I was just listening to the ballad Tam Lin by Fairport Convention and was thinking of how it told such a good story. I was wondering if you could suggest any other great examples of song/stories.

I was trying not to think about "Hazard" by Richard Marx.

Despite its legacy as a frat boy anthem, Robert Earl Keen's "The Road Goes On Forever" is a really good story song.

I felt sorry for Mr. Keen a few years ago, when a guy on death row in Texas was asked if he had any last words before his execution, and he said "The road goes on forever...and the party never ends!"

With the possible exception of a brilliant cover of "Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell" Brett's new album is ALL story songs.

Its hard to top storytime with Nick Cave. Leaves you all warm & fuzzy. Take "Stagger Lee" for example:

It was back in '32 when times were hard
He had a Colt .45 and a deck of cards
Stagger Lee

He wore rat-drawn shoes and an old stetson hat
Had a '28 Ford, had payments on that
Stagger Lee

His woman threw him out in the ice and snow
And told him, "Never ever come back no more"
Stagger Lee

So he walked through the rain and he walked through the mud
Till he came to a place called The Bucket Of Blood
Stagger Lee

He said "Mr Motherfucker, you know who I am"
The barkeeper said, "No, and I don't give a good goddamn"
To Stagger Lee

He said, "Well bartender, it's plain to see
I'm that bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
Mr. Stagger Lee

Barkeep said, "Yeah, I've heard your name down the way
And I kick motherfucking asses like you every day"
Mr Stagger Lee

Well those were the last words that the barkeep said
'Cause Stag put four holes in his motherfucking head

Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown
Was known to make more money than any bitch in town

She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt
Over to Stagger Lee, she starts to flirt
With Stagger Lee

She saw the barkeep, said, "O God, he can't be dead!"
Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head"

She said, "You ain't look like you scored in quite a time.
Why not come to my pad? It won't cost you a dime"
Mr. Stagger Lee

"But there's something I have to say before you begin
You'll have to be gone before my man Billy Dilly comes in,
Mr. Stagger Lee"

"I'll stay here till Billy comes in, till time comes to pass
And furthermore I'll fuck Billy in his motherfucking ass"
Said Stagger Lee

"I'm a bad motherfucker, don't you know
And I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole"
Said Stagger Lee

Just then Billy Dilly rolls in and he says, "You must be
That bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
Stagger Lee

"Yeah, I'm Stagger Lee and you better get down on your knees
And suck my dick, because If you don't you're gonna be dead"
Said Stagger Lee

Billy dropped down and slobbered on his head
And Stag filled him full of lead
Oh yeah.

who's brett?

don, a man is a good story song.

Brett Eugene Ralph

how about every joni mitchell song every written... or... tim hardin "it'll never happen again" or AMERICAN PIE!!!!!! (just kidding) (sort of)

Cranius wrote:I was trying not to think about "Hazard" by Richard Marx.

Oh man! But don't forget about Hazard! Fuck!

I swear I left her by the river...I swear I left her safe and sound...I need to make it to the river...And leave this old Nebraska towwwn...........

Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska. And 'The River'.

Damn you Richard Marx. Damn you to hell.

Legionnaires Lament by the Decemberists. I think a lot of songs tell stories, even if they are not very detailed or long.

Hmm..

I don't know. I just think of Legionnaires Lament cause I like war history and the lyrics all match up that way.