Now, I was listening to The Kinks' "Lola" in the car at lunch today and, s it does every damn time, it struck me just what a freaking great STORY that is... so well-told. And, of course it has an indellible melody.

Although it's been played to death, it still stands up for me because of the story.

So what are the songs that you think tell the best stories?
We're not talking concept albums here, just self-contained little 3-5 minute vignettes.

Another couplea Kinks gems:
"Situation Vacant"
"Two Sisters"

this thread should have country songs all over it, but i'm going to throw out "babies" by pulp. (jarvis is probably my favorite storyteller of the 1990s.) i'm sure that there are various interpretations of the song - like is the friend male or female? - but the way i hear it is awesome in a dirty way. actually, just about all of jarvis' songs are awesome in a dirty way.

Damn, hell you are so dead-on!
"Common People" is the first one that comes to mind from him.
Awesome call, James.

Just about anything by Killdozer. But especially "The Puppy" and "Cotton Balls".

i'll go for the obvious: "boy named sue"

Big Joe & Phantom 309

Ode to Billie Joe - Bobbie Gentry

One of my faves is "Lilly, Rosemary and The Jack of Hearts" by Bob Dylan

slick rick children's story

the devil went down to georgia


if not restricted to < 5min, there's a bunch of genesis songs that could qualify.

cats and the cradle.

"just like heaven" - the cure

whole lotta Nick Cave songs
...Leonard Cohen Songs
...Joni Mitchell songs
...PJ harvey
...Tom Waits
etc. etc.

and of course

"I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told
I have squandered my resistence for a pocket full of mumbles such
are promises..."

The Coup - "Me and Jesus The Pimp in a '79 Granada Last Night"

Boots picks up "Hey-soos" the one-armed pimp from prison in the titular vehicle.
Jesus is his dad and his mom was one of Jesus' hoes.
One day when mamma was short on money Jesus beat her to death
12-year-old Boots wrote to Jesus in prison, intending to set him up to kill him later, but in doing so Jesus taught him how to be a woman-hating wannabe pimp
Boots realizes he's turned into Jesus.
Boots shoots Jesus twice in a parking lot to exact his revenge.

That's the short version. The song's 6+ minutes and is funky as hell. One of the best "story" hip-hop songs ever.

I was also going to throw out Public Enemy's "Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos" but looking at the lyrics there's nothing truly special going on there; Chuck gets put in the klink for draft dodging. He and a bunch of other prisoners start a riot and break out.

Made me realize how the production adds A LOT to the song.

My personal favorite story song...

Come a Little Bit Closer - Jay and the Americans

In a little café just the other side of the border
She was just sitting there givin' me looks that made my mouth water
So I started walking her way
She belonged to that man, José
And I knew, yes I knew I should leave
When I heard her say, yeah

Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone
And the night is so long

So we started to dance
In my arms, she felt so inviting
That I just couldn't resist
Just one little kiss so exciting
Then I heard the guitar player say
"Vamoose, José's on his way"
Then I knew, yes I knew I should run
But then I heard her say, yeah

Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone
And the night is so long

Then the music stopped
When I looked the café was empty
Then I heard José say
"Man you know you're in trouble plenty"
So I dropped my drink from my hand
And through the window I ran
And as I rode away
I could hear her say to José, yeah

Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone
And the night is so long

La la-la-la la-la
La la-la-la la-la
Ho ho la-la
La la la-la


Brandy by Looking Glass is up there too

OK OK...gotta mentiong Johnny Cash's Don't Take Your Guns to Town.

American Pie - Don McLean
Harper Valley PTA - Jeannie C. Riley

wanna go out on a date sometime?

Only if I don't have to leave through an open window when your significant other comes looking to kick my ass.

My significant other would be fine with it as long as she gets to watch...although then she'd probably steal you away and then I'd be left alone, crying in my beer.

Even my internet fantasy dates turn out all wrong.



and isn't This Magic Moment by the Drifters?

Beastie Boys - "High Plains Drifter"

And though I think it's over 5 minutes:

The Pogues - "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda"
(brings tears to your eyes)

pretty much every song on "Portrait Gallery" by harry chapin.

Kate Bush is more of a story teller than a lyricist -- just about all of her songs tell a story.

Okay, remember.
Okay, remember
That we have just allowed
Half an hour
To get in, do it, and get out.

The sense of adventure
Is changing to danger.
The signal has been given.
I go in.
The crime begins.

My excitement
Turns into fright.

All my words fade.
What am I gonna say?
Mustn't give the game away.

We're waiting.
We're waiting.
We're waiting.

We got the job sussed.
This shop's shut for business.
The lookout has parked the car,
But kept the engine running.
Three beeps means trouble's coming.

I hope you remember
To treat the gelignite tenderly for me.
I'm having dreams about things
Not going right.
Let's leave in plenty of time tonight.

Both my partners
Act like actors:
You are Bogart,
He is George Raft,
That leaves Cagney and me.
("What about Edward G.?")

We're waiting.
We're waiting.
We're waiting.

You blow the safe up.
Then all I know is I wake up,
Covered in rubble. One of the rabble
Needs mummy.
("What's all this then?")
The government will never find the money.
("What's all this then?")

I've been here all day,
A star in a strange way.
Apart from a photograph
They'll get nothing from me,
Not until they let me see my solicitor.

Ooh, I remember
That rich, windy weather
When you would carry me,
Pockets floating
In the breeze.

Ooh, there goes a tenner.
Hey, look! There's a fiver.
There's a ten-shilling note.
Remember them?
That's when we used to vote for him.

Dylan's got a bunch but 'Tangled Up In Blue' and 'Hurricane' are the first two that came to mind.