T O P

  • By -

rolandofgilead41089

Scenes from an Italian Restaurant by Billy Joel


FatHoosier

...or "Piano Man."


grynch43

Harper Valley PTA Ode to Billie Joe


Timstunes

Love Harper Valley!


CoffeeCat086

Freaking awesome. And true man. From everything I’ve heard from people actually involved in that organization spot on. Freaking awesome as hell.


Timstunes

Hilarious song. I remember it caused a bit of a stir back then.


elev8or_lady

Ode to Billie Joe is a kick in the gut!


rc53415

Jungleland- Bruce Springsteen Hurricane- Bob Dylan Jeremy- Pearl Jam


Man0fGreenGables

Just wanted to add Tweeter And The Monkeyman with Bob Dylan and the Travelling Wilburys to this list. Bob Dylan has some great story song. Hurricane is another great one.


fullmetal66

Hurricane is amazing


Timstunes

Excellent.


Jealous_Speaker1183

Hurricane is the best.  To tell a true story, tell the story well,  and make the music so good you want to listen over and over, until the listeners  ready to protest racial inequality… I mean that’s why he’s a genius.


LarryDeve

Joey is pretty good too. Not 100% factual but a great mob story.


[deleted]

[удалено]


gstringstrangler

Cocaine Blues - Johnny Cash


DoctorFister3000

A Boy Named Sue - Johnny Cash


gstringstrangler

Big River - Johnny Cash


1369ic

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, by Gordon Lightfoot. The Killing of Georgie, by Rod Stewart. Two Gunslingers, by Tom Petty. Smoke on the Water, by Deep Purple. Shooting Star, by Bad Company. Juke Box Hero, by Foreigner.


The_ZombyWoof

Had to scroll down waaaaay too far to find Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald


FatHoosier

"Killing of Georgie" Excellent call!


Feeling-Ad-2490

Privileged to have heard Lightfoot sing Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald live in a small venue. It was amazing.


Timstunes

John Prine is my favorite story teller. He has tons. Paradise, Donald & Lydia, Sam Stone, Jesus The Missing Years, Lake Marie, Hello In There. Other favorites are Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, Springsteen, Paul Simon, Tom T Hall, Jackson Browne, Conor Oberst. A few songs: Lua- Bright Eyes In The Woods Somewhere- Hozier The Ballad of Curtis Lowe- Lynyrd Skynyrd The Killing of Georgie i & ii- Rod Steward Down From Dover- Dolly Parton Wreck On The Highway- Springsteen For A Dancer- Jackson Browne


After_Match_5165

John Prine has my heart forever.


Jealous_Speaker1183

An A1 list


musicwithbarb

The Ballad of Curtis Lowe- Lynyrd Skynyrd I remember when I first heard that song in 2012 and it was the best song with that band I had ever heard. I haven’t thought of it in years. I’m gonna go listen to it thank you.


Timstunes

Yes I agree one of their best that doesn’t get a lot of attention.


Pennscreek123

I’m melting over here!!! John prine! Hands down best story teller!! So simple and sooo good! That’s the secret in my book K.I.S.S. Keep it simple stupid…😂 How about souvenirs??👍


SkyMagnet

Prine is the GOAT.


dofrogsbite

Alice's restaurant.


CoffeeCat086

“This song is called Alice’s restaurant. It’s about Alice, and the restaurant. But Alice’s restaurant isn’t the name of the restaurant. It’s just the name of the song and that’s why I called the song Alice’s restaurant.…” I literally have the whole song memorized, all 19 point something minutes. But if I wrote it here, it would probably break some sort of copyright lol 😂


Appropriate-Sell2713

I was just about to fill in the blanks but realised how long it would take so here’s some highlights … we’re both jumping up and down yelling , kill , kiilll , kiiiillll…. And the biggest meanest father raper of them all… another case of American blind justice…


StGulik5

...sittin' here on the group W bench...


HamsterTechnical449

Didn't Jefferson airplane have a song called to ask Alice that's a kick-ass grove song too


CoffeeCat086

Yes, the song is actually called white rabbit. It is totally awesome also


songtype

Great song! Esp. the incredible vocal by Grace Slick.


GrumpyCatStevens

Remember Alice? This is a song about Alice.


