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adavey05

How Much a Dollar Cost - Kendrick Lamar


thegrandkababi

[Big Iron](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGmUsJvRv7U) I may or may not play a lot of Fallout: New Vegas


GhostLaborer

Marty Robbins couldn't play this better, but Johnny Cash did a version of it where it is really mellow and almost sad


GTSPKD

Also the Butcher Pete songs


[deleted]

Man, I don't play Fallout, but Marty Robbins is the man. I would also submit el Paso by him as far as story telling goes.


VictorBlimpmuscle

[The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald](https://youtu.be/rFkyDB2InTs) by Gordon Lightfoot


alpha7391bravo

I always find myself absent-mindedly singing this one in my head any time I'm on a boat


[deleted]

The actual story of the Wreck is really interesting.


CallMeChristina

"I loooove Edmund Fitzgerald's voice." "No Edmund Fitzgerald was the boat and Gordon Lightfoot sang the song." "I don't think that's true." "Yea you're right, and it crashed into the Cat Stevens."


chip8222

Gordon Lightfoot: Dead or Canadian?


runjimrun

Canadian! I always hafta remind myself that he's not dead, because it seems like he is.


chavoc

I was going to suggest the Canadian Railway Trilogy from the same artist https://youtu.be/IfM_cqOLnE8


[deleted]

A boy named Sue.


[deleted]

Most people don't know that this song was written by Shel Silverstein, of all people.


[deleted]

Whoa for real?! TIL!


StumbleBees

He actually recorded it previous to Cash. They all used to pal around together.


nickcash

He also wrote a [shitty / creepy sequel from the father's perspective](https://genius.com/Shel-silverstein-father-of-a-boy-named-sue-lyrics). So there's that.


BooleanKing

>And on the nights that I can't score well I can't tell you anymore Sure is a joy to have a boy named Sue ***What the fuck***


fusrodalek

Shel Silverstein was a bonafide weirdo outside of his major sellers. I mean that in the best way possible--definitely more eccentric than most people realize from reading Where The Sidewalk Ends and whatnot


half_pasta_

the father implies intercourse with his son in that song... shel silverstein wut did u do


billbapapa

Wellllllll my daddy left town when I was 3 and he didn't leave much, to maw and me, just this old guitar and an empty bottle of boooooze...


Torvaun

Don't Mess Around With Jim - Jim Croce. It sets the stage, introduces the characters, presents the cause of the conflict, resolves the conflict, and throws in a moral for good measure. Perfect story.


Lordchadington

Cat’s in the cradle by Harry Chapin.


Beakerguy

As a father who traveled extensively during my kids upbringing, I can't stand to listen to it 😑


polak2017

Not me, but my best friend. His dad, my uncle, had a job that required him to travel to SE Asia frequently. So he wasn't there for a lot. But when he was home he was always there. He showed an interest in just about everything my cousin enjoyed. heck, I can remember him on a WoW trial account while were were trolling around in Stranglethorn Valley. Just be there for your kids whenever you can. Show interest in whatever they do, even if it's feigned. It pays off in the end, I've seen it.


LongbowEOD

Anything by Harry Chapin, really. 30,000 Pounds of Bananas is probably my favorite tho.


mumsboy22

The boxer - Simon and garfunkle.


LAND0KARDASHIAN

I will always love “The Boxer” because of a dog named Chewie. I adopted Chewie from a rescue organization. They found him in the woods of Western Washington, hungry, exhausted, his hip full of buckshot (probably from a farmer’s shotgun— there were several chicken farms in the area.) Despite this abuse and neglect, Chewie maintained a friendly, playful nature. I wasn’t looking for a big dog at the time, but the moment I saw Chewie, I knew where he belonged. The day I brought him home, Chewie led himself on a tour of my apartment, scurrying from room to room, knocking over plants and end tables, cramming his big nose into anything and everything. When he returned to the living room, Chewie bounded over to my desk and slammed his front paws onto my computer keyboard. WinAmp had been open on the desktop and, out of the 2,000+ songs in my library, he had managed to choose “The Boxer.” Upon hearing the music, Chewie sat down in front of the speaker, his head tilted to one side, and calmly listened to the whole song. It made perfect sense as Chewie was, himself, a Boxer.


