki Lawrence "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia".

[martin88]

Rush's 2112. It's a lot like Ayn Rand's anthem, minus the objectivism.

Guy is an incredibly collectivist society, no self expression allowed. Finds a guitar. It's smashed by the leaders in case it leads to individuality. Guy goes back to the cave he found it in, kills himself. Some war thing happens, not sure exactly.

The end.

Also, Rush's The Trees.

[Gaurdy3G]

Dance with the Devil by Immortal Technique, really harrowing story, something ive rarely experienced in a song.
wouldn't recommend for youngens though.

YouTube - Dance With The Devil - Immortal Technique

[PatresBaroni]

"Hurricane" from Bob Dylan.

About a boxer. Watch the film or listen to the song.

[xxEquilibriumxx]

Johny Cash's: A boy named sue. Pretty much all of his songs tell good tales.