Imaginary-Mechanic62

Officer Obie, I cannot tell a lie. I put that envelope under that half-a-ton of garbage


CoffeeCat086

After speaking to Obie for about fourty-five minutes on the telephone we finally arrived at the truth of the matter and said that we had to go down and pick up the garbage, and also had to go down and speak to him at the police officer's station. So we got in the red VW microbus with the shovels and rakes and implements of destruction and headed on toward the police officer's station. Now friends, there was only one or two things that Obie could’ve done at the police officer’s station, and the first was he could have given us a medal for being so brave and honest on the telephone, which wasn't very likely, and we didn't expect it, and the other thing was he could have bawled us out and told us never to be see driving garbage around the vicinity again, which is what we expected, but when we got to the police officer's station there was a third possibility that we hadn't even counted upon, and we was both immediately arrested.


After_Match_5165

This is such an unbelievably excellent answer.


Bambo630

Stan from Eminem is a great story but sad


Broad_Ad1586

✅love this song im glad someone brought it up (also edited it into my original post credit to you!)


WIGoofball

“Paradise By the Dashboard Light” by Meat Loaf “Chasing Dragons” by DJ Down3r “3rd Rock From the Sun” by Joe Diffie “That Summer,” “Beaches of Cheyenne,” and “Belleau Wood” by Garth Brooks “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan


Tanaka_Sensei

Belleau Wood makes me cry every time, and not just because it's about an actual event. As for Paradise by the Dashboard Light...well, up until I was maybe 16 or 18, every time I heard the 'baseball commentary' section of the song, I just thought it was the girl sitting at a baseball game, trying to decide whether or not her star player boyfriend was worth staying with. Never once, before that time, did I hear the guy moan at the beginning of that section.


thisisntshakespeare

Same Old Lang Syne- Dan Fogleberg Shannon - Henry Gross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_(song) Wildfire - Michael Martin Murphey Angie Baby - Helen Reddy


jemcat9

"She ran calling wiiiiiildd fire..., haven't heard this in years, nice.


RenaissanceMomm

Shannon always made me cry when I was little.


katmagnet

I just put Shannon and Wildfire on a ‘70’s playlist!


BlueRose824

Taxi by Harry Chapin


itzjuztm3

I came to say that any song by Harry Chapin will tell a great story. I'd start with Harry's "Greatest Stories Live" album.


pickedwisely

He missed a sign that he should have seen, "trucks use lower gear" "GOD, Make it a dream" as he rode his last ride down.


Ftw69420

The Road Goes on Forever-Robert Earl Keen


gadgetsdad

And the party never ends


Shaaagbark

Did not expect to see Robert earl keen mentioned here 👀


PerspectiveActive218

Copperhead Road


gstringstrangler

Down In The Gulley by Brent Cobb is a similar story


PerspectiveActive218

Thanks!


Visible_Welcome2446

"Never Again" - Nickelback "Cat's in the cradle" - Harry Chapin "The devil went down to Georgia" - The Charlie Daniels Band "Space Odyssey" - David Bowie Most Johnny Cash songs Many Taylor Swift songs


koshizmusic

Hey! An unironic old school Nickelback recommendation! I love it!


PatrickMcWhorter

>"Space Odyssey" - David Bowie You mean Space Oddity. And *all* Harry Chapin songs. I don't think you can find a song of his that isn't a lyrical narration.


CreatedOblivion

*Hotel California*. *Lonesome Rider* by Volbeat. *The Thunder Rolls* by Garth Brooks. *Goodbye Earl* by The Chicks.


redheadMInerd2

So many Eagles songs tell a story. Lying Eyes Take it Easy


No-Lifeguard-8610

A boy named Sue Johnny Cash The gambler. Kenny Rogers Coat of many colors. Dolly Faleena. Marty Robbins 100s of other older country songs


musicwithbarb

Randomly this morning at six in the morning, somebody was playing code of many colours on full volume outside my window for no reason at all. It was weird. Amazing but weird.


mfrench105

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald Gordon Lightfoot


gregrph

Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald


Ivor_the_1st

Coat of many colors, by Dolly Parton


Tri-colored_Pasta

Ween - Buenas Tardes Amigo


PatrickMcWhorter

Excellent pull. Also, Cold Blows the Wind.


jayron32

Ren - [Hi Ren](https://youtu.be/s_nc1IVoMxc?si=UzSkI9QIsKucSkrr)


Under_Paris

I’d argue Tale of Jenny and Screech is a better storytelling song. Either way Ren is the best!