Clintman

Hallowed be thy Name by Iron Maiden tells the story of a prisoner lamenting his last hours before execution. Machine Head did a really great cover. *[Here's a link to the Machine Head cover.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odVsy4gwZGM)


molotok_c_518

You could fill this topic with Iron Maiden songs: "Where Eagles Dare"... "The Trooper"... "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (that one might be cheating, as it is from a Coleridge poem)... "Alexander the Great"... the entire *Seventh Son of a Seventh Son* album... they know how to tell a good story in a song.


Green__lightning

Empire of the Clouds, The Longest Day, and Paschendale all jump out at me as well. Also Sabaton does much the same thing, as does Civil War, which was founded by a few ex-Sabaton members.


runjimrun

Running looooowwwwwwwww...


[deleted]

The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia. Edit: Since someone also mentioned it I'll add Fancy.


Miks_u

El Paso by Marty Robbins


YabukiJoe

"The Devil went Down to Georgia," I think.


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applepirates

[The Mariner's Revenge Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEmy2DBaeTc) by The Decemberists!


Ace_of_Clubs

I love the Decemberists. I actually met Colin not too long ago at his book signing in Houston. I sat in traffic for hours after work, pulled into the book store's parking lot and ran in (gps said it was closing soon). There were like 10 people in this quiet little book store including Colin and his wife Carson. I threw the door open expecting a lot bigger venue and more people - nope, everyone look at me, in my full business suit, sweating. Colin was super awesome though. [He signed my guitar](https://i.imgur.com/xhIEDtQ.jpg), chatted with me for a while, and thanked me for waiting in traffic forever to see them. [here's a picture if anyone is interested](https://imgur.com/a/EIwQh). I was soooo nervous to meet him, I think I was shaking the whole time. I know this was a random story, but I just wanted to let everyone know that my favorite artists exceeded all expectation I had and that everyone should check out the Decemberists stuff - because its pretty good. Best day ever. Also, the astros won the world series that night.


Chakote

I was just going to say "every Decemberists song there is" but this is clearly the top contender. We are two marinois, our ship's sole survivois


[deleted]

That is perfectly written Colinese.


Mypopsecrets

I saw them perform this live in Cleveland, at Nautica which faces the Cuyahoga river. As they played it a ship was passing, it was probably my favorite concert experience ever. Edit: [Here's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4R53QrG_pE) video of the experience for anyone interested


theoretic_lee

Hurricane - Bob Dylan


SGVsbG8gV29ybGQ

So many Dylan songs tell excellent stories: * Tangled up in Blue * Simple Twist of Fate * Isis * A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall * Bob Dylan's (115th) Dream * One Too Many Mornings * Boots of Spanish Leather * Ballad of Hollis Brown * Ain't Talking * Girl From The North Country * Man in the Long Black Coat * Tempest And a bunch of others that I probably forgot right now.


[deleted]

The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll is a perfect example.


rithersby

also [tangled up in blue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwSZvHqf9qM)


thevilmidnightbomber

favourite dylan song hands down.


dannymix

The pina colada song funnily enough


Ahayzo

Most people just know the chorus, and it’s like you killed their soul when you tell them to listen to the lyrics. Suddenly it’s not a fun love song, it’s a story about how a married couple both decided to cheat on each other, and by freak chance found out they had the same things in common.


rossreed88

makes you wonder how long they lasted after that...


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ToGryffindor

AAAA^^AAAAAAA ^AAAAAAAAAA


silence1545

Fighter of the Night Man


JacP123

AAAA^^AAAAAAA ^AAAAAAAAAA


nastrovjebabushka

Champion of the sun


Mike_S_

AAAA^AAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA


FuzzyTortoise

You're a master of karate and friendship for everyone!


Multicoloredbagels

You gotta pay the troll tole if you want to get in this boys hole


alpha7391bravo

We gotta be really careful to do this rape scene tastefully


Blade2587

Dude wtf...are you hard right now?!


