Songs that are also stories

[Professor James]

While listening to the song Big Iron from Fallout:New Vegas, I realized what made it somewhat unique was that the song also doubled as a short story. The only other songs I can think of that are a short story are: Children's Story by Slick Rick, Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie, and arguably Bust A Move by Young MC.

 

[Queen Michael]

The song "Ode to Billie Joe" tells a pretty good story.

 

[Casual Shinji]

There's 'A Boy Named Sue' and 'Ballad of a Teenage Queen' by Johnny Cash.

...

Also, 'Where the Wild Roses Grow' by Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue.

 

[Queen Michael]

Oh, here's another one. Just like my other one, it's got just a bit of blood in it.

 

[Skatologist]

I'd like to add The Eagles' "Hotel California" and Eminem's "Stan" as excellent story songs

 

[savageoblivi0n]

Well, I'm not sure if you'd consider these "short" stories, but the Gettysburg trilogy by Iced Earth basically tells the story of..well...the Battle of Gettysburg

Likewise, Achilles (Agony and Ecstasy in Eight Parts) is an epic-length 8 song story by Manowar about, as titled, Achilles

(They both have some downright AMAZING instrumental work in them as a bonus)

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

Not exactly a coherent story but Cypress Hill's "Locotes" essentially a short about a couple of muggers.

Spoiler

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

I'm not sure I'd call it an entirely coherent story, but there's "Tweeter And The Monkey Man" from the Traveling Wilburys.

 

[Asita]

There's a lot of that in the Country genre, actually.

Spoiler: Skin - Rascall Flatts

Spoiler: Whiskey Lullaby - Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss

Spoiler: Don't Take the Girl - Tim McGraw

Spoiler: There Goes My Life - Kenny Chesney

Spoiler: The Good Stuff - Kenny Chesney

Spoiler: Hurry Home - Jason Michael Carroll

Spoiler: Moments - Emerson Drive

 

[Sleepy Sol]

It's...not a short story, of course.

Very fun to listen to, in any case.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

Spoiler: Immortal Technique s Dance with the Devil is one of the most harrowing tales in song form you'll ever hear

Spoiler: Weird Al Yankovic has a few of these

"Everything you know is wrong" is more of a collection of short stories, but it's a masterpiece in showcasing surreal, flow of thought type storytelling
"Albuquerque" is more of a story that is also a song, but it's a masterpiece nonetheless
"A complicated song" is also a fascinating story which takes completely unexpected turns every other line

Spoiler: Mokoma s Tämän Maailman Ruhtinaan Hovi tells the tale of a people getting their savior, and said savior in turn turning into their oppressor. This will be completely lost on audiences who do not speak finnish, but it is good music anyway.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Don McLean's "American Pie". It's a story, whatever the story really is about.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

Don McLean's "American Pie". It's a story, whatever the story really is about.

I was under the impression it was about the death of Buddy Holly, Richie Vallens and the Big Bopper. Am I wrong?

 

[Fox12]

I think, OP, what you're searching for is called a ballad. Anyway, plenty of songs tell stories. Some better then others.

I'm rather fond of Coheed and Cambria. Most of their music is tied to a comic series they write. Though I haven't read it. They also have incredible range.

Spoiler

Metallica, surprisingly, has some pretty strong material.

Spoiler

Here's one that's a little less intense. It's super emotional, though. Maybe that's just because I can actually relate to it. I'll let you judge.

Spoiler

 

[happyninja42]

Pretty much anything by RUSH from the 70-80s is a story. Seriously like the entire album at times.

Another good one


This one by Peter actually inspired a Werewolf: Apocalypse campaign I ran once.

Can't think of any others right now. I'm sure I know tons of them though.

 

[09philj]

Quite a few songs on Word Gets Around by Stereophonics tell pretty depressing stories. Local Boy in the Photograph stands out.
[youtube]https://youtu.be/5kZaW1a_olk[/youtube]

 

[yamy]

A lot of music is based on stories. Epic poems and stories used to be passed down as songs in history.

Just off the top of my head, these songs also tell stories.

A funny one.

Spoiler

And a not so funny one.

Spoiler

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I'm not going to post them but part of what I love about Cradle of Filth is how every so often they'll put out an album that's basically one large narrative. There's Cruelty and the Beast which is heavily based on the life of Elizabeth Bathory. Damnation and a Day, which is an adaptation of...uh...I wanna say Paradise Lost. God Speed on the Devil's Thunder seems to be based around Gilles de Rais after the death of Joan of Arc. Darkly Darkly Venus Aversa is based around the demon Lilith...Holy shit, they launched a new album last month?!

 

[Something Amyss]

The legend of a woman who lost it when her fiance died in a shipwreck. More or less.


Maybe not the most epic of stories, but still, a nice song.

I had a couple others coming in, but one of them (Hotel California) has been shared and the rest slipped my mind. I might be back.