I'm inclined to throw out "Isis" by Dylan but no matter how many times I listen to it (which is a lot) I think I'm missing the deeper meaning there.

Still, the story it tells is very clear and the imagery is wonderful

Wall of Voodoo: Lost Weekend

Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed (and 80 other Lou songs)
The Last Time I Saw Richard - Joni Mitchell (and 80 other Joni songs)
John Wayne Gacy, Casimir Pulaski Day - Sufjan Stevens (and 79 other Sufjan songs)

Hearing Harry Chapin really, really depresses me.

Yeah, I thought of about four Chapin songs when I saw the thread title.

Pulp - Disco 2000

Well we were born within one hour of each other.
Our mothers said we could be sister and brother.
Your name is Deborah, Deborah.
It never suited ya.
Oh they thought that when we grew up,
we'd get married, and never split up.
We never did it, although often I thought of it.

Oh Deborah, do you recall?
Your house was very small,
with wood chip on the wall.
When I came around to call,
you didn't notice me at all.

I said let's all meet up in the year 2000.
Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown.
Be there at 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road.
I never knew that you'd get married.
I would be living down here on my own on
that damp and lonely Thursday years ago.

You were the first girl at school to get breasts.
Martyn said that yours were the best.
The boys all loved you but I was a mess.
I had to watch them trying to get you undressed.
We were friends but that was as far as it went.
I used to walk you home sometimes but it meant,
oh it meant nothing to you,
cos you were so popular.

Deborah do you recall?
Your house was very small,
with woodchip on the wall.
When I came around to call,
you didn't notice me at all.

I said let's all meet up in the year 2000.
Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown.
Be there at 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road.
I never knew that you'd get married.
I would be living down here on my own
on that damp and lonely Thursday years ago.

Oh yeah,
oh yeah.

Ah do you recall?
Your house was very small,
with wood chip on the wall.
When I came around to call,
you didn't notice me at all.

I said let's all meet up in the year 2000.
Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown.
Be there at 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road.
I never knew that you'd get married.
I would be living down here on my own,
on that damp and lonely Thursday years ago.
Oh what are you doing Sunday baby.
Would you like to come and meet me maybe?
You can even bring your baby.
Ohhh ooh ooh. Ooh ooh ooh ooh.
What are you doing Sunday baby.
Would you like to come and meet me maby?
You can even bring your baby.
Ooh ooh oh. Ooh ooh ooh ooh. Ooh ooh ooh ooh. Oh.

"Give Back My Heart" - Lyle Lovett

I'm a traveling man don't tie me down
There's just too much living going all around
A man he's got to see what he can see
I love the road and I love the air
And I don't worry hell I never care
I love my women sometimes they love me

But I was got one day I still don't know how
I didn't even like that town
This fellow said stranger why don't you just go on home
And I said man that's where I'm headed to
And you couldn't stop me if you knew what to do
And I left and I planned to go alone

But the road was long and home was far
So I stopped off at this little cowboy-looking bar
I walked on through the door and she just smiled
In a long pony tail and a pretty white dress
She said hi bull riders do it best
I said oh my God what's your name
My name's Lyle

And I said ooh give back my heart chipkicker-redneck woman
Take your boots and walk out of my life
Ooh give back my heart chipkicker-redneck woman
I can't be no cowgirl paradise

I looked at her and she looked at me
And I looked back and she looked back
And we went out together for a walk
Her eyes were bright just like the stars
But she drove a pickup said she hated cars
But loved to ride around out after dark

And I said ooh give back my heart chipkicker-redneck woman
Take your boots and walk out of my life
Ooh give back my heart chipkicker-redneck woman
I can't be no cowgirl paradise

I told her redneckness has got to be a disease
You catch it on your fingers and it just crawls right up your sleeves
Ooh give back my heart chipkicker-redneck woman
I can't be no cowgirl paradise

Well how she did it I'll never know
But it's been maybe 20 years or so
And she cooks the supper and I try to pay the rent
But I'm a traveling man don't tie me down
There's just too much living go all around
But I can't figure out quite where it went

Then I think ooh give back my heart chipkicker-redneck woman
Take your boots and walk out of my life
Ooh give back my heart chipkicker-redneck woman
I can't be no cowgirl paradise

Lyle has a ton of 'em...good choice. Pontiac & Joshua Judges Ruth are both great albums.