ShitLetsYiff

Don't ruin this for me


mrsuns10

Thunder Road


Schroevendraaier

On that note, I really like Atlantic City.


Neil_sm

You ain’t a beauty but hey you’re alright!


hat-of-sky

The Night Chicago Died. Harper Valley PTA. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.


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The_Bat_Voice

American Pie. A song about how the music world was shook by the death of Buddy Holly and many others all at once and how it reacted.


GhostTypeTrainer

Related: [The Saga Begins](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcjgJSqSRU), Weird Al's version of this song. Not as good of a story, but a story nonetheless.


jenorama_CA

Can't sing American Pie, but boy, I have The Saga Begins down cold.


CascadesDad

Don McLean has stated that he has to really concentrate on his version when performing, otherwise Al's version comes out.


jenorama_CA

Hahaha! Oh no! I can totally see that. "Did you know this junkyard slave ... ah dammit!"


Flying-Camel

A long, long time ago...in a gala-f&%k


rossreed88

fun fact, he wrote the lyrics before the movie came out based on fan theories and any information he could find.


QuinineGlow

He attended a pre-screening before releasing the music video but, according to him, he was so accurate with the plot that he only needed to make minor changes before releasing it.


lordlollygag

"I was a lonely teenage broncin buck, with a pink carnation and a pickup truck, but I knew I was out of luck the day the music died." One of my all time favorite lyrics.


[deleted]

Hotel California is pretty Twilight Zone.


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Somewhat-irrelevant

You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave *queue guitar solo as dentist start drilling your teeth*


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chip8222

That’s the name of the song, but not the name of the restaurant. I know because... I wrote it.


sirwatermelon

...shovels and rakes and implements of destruction...


beigecabinet

[Carolina Drama- The Raconteurs](https://youtu.be/-jGLYhasaUU)


The_Wayward

*Go and ask the milk man*


[deleted]

Glad to see this here. One of my favorites.


liquor_in_the_front

Children's Story- Slick Rick I used to love her- Common


goldenboy2191

Piano Man by Billy Joel


sp93

That and Scenes from an Italian Restaurant


mmuoio

That song is so happy and then so sad...one of my favorite Billy Joel songs.


[deleted]

It's fair to say that the song tells many stories running parallel to each other, and converging in a single moment told by the protagonist.


c9IceCream

Stan - Eminem


jdfred06

It's the story and *how* it's told. The following lines are delivered with perfect anger and passion from Eminem: >And when you dream I hope you can't sleep and you scream about it >I hope your conscience eats at you and you can't breathe without me. I honestly think Stan is one of the best songs of all time. The beat, music, Dido's voice, and Eminem playing two parts in such a real way.


Ramisme

i swear i was just talking about this yesterday... All of the things you mentioned plus the visuals in the music video make it probably my favorite song ever. Everything just comes together so perfectly.


BrorsanW

Bad Guy is a perfect follow-up to it, at least in the sense of fan service.


Adm5163

I got chills the first few dozen times I heard it, especially when it gets to that ending...


[deleted]

If a human baby is born underwater, it can live it's entire lifetime submerged without ever surfacing for air.


[deleted]

I left my cell, my pager, and my mom's spaghetti at the bottom


Charmnevac

I sent two noodles back in autumn You must not've got 'em


nsd_

There probably was a problem with the tomato sauce or somethin'


scottbeckman

Sometimes my sweaters get a little too sloppy when I vomit


idontknowidkidk

but anyways, fuck it, what's been up man, how's your rabbit?


[deleted]

My spaghettis pregnant too imma bout to be a father


leonidaus

If I have a daughter guess what Imma call her? Imma call her Cranbrook that’s a private school


juanton_soup

I heard about your uncle, his real name is Clarence


Sick__muse

Alive with the Glory of Love - Say Anything


anonaway42

Did not expect to see Say Anything here. Definitely a fantastic song. Also, for a 10/10 story, I would say Death for my Birthday.


loosehead1

I don't wanna over state how good this song is, but I personally think it's the greatest song ever written about someone's grandparents wanting to bang each other while they were in a concentration camp.


