Songs that are also stories

[Zio_IV]

While there's plenty of great bands that create stories with their music, I'mma break out the big guns and mention Rush. They're perfect for this sort of thing, considering almost all their songs are either contained stories within themselves or even stories that span multiple albums.

Just one of the more obvious examples from them:

 

[Shaevar]

Nobody mentionned Chris de Burgh? That's a shame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ace7mrRFG6A

Spanish train is one of his best. Well, the entire album Spanish Train and Others Stories is pretty good, minus a couple of songs that are too....kitch

 

[Ignignokt]

Here's the story of The Hurricane:

 

[FPLOON]

Psyche Origami's The Standard album kinda falls into that category in general...

Spoiler: The Standard

However, the Deltron 3030 album from Deltron 3030, themselves, is basically one big intergalactic adventure in rap form...

Spoiler: Deltron 303

Other than that, all of the one's I keep thinking about are more metaphorical storytelling than straight-up storytelling... Like Collective Efforts's Growth:

Spoiler: Growth Pt. 2

 

[Sir Pootis]

Space Oddity by David Bowie. One of my favorite songs.

Spoiler

 

[doggy go 7]

I mean, most songs tell a story of sorts, even if it's just "boy likes girl"/"girl likes boy". The two examples I immediately thought of have already been said (Dance with the devil and american pie), but some other songs that do it are

Spoiler: The beatles, rocky raccoon

[youtbe=nucSvl7VXVM]

most of Bob Dylan, but All alond the Watchtower perhaps most obviously

Spoiler

Eminem's Stan already got taken, so instead here's Guilty Conscience, which is like 3 short stories

Spoiler

Then there's this one

Spoiler: Plan b, Pity the plight

Most of the best stories, however, are told throughout albums, using individual songs to help build the story. For example, Plan b's album ill Manors, where the previous example came from (and what made me think of it), another one of his albums "The Defamation Of Strickland Banks", which is actually even better as a story (it's about a famous singer being sent to jail for a rape he didn't commit). Kendrick Lamar's Good kid, M.A.A.D city does it, or Gnarls Barkelys album "Charity Case" (the one that their famous single "Run" came from...what do you mean I'm the only one who got the album??). Arguably the best at this are Pink Floyd, with the Wall being their ultimate triumph from the point of view of telling a story through music. I mean, comfertably numb is still a great song, but it's even better when listened to in its proper context (if that's possible)

 

[Godhead]

If you like Tolkien, Blind Guardian made a concept album based on The Silmarillion all the way up to the end of the Fifth Battle.


In fact, metal normally has some great stories in general

Spoiler: Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Iron Maiden

Spoiler: The Count of Tuscany - Dream Theater

Spoiler: Fate of Norns - Amon Amarth

Spoiler: Funeralopolis - Electric Wizard

Spoiler: Bells and Whistles - Nekrogoblikon

Spoiler: Fields of the Fallen - Týr

 

[Godhead]

Double post.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

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?

I'm pretty sure that's it, though many verses have several interpretations as to who or what they're referencing.

 

[njrk97]

No mention of the Gorrilaz yet, really? Their entire thing was stories around the songs, although technically it was more stories around the music videos with it having not much to do with the song...hmm.....WAIT A MINUTE I REMEMBER


Short story song, ill let you interprets what some of the finer details of the story are (The video is higher quality then the thumbnail).

 

[silver wolf009]

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.

My friend, you are missing out on something great: Concept albums.


Contained within this Youtube video is the story a man driven mad by an insane asylum, who escapes, and stages a Macabre game of vengeance against the people who wronged him. And this is like, one album out of 12 King Diamond does. Seriously, if you can tolerate heavy metal at all, give them a listen.

 

[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?

I'm pretty sure that's it, though many verses have several interpretations as to who or what they're referencing.

Fair enough then.


The Hurricane - Bob Dylan

Tells the (greatly challenged) story of the incarceration or Ruben Carter for murder.

 

[Guffe]

There are many, so so many!!!

Iron Maiden has a few of the top of my head.
Based on novels: Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Lord of the Flies.
Just stories: Dance of Death, Hallowed be thy Name, Running Free.
Historybased: Run to the Hills, Paschendale.
And these are just to name a few, with over 15 studioalbums I can't remember them all -.-

Then there's a band called Sabaton who do mainly music about war, so they have songs about real life stories and happenings.
Check 'em out, they're awesome!!

I keep myself to Rock N Roll and HeavyMetal, and in these genres it is quite common for songs to be stories at the same time.
If you want you more just ask, the list goes on

 

[Guffe]

Most of the best stories, however, are told throughout albums, using individual songs to help build the story.

Aren't these called "concept albums"?
I know at least Queensryche album Operation Mindcrime is one. The whole album tells just one story.
This was popular in the 80s and 90s for Proggressiv Rock, bands like Rush, DreamTeather and QueensRyche often used several songs around one "character".

Then a band called Savatage have albums like Gutter Ballet which in itself isn't a concept album, the 3 last songs are basically one story and the whole album could be seen like the songs are tied together, they have said that it isn's a full story though.

 

[LostCrusader]

I'm surprised no one has suggested Bohemian Rhapsody yet.

 

[Dreph]

Figured I would throw my two cents in here, because no one has mentioned Kamelot and they do this a lot.

Spoiler: Kamelot - Love You To Death

Spoiler: Kamelot - The Shadow of Uther

Spoiler: Kamelot - Sailormans Hymn

Also how has no one mentioned Alestorm yet?

Spoiler: Alestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge

yes I have terrible taste in music.

 

[Plinglebob]

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

This was my first thought and one of the reasons I enjoy Country music. A few more (not just country) are:

Spoiler: Coward of the County

Spoiler: Harper Valley PTA

Spoiler: The One on the Right

Spoiler: Camp Granada

Spoiler: Blood on the Risers

 

[MeatMachine]

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.

Wow. Well, before I even opened this thread, that was going to be my primary example.
"Highwayman" is another great one, and best of all, it's from Johnny Cash (and some other dudes or whatever):

 

[A.K.B.]

Rest Calm: By Nightwish.
Black Bird: By Alter Bridge.
those are the closest songs I know to your suggestion.

 

[Ten Foot Bunny]

The Decemberists - The Mariner's Revenge Song

Not only is this an epic story, but the music perfectly matches it.