"Shame and Scandal" - Blues Busters

Todd Snider-Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues

Hey, hey, my, my, rock 'n' roll will never die,
Just hang your hair down in your eyes
You'll make a million dollars.
Well, I was in this band goin' nowhere fast
We sent out demos, but everybody passed
So one day, we finally took the plunge
Moved out to Seattle to play some grunge.
Washington State that is.
Space Needle ...Eddie Vedder ...mud 'n' honey!
Now to fit in fast, we wear flannel shirts,
We turn our amps up until it hurts,
We got bad attitudes, and what's more
When we play we stare straight down at the floor, wow-ee
Pretty scary.
How pensive ...how totally alternative.
Now to fit in on the Seattle scene
We gotta do somethin' they ain't never seen.
So, thinkin' up a gimmick one day
We decided to be the only band that wouldn't play -- a note.
Under any circumstances.
Silence ...music's original alternative.
Roots grunge...
Well we spread the word through the underground,
that we were the hottest new thing in town.
The record guy came out to see us one day,
and just like always, we didn't play; it knocked him out.
He said he loved our work.
He said he loved our work, but he wasn't sure if he could sell a record
with nothin' on it.
I said tell 'em we're from Seattle.
He advanced us two-and-a-half million dollars.
Hey, hey, my, my, rock 'n' roll will never die,
Hang your hair down in your eyes
You'll make a million dollars.
Well, they made us do a video, but that wasn't tough,
'Cause we just filmed ourselves smashin' stuff.
It was kinda weird, 'cause there was no music,
But MTV said they'd love to use it.
The kids went wild, the kids went nuts,
Rolling Stone gave us a five-star review; said we played with guts.
We were scorin' chicks, takin' drugs,
then we got asked to play MTV Unplugged; you shoulda seen it.
We went right out there and refused to do acoustical versions of the
electrical songs that we had refused to record in the first place.
Then we smashed our sh*t.
Well, we blew 'em away at the Grammy show,
by refusin' to play and refusin' to go.
And then just when we thought fame would last forever,
Along come this band that wasn't even together.
Now, that's alternative ...hell, that's alternative to alternative.
I feel stupid ...and contagious.
Well our band got dropped, and that ain't funny,
'cause we're all hooked on drugs, but we're outta money
So the other day I called up the band,
I said, "Boys, I've taken all I can,
"Shave off your goatees, pack the van...
"We're goin' back to
Athens."

Hefner - I Stole A Bride

And every Prince, who lives in Greece,
Will tear themselves to pieces for this beauty,
Born of a swan,
Jesus don't be long, let her body sweat above mine in the summertime.
And was it she who wrote 'Porn is Woman Hatred' on my overcoat,
Christ I need that coat, it really shouldn't be this cold in summertime

When she lies with me, will she pretend I'm pretty, will she forget I'm ugly,
oh I've lived a lie, I stole a pretty bride during the summertime.

Why, must she taunt me so, she still has his sent, she still wears the suitors clothes,
oh I've lived a lie, I stole a pretty bride during the summertime.

And when the swan coupled with the goose, they conceived a holy beauty and they let her loose,
And she caused a war, for ten long years,
By running off with me she caused her husband tears.
And those big clipper ships are heading straight for me and I haven't even kissed her properly.

even though it's pretty much the story of troy.

This just came up on random, and while 98% of Obner hates this band, I have to give "Red Barchetta" by Rush its due in this thread. A fascinating tale with awesome imagery. And the way things are going with oil, who knows? This just might happen in the future.

OK, feel free to resume your Rush loathing...

Beck -

Satan gave me a taco
And it made me really sick
The chicken was all raw
And the grease was mighty thick
The rice was all rancid
And the beans were so hard
I was getting kinda dizzy
Eatin' all the lard
There was aphids on the lettuce
And I ate every one
And after I was done
The salsa melted off my tongue
Pieces of tortilla
Got stuck in my throat
And the stains on my clothes
Burned a hole through my coat
My stomach was a'tremblin'
And I broke out in a rash
I was so dry and thirsty
And I didn't have no cash
So I went and found a hose
Tore off all my clothes
Turned on the water
And it shot right up my nose
Some old lady came along
And she thought I was a freak
So she beat me with her handbag
'til I could hardly speak
I was lying there naked
My body badly bruised
In a pool of my own blood
Unconscious and confused
Well the cops came and got me
And threw me in their van
And I woke up on the ceiling
And I couldn't find my hand
They took me to the judge
His eyes a'glowin' red
The courtroom was filled
With witches and the dead
Well the sheriff was a hell-hound
With fangs and claws
The prisoners were tied up
And chained to the walls
The air was getting thick
The smoke was getting thicker
The judge read the verdict
Said cut off his head!
Well they placed me on the altar
And they raised up the axe
My head was about to explode
When I noticed the marshall stacks
I noticed all the smoke machines
Cameras and the lights
Some guy with a microphone
Runnin' around dancin' in tights
And I noticed the crew
And the band playin' down below
And I realized I was in a rock video
So I went and joined the band
And I went out on tour
And I smoked a lot of heroin
And I passed out in manure
I made out with the groupies (aw yeah)
Started fires backstage (aw yeah, start 'em up)
Made a lot of money (aw yeah, I'm makin it)
And I gave it all away (give it all to me)
Well the band got killed (aw, bunch of losers)
So I started a solo career (aw haw, yeah
And I won all the awards (get 'em all now)
And I drank all the beer (drink it all up; get funky)
And I opened up the taco stand (aw haw, etc.)
Just to smell the smell
Cookin' with the devil
Fryin' down in hell