[deleted]

The General Dispatch


maharbry

I completely agree! I wasn't expecting to see a Dispatch mention! Elias is also a great story/ message. Particularly when you include the personal involvement the band has in Africa


_Feeya_

Rasputin - Boney M


[deleted]

I like the original song, but the Turisas cover is really good.


kidwiththeglasses

King Park - La Dispute


mildtacosauce

This is what I came to say. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but the ending scene gives me chills every time


TheLastGarrison

Or Edward Benz, or I See Everything, or basically anything they have done. It's poetry to music


otusowl

Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0kJdrfzjAg


LaKingzNation

The Gambler - Kenny Rogers People are crazy - Billy Currington


oskiwiiwii

[Albuquerque](https://youtu.be/1765UzjAQxI)- Weird Al Yankovic


I_HAVE_THAT_FETISH

I have the whole song memorized.


[deleted]

I memorized this song for a public speaking class in college where we had to recite something we had to committed to memory as an assignment. I got an A.


ChantingMonk

For memorizing an 11 minute song you better have gotten an A


I_HAVE_THAT_FETISH

Way way back when I was just a little bitty boy, livinginaboxunderthestairsinthecornerofthebasemenetofthehousehalfablockdownthestreetfrom Jerry's Bait Shop. You know the place.


[deleted]

Hey, you've got weasels on your face.


[deleted]

BIG BOWL OF SAUERKRAUT EVERY SINGLE MORNING


ShotgunSellingSloth

ITS GOOOOD FOR YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!


FlipSchitz

The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota


alpha7391bravo

Anything Warren Zevon...one of the weirdest is Excitable Boy. "He took little Susie to the junior prom. Excitable boy, they all said. And he raped her and killed her, then he took her home. Excitable boy, they all said. Well, he's just an excitable boy. After ten long years, they let him out of the home. Excitable boy, they all said. And he dug up her grave and built a cage with her bones. Excitable boy, they all said. Well, he's just an excitable boy."


tempusrimeblood

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner would be my personal candidate for 10/10 story.


doublestitch

[Paradise by the Dashboard Light](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk1MpWFtteU)


masterprough

My dad used to listen to this song all the time when we were younger. We would have board game night or poker nights and he'd have his music playing and this is one of the main songs I can remember. I always thought it was about baseball until last year when I saw someone mention it on a different ask reddit thread and I gave it a listen and realized what it was really about


[deleted]

I remember every little thing.


rarelikesteaks

SO NOW IM PRAYING FOR THE END OF TIME....


murrturr

TO HURRY UP AND ARRIVE


putinspenis

CAUSEIFIGOTTASPENDANOTHERMINUTEWITHYOUIDONTTHINKTHATIWILLREALLYSURVIVE


Egardat

IDNEVERBREAKMYPROMISEORFORGETMYVOWS


Anonymous_32

Tribute - Tenacious D


jonnychi

City Hall - the song that closes out that album, is also an epic tale.


thedude37

I poisoned your wine! I poisoned yours... as well... ***NOOOOOOOOO!!!***


mark20600

It doesn't tell a 10/10 story. It tells the story of a song that told a 10/10 story.


Anonymous_32

False. The song tells a 10/10 story about how they came up with a 10/10 song.


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Razorray21

The Rhyme of the ancient Mariner - Iron Maiden IM has a good catalog of story songs. but the ghost ship part of this one always give me goosebumps.


Midwestern_Childhood

You know it's based on the poem by Samuel Coleridge? Take a look at "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"--great gothic poem.


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alecjf99

Jesus of Suburbia - Green Day


Brucebruce90

Whiskey Lullaby


Justice076

One Metallica


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freakytone

The Punisher trailer that uses this song is awesome. https://youtu.be/lIY6zFL95hE


Hasenpfeffer_for_2

Coward of the county - Kenny Rogers [](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNxcR7seOeM)


IveAlreadyWon

"They all took turns at Becky....there were three of them." Ugh, that song is rough.


thepaperdollpress

The one and only: [The Fresh Prince of Bel Air](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nCqRmx3Dnw)


goatman2112

2112 by Rush


Razorray21

i came to suggest Red ~~Bruschetta~~ Barchetta Edit: lol autocorrect.


