Song That Tells a Story

[tv star collector]

Does anyone have a favorite ballad or song that tells a story (excluding
novelty tunes which is a separate category)? I can think of
several good ones:

Blind Man in the Bleachers - Kenny Starr
Hazard - Richard Marx
Ode to Billie Jo - Bobbie Gentry
Ringo - Lorne Greene
Coward of the County - Kenny Rogers
Honey - Bobby Goldsboro
He Stopped Loving Her Today - George Jones
Old Rivers - Walter Brennan
Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles
Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
Don't Take Your Guns to Town - Johnny Cash
Green, Green Grass of Home - Tom Jones
P.T. 109 - Jimmy Dean
Ruben James - Kenny Rogers
Teddy Bear - Red Sovine
Tom Dooley - The Kingston Trio

[Janice]

The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot

The Gambler - Kenny Rogers

Ruby - Kenny Rogers

Copacabana - Barry Manilow

[gilligan fanatic]

all those ones you said are great tv star collector. Ringo is one of my all favorites.

El Paso, The Hanging Tree, Big Iron, The Strawberry Roan, and almost every other Marty Robins Song

Sinking of the Reuben James, Jim Bridger, Snow Shoe Thompson, Battle of New Orleans and almost every other Johnny Horton song

Garden Party - Ricky Nelson
39' - Queen
Sand, Destiny, Fourteen Men and other Lorne Greene songs
Last Kiss - Jay and the Cavaliers
Ten Thousand Drums - ?
16 Tons - Tenesse Ernie Ford

there are a lot more

Some of these were repeated but these are from my favorite Time Life collection

1. Big Bad John Jimmy Dean 3:03
2 The Battle Of New Orleans Johnny Horton 2:32
3 Wolverton Mountain Claude King 3:00
4 A Week In The County Jail Tom T. Hall 3:04
5 The Ballad Of Jed Clampett Flatt And Scruggs 2:04
6 The Blizzard Jim Reeves 3:24
7 Saginaw, Michigan Lefty Frizzell 3:05
8 The Carroll County Accident Porter Wagoner 2:51
9 Cross The Brazos At Waco Billy Walker 2:53
10 Miller's Cave Bobby Bare 2:54
11 Big Iron Marty Robbins 3:59
12 B.J. The D.J. Stonewall Jackson 2:49
13 When It's Springtime In Alaska Johnny Horton 2:37
14 Don't Take Your Guns To Town Johnny Cash 3:03
15 The Devil Went Down To Georgia Charlie Daniels

1. Tom Dooley The Kingston Trio 3:05
2 Ballad Of The Green Berets Sgt. Barry Sadler 2:31
3 Old Rivers Walter Brennan 2:48
4 The Long Black Veil Lefty Frizzell 3:11
5 A Boy Named Sue Johnny Cash 3:49
6 North To Alaska Johnny Horton 2:52
7 The Pool Shark Dave Dudley 3:04
8 P.T. 109 Jimmy Dean 3:13
9 El Paso Marty Robbins 4:41
10 The Wall Freddie Hart 2:47
11 Tennessee Stud Eddy Arnold 3:07
12 Harper Valley P.T.A. Jeannie C. Riley 3:17
13 Sink The Bismark Johnny Horton 3:15
14 Detroit City Bobby Bare 2:51
15 Convoy C.W. McCall

[TJL]

"Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel

[Polniaczek033]

the tide by the spill canvas

[vashti1999]

Cats In The Cradle - Harry Chapin

[Shine]

If you think about it, every song tells a story.