(git busy)

Yeah, I'll admit to fantasizing about leaving the giant standing at the one lane bridge when the overdrive kicks in on my 43 year old Ford-o-Matic two speed.

The Cure - From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea

Every time we do this
I fall for her
Wave after wave after wave
It's all for her
I know this can't be wrong i say
(and i'll lie to keep her happy)
As long as i know that you know
That today i belong
Right here with you
Right here with you...
And so we watch the sun come up
From the edge of the deep green sea
And she listens like her head's on fire
Like she wants to believe in me
So i try
Put your hands in the sky
Surrender
Remember
We'll be here forever
And we'll never say goodbye...

I've never been so
Colourfully-see-through-head before
I've never been so
Wonderfully-me-you-want-some-more
And all i want is to keep it like this
You and me alone
A secret kiss
And don't go home
Don't go away
Don't let this end
Please stay
Not just for today

Never never never never never let me go she says
Hold me like this for a hundred thousand million days
But suddenly she slows
And looks down at my breaking face
Why do you cry? what did i say?

But it's just rain i smile
Brushing my tears away...

I wish i could just stop
I know another moment will break my heart
Too many tears
Too many times
Too many years i've cried over you

How much more can we use it up?
Drink it dry?
Take this drug?
Looking for something forever gone
But something
We will always want?

Why why why are you letting me go? she says
I feel you pulling back
I feel you changing shape...
And just as i'm breaking free
She hangs herself in front of me
Slips her dress like a flag to the floor
And hands in the sky
Surrenders it all...

I wish i could just stop
I know another moment will break my heart
Too many tears
Too many times
Too many years i've cried for you
It's always the same
Wake up in the rain
Head in pain
Hung in shame
A different name
Same old game
Love in vain
And miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Away from home again...

Harry and Maggie by Swervedriver.


I was born on a close street down a hill
The trees that line the street
Could sense the winter change
They felt the chill
They ducked and dived
And so we knew that they were alive
Until the year the silver rain came down
The trees turned mauve
And so did my hands
Oh, and the sound . . .
There was no sound and I'm freezing in the sun
Nobody cares to hide the dopeheads and the suicides
'Cause everyone freezes in the sun
And it's fallin' away

I kicked around with Harry
Who lived near Salisbury Plain
He worked on the cathedral there every now and again
He worked with stone, carved with stone
Odd jobs on the telephone
One sunny day he was sent to the Houses of Parliament
chipping' away at the gargoyles
Under the blistering sun
He carved out "Maggie Sucks" on the backs of every one
And so in five-hundred years
There's gonna be some history here
After it all subsides in the sun

And it's fallin' away
And I don't wanna know
I'm glad I don't know
What's draggin' it under

Another day, another loon
A new pied piper calls the tune
So blow it up, watch it explode
Noah's ark on overload
Wrestle with the results and throw 'em round the ring
Everybody knows there ain't no rules in wrestling
(everybody knows there ain't no rules)
The referee's a dupe
Who only old ladies and children believe
I'm getting up now to leave
I'll go back to that street someday
The air's better there anyway
Though the trees are still gonna freeze in the sun

And it's fallin' away
And I don't wanna know
I'm glad I don't know
What's draggin' it under

"Renaud" (aka, "Bucky Little Wing") by Islands. So profound.... so profound.