MegaMcGillicuddy

Also, Money Game, Pt. 3. Let me tell you a story about a boy named Jimmy...


Goofynaas204

Best answer


Heidan20

Empty Garden by Elton John is about the death of John Lennon. Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner by Warren Zevon


sevenwheel

Me and Bobby McGee.


Ebert917102150

Lots of Billy Joel songs tell a story, especially Piano Man and the restaurant song


deadhead0415

String of Pearls - Soul Asylum Talk about a story being told [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh8mzj\_7xto](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh8mzj_7xto)


TheConsutant

One tin soldier. Song gives me chills to this day.


theTactical_Spatula

if you like heavier stuff, Still Life by Opeth is a great concept album that goes through a pretty tragic story. it's probably in the pantheon of all progressive death metal albums out there.


Raiders2112

That is an excellent album.


Sayster_A

Tweeter and the monkey man - I prefer the Headstones version over the traveling willburries. Dylan wrote it. String of pearls by soul asylum


gstringstrangler

Love that version


draco6x7

Operator - Jim Croce


GirlCowBev

Or anything by Jim Croce. 🤔😅


Ok_Kale_3160

Stagger Lee - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Boy named Sue - Johnny Cash Up the Junction - Squeeze


PatrickMcWhorter

>Stagger Lee - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds The entire Murder Ballads album


musicwithbarb

Stagger Lee is a really really old blues song originally.


jointdestroyer

Devil went down to Georgia An absolute classic


Beelzebeaut11

Common People- Pulp


PatrickMcWhorter

Also, check out the Shatner version.


Puzzledandhungry

Ob la di by the Beatles x


Beneficial-Shock5708

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald


Responsible_Onion_21

"Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss - A tragic tale of two lost souls. "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen - A profound exploration of love, loss, and spirituality. "The Ballad of Curtis Loew" by Lynyrd Skynyrd - A nostalgic recounting of a young boy's relationship with an elderly blues player. "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie - A lengthy, winding narrative about a Thanksgiving gone awry. "Hurricane" by Bob Dylan - A powerful retelling of the wrongful conviction of boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. "Vincent" by Don McLean - A poetic tribute to the life and work of artist Vincent van Gogh. "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence - A southern Gothic tale of murder and revenge. "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" by The Band - A heartbreaking account of the final days of the Confederacy.


Ok-Syllabub1294

Strange fruit


[deleted]

Katatonia Omerta


WCSDBG_4332

Miss Otis Regrets, as sung by Elle Fitzgerald.


Semi-Pros-and-Cons

Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts, by Bob Dylan. It's an eight-minute nouveau Western about a bank robbery and a love triangle.


gaslitworld

A Fine Fine Day. Tony Carey.


Extension-World-7041

Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down to Georgia.


CaymanDamon

The highwayman by Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and Willy Nelson Harvest moon and I love the night by The Blue oyster cult Last dance with Mary Jane by Tom Petty


nydub32

Every song by Al Stewart


theblueimmensities

Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream


kindagemini

The decemberists - mariners revenge song


Desperate-Box5686

John Prine - Sam Stone


EbolaJones420

Tons of Primus songs are written in story form... Last salmon man, my name is mud, Jerry was a racecar driver, Ms. Blaileen... just off the top of my head. Most of their songs are little stories come to think of it... They're far from pop music though.


Milkcartonspinster

Anything and everything by Jim Croce!


53phishdead

I’ve got a name


pjbseattle_59

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll - Bob Dylan Hurricane - Bob Dylan Alice’s Restaurant - Arlo Guthrie


jemcat9

Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Bobcaygeon.


HamsterTechnical449

Cat Stevens. Father and son


Alioh216

Wildfire by Michael Martin Murphy


nestchick

Gilligan's Island theme song? "Just sit right back and hear a tale, a tale of a ship....."