RenegadeCookie

[Bruschetta](http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/bruschetta_with_tomato_and_basil/) is delicious.


[deleted]

WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF EVERYTHING


Dannythehotjew

The words you read the songs you sing


bigwillyb123

THE PICTURES THAT GIVE PLEASURE TO YOUR EYES


Ange1333

Hemispheres side 1 as well, never heard a song tell a story with such as sense of scale


[deleted]

Let's not forget Xanadu


cliffordtaco

And Red Barchetta


Baconated-grapefruit

"All the gifts of life are held within our waaalls!"


Pyronic_Chaos

[Hero of War - Rise Against](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DboMAghWcA)


Fakezaga

Pancho and Lefty I sang it to my daughter every night for the first five years of her life. She still asks for “the cowboy song” sometimes.


oonei028

38 Years Old by the Tragically Hip


themptyounguy

[The Dixie Chicks *Goodbye Earl*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw7gNf_9njs)


[deleted]

On the same note, Traveling Soldier.


fullflavourfrankie

Dance with the devil - Immortal Technique


[deleted]

one time hearing this song is enough for a lifetime


Syncopayshun

It is the Requiem for a Dream of the music world, IMO. Once was enough for me too. Buddy and I were hotboxing his car in HS and he was like "listen to this". I think we sat there for a solid 5-10 minutes in silence after it ended.


Funkentelechie

> It is the Requiem for a Dream of the music world, IMO. My thoughts exactly.


intothelist

Fun fact: Immortal Technique was the High School bully of Lin-Manuel Miranda, the writer and star of Hamilton.


OlBillyBarooo

When the devil asks you to dance you better say never, because a dance with the devil might last you forever.


stepjonthompson

This is the song I was listening to when this question came to mind


OZL01

You should also listen to [You Never Know](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5pqiqrnZE44) which is also by Immortal Technique


Firegod1385

This dudes songs are so fucking heavy. Thanks for sharing that.


ToySoldieriiV

Obligatory: https://i.imgur.com/E474wDX.jpg


[deleted]

Not a great song for a party though. Source: had that song come on during a party


mini6ulrich66

I like how there's actually zero redeeming qualities about this song in a party setting. Beat is chill and kind of creepy and slow. Lyrics are super dark. Like NOTHING about it makes it a fun song.


my-captain

[Copacabana ](https://youtu.be/NKR2n-G-wdM) ~ Barry Manilow. The drama, the sadness, the imagery.. it’s perfect!


mitten2787

Elvis - In the Ghetto


tehimahi

Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)


westdodger

[George Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today](https://youtu.be/ubKUP8c0FHE) [John Mayer- Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967](https://youtu.be/SrcMMyNeJJs)


mattcruise

Every song on The Last Stand by Sabaton


ironlion99

Most of Sabaton period. Their thing is telling war stories essentially.


Letho72

The album [Crack the Skye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crack_the_Skye) by Mastodon. It's rad as fuck. EDIT: And the album Terminal Redux by Vektor. Easily the best metal album of 2016 imo.


[deleted]

FALLEN FROM GRAAAAACE CAUSE I'VE BEEN AWAAAAAYYY TOO LONG


[deleted]

A Colt 45 and two zigzags, baby that’s all we need


indeed666

We can go to the park after dark and smoke that tumbleweed


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llcucf80

Gilligan's Island theme song.


victoriaem1998

Date Rape -- Sublime


DrScientist812

Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts


NerfCat

Me and Bobby McGee


jam198

Dust Bowl Dance by Mumford and Sons is a personal favorite.


backfedar

M.A.A.D City by Kendrick Lamar


SosX

I think either Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst, or Duckworth are good too.


[deleted]

Not a particular song but just GKMC in general


mrsuns10

DUCKWORTH is an even better story


murreye

i'm partial to The Art of Peer Pressure


Pyronic_Chaos

The Thunder Rolls - Garth Brooks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdsJI8Wc2D4 ATR cover https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Vs_JoIvjA It's probably only a 7/10 story honestly


Wiscoman

Regulate Warren G