One of my favs:

I was working part time in a five-and-dime
My boss was mr. mcgee
He told me several times that he didnt like my kind
cause I was a bit 2 leisurely

Seems that I was busy doing something close 2 nothing
But different than the day before
Thats when I saw her, ooh, I saw her
She walked in through the out door, out door

She wore a
Raspberry beret
The kind u find in a second hand store
Raspberry beret
And if it was warm she wouldnt wear much more
Raspberry beret
I think I love her

Built like she was
She had the nerve 2 ask me
If I planned 2 do her any harm

So, look here
I put her on the back of my bike
And-a we went riding
Down by old man johnsons farm

I said now, overcast days never turned me on
But something about the clouds and her mixed

She wasnt 2 bright
But I could tell when she kissed me
She knew how 2 get her kicks

She wore a
Raspberry beret
The kind u find in a second hand store
Raspberry beret
And if it was warm she wouldnt wear much more
Raspberry beret
I think I love her

The rain sounds so cool when it hits the barn roof
And the horses wonder who u are
Thunder drowns out what the lightning sees
U feel like a movie star

Listen
They say the first time aint the greatest
But I tell ya
If I had the chance 2 do it all again

I wouldnt change a stroke
cause baby Im the most
With a girl as fine as she was then

(raspberry beret)
The kind u find (the kind u find)
The kind u find (in a second hand store)
Oh no no
(raspberry beret)
(and if it was warm)
Where have all the raspberry women gone? (she wouldnt wear much more)
Yeah (raspberry beret)

I think i... I think i... I think I love her

another fav:

Strolling along minding my own buisness
well there goes a girl and a half
she's got me going up and down
she's got me going up and down

walking on the beaches looking at the peaches

well i got the notion girl that you got some suntan lotion in that bottle of yours
spread it all over my peelin' skin baby
that feels real good
all this skirt lappin' up the sun
lap me up
why don't you come on and
lap me up

walking on the beaches looking at the peaches

well there goes another one just lying down on the sand dunes
i'd better go take a swim and see if i can cool down a little bit
coz you and me woman
we got a lotta things on our minds (you know what i mean)

walking on the beaches looking at the peaches

will you just take a look over there (where?) there
is she tryin' to get outta that clitares?
liberation for women
thats what i preach
preacher man

walking on the beaches looking at the peaches

oh shit
there goes the charabanc
looks like im gonna be stuck here the whole summer
well what a bummer
i can think of a lot worse places to be
like down in the streets
or down in the sewer
or even on the end of a skewer

Lonnie Donegan

MY OLD MAN'S A DUSTMAN - 31/03/1960


Now here's a little story
To tell it is a must
About an unsung hero
That moves away the dust

Some people make a fortune
Others earn a mint
My old man don't earn much
In fact he's bloomin' skint

Oh my old man's a dustman
He wears a dustman's hat
He wears cor blimey trousers
And he lives in a council flat
He looks a proper 'nana
In his great big hob nailed boots
He's got such a job to pull 'em up
That he calls 'em daisy roots

Some folks give tips at christmas
And some of them forget
So when he picks their bins up
He spills some on the step
Now one old man got nasty
And to the council wrote
Next time my old man went round there
He punched him up the throat

Oh my old man's a dustman
He wears a dustman's hat
He wears cor blimey trousers
And he lives in a council flat

I say I say Les
(Yeah)
I found a police dog in my dustbin
(How do you know it was a police dog)
He had a policeman with him

Though my old mans a dustman
He's got an 'art of gold
He got married recently
Though he's 86 years old
We said 'ere hang on dad
You're getting past your prime
He said well when you get my age
It 'elps to pass the time

Oh my old man's a dustman
He wears a dustman's hat
He wears cor blimey trousers
And he lives in a council flat

I say I say I say
My dustbin's full of lilies
(Well throw'em away then)
I can't lily's wearing 'em

Now one day whilst in a hurry
He missed a ladies bin
He hadn't gone but a few yards
When she chased after him
What game d'you think you're playing
She cried right from the 'art
You've missed me am I too late
Nah jump up on the cart

Oh my old man's a dustman
He wears a dustman's hat
He wears cor blimey trousers
And he lives in a council flat

I say I say I say
(Not you again)
My dustbin's absolutely full with toadstools
(How d'you know it's full)
Cuz there's not mushroom inside

He found a tiger's head one day
Nailed to a piece of wood
The tiger looked quite miserable
But I suppose he should
Just then from out the window
A voice began to wail
He said Oy where's me tigers head
Four feet from his tail

Oh my old man's a dustman
He wears a dustman's hat
He wears cor blimey trousers
And he lives in a council flat

Next time you see a dustman
Looking all pale and sad
Don't kick him in the dustbin
It might me my old dad