[Penny Lane]

The Ballad Of John and Yoko-The Beatles

Creque Alley-Mamas and The Papas

I Saw Her Again Last Night- Mamas and The Papas

Coal Miners Daughter- Loretta Lynn

Alice's Restaurant- Arlo Guthrie

[gilligan fanatic]

I got two more

The Streak and Junk Food Junkie

[Penny Lane]

El Paso- Marty Robbins

Come A Little Bit Closer- Jay and The Americans

Mama Told Me Not To Come- Three Dog Night

A Day In The Life- The Beatles

[Fonzarelli]

Bob Dylan- Hurricane (sadly, it's a true story)

[MaydayMalonesGirl]

Murder ballads. I love old folk murder ballads. Omie Wise, Banks Of The Ohio, Little Sadie, yes. Then there are the Okkervil River murder ballads, Westfall and Kathy Keller. They are all great.

[James"Thunder"Early]

"The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia" Vicki Lawrence

[Lexx82]

immortal technique-dance with the devil
immortal technique-you never know

^^^^^ must be heard!! download it right now

[Janice Johnson]

Billie Jean by Michael Jackson.
:) That song sounds as if he is telling us a chapter from his life, while we sit around in front of him and hang on to his every word :p. It seems as if he is TALKING(SINGING) DIRECTLY to us.;) :p

[tv star collector]

all those ones you said are great tv star collector. Ringo is one of my all favorites.

El Paso, The Hanging Tree, Big Iron, The Strawberry Roan, and almost every other Marty Robins Song

Sinking of the Reuben James, Jim Bridger, Snow Shoe Thompson, Battle of New Orleans and almost every other Johnny Horton song

Garden Party - Ricky Nelson
39' - Queen
Sand, Destiny, Fourteen Men and other Lorne Greene songs
Last Kiss - Jay and the Cavaliers
Ten Thousand Drums - ?
16 Tons - Tenesse Ernie Ford

there are a lot more

Some of these were repeated but these are from my favorite Time Life collection

1. Big Bad John Jimmy Dean 3:03
2 The Battle Of New Orleans Johnny Horton 2:32
3 Wolverton Mountain Claude King 3:00
4 A Week In The County Jail Tom T. Hall 3:04
5 The Ballad Of Jed Clampett Flatt And Scruggs 2:04
6 The Blizzard Jim Reeves 3:24
7 Saginaw, Michigan Lefty Frizzell 3:05
8 The Carroll County Accident Porter Wagoner 2:51
9 Cross The Brazos At Waco Billy Walker 2:53
10 Miller's Cave Bobby Bare 2:54
11 Big Iron Marty Robbins 3:59
12 B.J. The D.J. Stonewall Jackson 2:49
13 When It's Springtime In Alaska Johnny Horton 2:37
14 Don't Take Your Guns To Town Johnny Cash 3:03
15 The Devil Went Down To Georgia Charlie Daniels

1. Tom Dooley The Kingston Trio 3:05
2 Ballad Of The Green Berets Sgt. Barry Sadler 2:31
3 Old Rivers Walter Brennan 2:48
4 The Long Black Veil Lefty Frizzell 3:11
5 A Boy Named Sue Johnny Cash 3:49
6 North To Alaska Johnny Horton 2:52
7 The Pool Shark Dave Dudley 3:04
8 P.T. 109 Jimmy Dean 3:13
9 El Paso Marty Robbins 4:41
10 The Wall Freddie Hart 2:47
11 Tennessee Stud Eddy Arnold 3:07
12 Harper Valley P.T.A. Jeannie C. Riley 3:17
13 Sink The Bismark Johnny Horton 3:15
14 Detroit City Bobby Bare 2:51
15 Convoy C.W. McCall
Hey! Thanks for mentioning some great ones that I forgot.

[tv star collector]

If you think about it, every song tells a story.
Yes, that's sort of true. That thought crossed my mind.

[EmoJoe]

Jesus Take the Wheel- Carrie Underwood
Wasted- Carrie Underwood
(The Night Before) Life Goes On- Carrie Underwood
Don't Forget to Remember Me- Carrie Underwood
Behind These Hazel Eyes- Kelly Clarkson
You Thought Wrong- Kelly Clarkson
This Love- Maroon 5
Wake Me Up When September Ends- Green Day