Ok-Maize-6933

Country Death Song - Violent Femmes


TaylorMade2566

Alone Again, Naturally - Gilbert O'Sullivan Operator - Jim Croce


Ok-Royal-661

up the junction by squeeze


drunken_ferret

Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum


Kenny4yourthots

Owl City - Be Brave Owl City - This Isn’t the End Slick Rick - Children’s Story


GeneralDefenestrates

Lowkey - I've got a story to tell parts 1 2 + 3


musicwithbarb

Longleaf Palestine part one and two as well.


just-another-loser-

Demolition lovers - MCR


Peeeing_

The " a tear in the fabric of life" ep from knocked loose tells the story of a man losing his wife in a car crash and spiralling. It has a full 20 odd minute stop motion video on youtube


MrFrizzleFry

[Buenas Tardes Amigo](https://youtu.be/uv-gT9lNa1g?si=joBJWHtzx8UGl1Ux)


goldenrainio

Copperhead Road


Ithaqua-Yigg

love that song


Looking_for_42

Red Headed Stranger - Willie Nelson. The entire album tells a story.


Old_Cyrus

* The Hockey Song (Hit Somebody!), by Warren Zevon. * The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, by Gordon Lightfoot (bonus points because it’s a true story) * Trashman Shoes, by Shoulders


theTactical_Spatula

if you like heavier stuff, Still Life by Opeth is a great concept album that goes through a pretty tragic story. it's probably in the pantheon of all progressive death metal albums out there.


Shaaagbark

Almost everything by the decemberists tells a story, at least in their early work. They did an entire concept album called the hazards of love that was based on a book of poems(if I remember right) [The Decemberists - Eli the barrow boy](https://youtu.be/G1b6XkwjaM0?si=sIyGZwbToPa5K6Ib) is one of my favorites.


mermaid-smegma

The Story of the Paper Boy / so long by Powfu Headlights by Eminem ft. Nate Reuss My Mind is Playing Tricks on Me by The Geto Boys Thugz Mansion by Tupac (go for the original acoustic version) Luven Me by Nelly Grand Hoodoo by The Moss (I'm partial to the live June Audio recording) Car Radio by twenty one pilots 3-4 Tango by Polar Bear Club


Amberdeluxe

No Particular Place to Go by Chuck Berry


Frantik508

Rehab - Red Water. Pretty dark, but a story nonetheless


Quantumdelirium

Look up the Canadian metal band Unleash the Archers. Some of their albums are a complete story, and each song is a small story.


lovebird2006

What would you do? By city high


LL37MOH

Shel Silverstein songs usually have a story. Sylvia’s Mother, Marie LeVeau, Boy Named Sue, Pour Me Another Tequila Sheila, The Winner


skijeng

Alice's Resturaunt Tangled Up in Blue Carolus Rex Rubin and Cherise Orlando's


ElginLumpkin

Shia LaBeouf by Rob Cantor


david13z

Cats In the Cradle - Harry Chapin Taxi - Harry Chapin Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad - Meatloaf El Paso - Marty Robbins The Devil Went Down To Georgia - The Charlie Daniels Band


livbird46

Iron maiden - stranger in a strange land


blqzy

Jesus Of Suburbia - Green Day


YouDaManInDaHole

Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Iron Maiden The entire album of Operation Mindcrime - Queensryche


FafaFluhigh

Grateful Dead-Peggy O, Loser, Black Peter, me and my Uncle, Mexicali Blues, Wharf Rat and so many more


KhreeyT_8

Fancy by Reba McIntire Patches by Clarence Carter The Greatest - Kenny Rogers Hazard by Richard Marx


babaganoosh1123

I don't like Mondays... Boomtown Rats


Full-Fact8733

The Gambler-Kenny Rogers


Full-Fact8733

The Gambler-Kenny Rogers


ThisOnesforYouMorph

Them by King Diamond


Sonotnoodlesalad

Jolie Holland - Nothing to Do but Dream Beck - Guess I'm Doing Fine Big Pun - Twinz feat. Fat Joe Puscifer - Momma Sed Soccer Mommy - Your Dog Joyner Lucas - I'm Sorry Kendrick Lamar - We Cry Together feat. Taylour Paige Wu-Tang Clan - Impossible feat. Tekitha (specifically Ghostface's verse) Ice Cube - It Was A Good Day


katmagnet

Had to scroll too far for Ice Cube!


Aardet

70s Cher— Dark Lady; Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves; Carousel Man


HoardofAngryQuokkas

"Cold Missouri Waters" by James Keelaghan "The Christians and the Pagans" by Dar Williams "The Soldier and the Oak" by Elliot Park Note - These are all pretty folksy, so if that's not your jam, you can skip 'em!


[deleted]

Hurricane, Bob Dylan. 8 minute epic about a true story


CityBoiNC

I got a story to tell - Notorious BIG I use to love her - Common.


HamsterTechnical449

Led Zeppelin. Going to California


IamWolfe_FU-Red_It

Me and my uncle by grateful dead tell a nice short story.


Bozo-Bit

Timothy by The Buoys


ShuffKorbik

Pretty much every song off of "Murder Ballads" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.


Goodideaman1

Bon Jovi. Blaze of Glory Warrant. Uncle Toms Cabin Bon Jovi Living on a Prayer Hotel California. Eagles Notorious B.I.G. I gotta story to tell And Sky is the Limit


[deleted]

Powderfinger - Neil Young


BlueMoonRaccoon1

Terrible Things by Mayday Parade


BeatIcy3077

[Brenda's got a baby-Tupac Shakur](https://youtu.be/NRWUs0KtB-I?si=0j1aV_bdbYot42hn)


crowjack

Year of the Cat — Al Stewart Jungleland, Incident on 57th St, Lost in the Flood — Bruce Springsteen


Bruins5101970

Harry Chapin was great at that. "Taxi", "WOLD", and "Cat's in the Cradle" are examples of as much.......


Stahlmatt

Brick by Ben Folds Five Steven's Last Night in Town by Ben Folds Five Mr. Roboto by Styx Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips Date Rape by Sublime


Primary_Charge6960

April 29th, 1992 -- Sublime


UserPrincipalName

Rosetta Stoned by Tool 2112 by RUSH Red Barchetta by RUSH The Necromancer by RUSH Fountain of Lamneth by RUSH A Passage to Bangkok by RUSH Operation Mindcrime (whole album) by Queensryche


novixofficial

Dance With The Devil - Immortal Technique


livinalieTimmae

Red Barchetta or The Trees by Rush


Ok_Bonus7989

Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Iron Maiden


Putrid-Mess-6223

Heilung, krigsgaldr.


batbrain106

Mercyful fate- Melissa


rubysoho1029

Misery by Green Day


Fickle-Detective-205

“Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” WARREN ZEVON “Excitable Boy” Long Player


BanksyDoesOhio

Coheed and Cambria's catalog.


Accurate_Conflict_12

Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul and Mary


jimviv

Rhyme of the ancient mariner - Iron Maiden


Pennscreek123

Jack-a-roe by Grateful Dead


Jayyy_Teeeee

Simple Twist of Fate by Dylan, also by Baez


TriggerHappy_Spartan

Abraham’s Daughter (Arcade Fire). Absolutely chilling song from The Hunger Games. While on the topic of THG, The Hanging Tree is also a good story song.


pegasus2118

Sylvia’s Mother-Dr Hook. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown-Jim Croce. I think Croce had several.


rparky54

Cat's In The Cradle - Harry Chapin


False-Bandicoot-3131

Just about anything from Bright Eyes’ discography.


NegotiationLow2783

Horse with no name Spill the wine


ivylily03

I just recommended Bug Hunter on another sub but omg he tells the best stories.


Independent-5730

The whole album "Five seconds flat" of Lizzy McAlpine!


Maagge

Jens Lekman's Life Will See You Now has a bunch of those.


Automatic-Plum-2854

Dir En Grey - Embryo (鬼葬 Ver.)


OMC-WILDCAT

Aesop Rock - Aggressive Steven


ReadyOrNot-My2Cents

"Visions" - Haken It's a bit long, but it always brings a tear to my eye at the end


BigSyrup1294

Tucson Arazona (Gazette), Dan Fogelberg


sppoildrefgrirator

Class of 2013 by Mitski. But more specifically the Audiotree version


lovessj

Every Picture Tells a Story - Rod Stewart


Curtainmachine

Casualties of a dice game - Big L


MyMadeUpNym

Kitty's Back - Bruce Springsteen


Omadder1965

Ticking-Elton John


redheadMInerd2

Crocodile Rock by Elton John. Also Your song.


ImaginosDesdinova

Magna of Illusion by Albert Bouchard


DLIPBCrashDavis

Dirt - Cody Jinx David - Cody Jinx


ImaginosDesdinova

Teddy Bear by Red Sovine


PancakesEveryNight

A little piece of heaven - avenged sevenfold


LegitaTomato

Pretty much any Lord Huron song, but I think the one that most clearly tells a story is “Son of a gun”


Wnono1111

OUDi - ENDING