What do you call songs that tell a story in this specific way?
June 11, 2018 9:26 AM Subscribe
There's a few songs out there that have a specific pattern: They tell a story with some kind of iambic pentameter or something, then break into a chorus that slightly changes meaning throughout the song.
What would you call this type of song? Can you think of other examples?
The main songs I can think of for what I'm talking about are:
Devil goes down to Georgia
The general
Ol red
Specifically, I think a strong, storytelling base, but a stronger, repeating chorus, that tells a story with a satisfying progression is what matters. Of course, if there's a generally accepted category of songs like this and it's described differently, I'd be very interested in expanding/contracting my definition!
Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood doesn't feel like a example of this, maybe because it doesn't really tell a story with progression, it just describes the current situation.
The main songs I can think of for what I'm talking about are:
Devil goes down to Georgia
The general
Ol red
Specifically, I think a strong, storytelling base, but a stronger, repeating chorus, that tells a story with a satisfying progression is what matters. Of course, if there's a generally accepted category of songs like this and it's described differently, I'd be very interested in expanding/contracting my definition!
Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood doesn't feel like a example of this, maybe because it doesn't really tell a story with progression, it just describes the current situation.
Ballads?
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 9:35 AM on June 11, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 9:35 AM on June 11, 2018 [4 favorites]
I think "Cat's in the Cradle" and some other Harry Chapin songs are canonical examples of what you're looking for.
posted by LionIndex at 9:35 AM on June 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by LionIndex at 9:35 AM on June 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Yeah! Cat's in the cradle is a perfect example!
posted by bbqturtle at 9:37 AM on June 11, 2018
posted by bbqturtle at 9:37 AM on June 11, 2018
Response by poster: "Folk rock poem" seems to be close... I would love any other feedback or examples.
posted by bbqturtle at 9:39 AM on June 11, 2018
posted by bbqturtle at 9:39 AM on June 11, 2018
A few others that spring to mind for me are “One Piece at a Time” by Johnny Cash, “Brick” by Ben Folds Five, and several songs by The Decemberists. ( “O Valencia” for one.)
I've always just called these “story songs,” but have mentally lumped them together with songs like Arlo Guthrie's “Alice's Restaurant” and Gordon Lightfoot's “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” that are narratives missing the repeating chorus.
posted by D.Billy at 9:41 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
I've always just called these “story songs,” but have mentally lumped them together with songs like Arlo Guthrie's “Alice's Restaurant” and Gordon Lightfoot's “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” that are narratives missing the repeating chorus.
posted by D.Billy at 9:41 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
I think the Devine Comedy's 'A Lady Of A Certain Age' would fit the bill.
posted by biffa at 9:43 AM on June 11, 2018
posted by biffa at 9:43 AM on June 11, 2018
Would you consider "Only A Northern Song" by the Beatles?
It's a song that eats itself.
Also, Bob Dylan's "Lily, Rosemary & the Jack of Hearts" runs like that.
posted by chavenet at 9:49 AM on June 11, 2018
It's a song that eats itself.
Also, Bob Dylan's "Lily, Rosemary & the Jack of Hearts" runs like that.
posted by chavenet at 9:49 AM on June 11, 2018
Also:
Story Song discussion on the Blue. Some good examples are in here (e.g. Tom Petty's "Into the Great Wide Open")
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:50 AM on June 11, 2018
Story Song discussion on the Blue. Some good examples are in here (e.g. Tom Petty's "Into the Great Wide Open")
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:50 AM on June 11, 2018
Two Lovers by Mary Wells does this. Content warning for total douchebag gaslighting and abuse. Catchy tune, though.
posted by Liesl at 9:52 AM on June 11, 2018
posted by Liesl at 9:52 AM on June 11, 2018
sleepingcbw indicates that this is called a catch in the linked AskMe from 2009.
posted by Bourbonesque at 9:52 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Bourbonesque at 9:52 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: The story "Cremation of Sam McGee" fits this (it repeats the first and last part) but isn't a song.
posted by bbqturtle at 9:52 AM on June 11, 2018
posted by bbqturtle at 9:52 AM on June 11, 2018
Tim McGraw tearjerker called Don't Take the Girl that fits this. Country music is probably full of these.
I feel like growing up, I notice a whole collection of country songs that do this kind of repetition, but where the third verse is about God or death. Unfortunately, off the top of my head, I'm only coming up with two (in addition to "Don't Take the Girl"), but I feel like are others.
George Strait- "Love Without End, Amen"
Shenandoah- "I Want to be Loved Like That"(much less a story song, but it has progressing repetition of the chorus)
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:01 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
I feel like growing up, I notice a whole collection of country songs that do this kind of repetition, but where the third verse is about God or death. Unfortunately, off the top of my head, I'm only coming up with two (in addition to "Don't Take the Girl"), but I feel like are others.
George Strait- "Love Without End, Amen"
Shenandoah- "I Want to be Loved Like That"(much less a story song, but it has progressing repetition of the chorus)
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:01 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
Can't answer the general question, but a song of this type that I've always loved is Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. I love the way the author's sense of responsibility gradually dawns on him through the otherwise identical choruses.
posted by ubiquity at 10:01 AM on June 11, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by ubiquity at 10:01 AM on June 11, 2018 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: Oh, "The Pina Colada Song" fits this too!
posted by bbqturtle at 10:12 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by bbqturtle at 10:12 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
Gillian Welch, Caleb Mayer, One More Dollar
Harry Chapin: The Rock, Corey's Coming, Get On With It
Ralph McTell: Peppers And Tomatoes
Gretchen Peters, Independence Day, I Was Looking For You, Blackbirds
Mary Chapin Carpenter, He Thinks He'll Keep Her
posted by Catseye at 10:20 AM on June 11, 2018
Harry Chapin: The Rock, Corey's Coming, Get On With It
Ralph McTell: Peppers And Tomatoes
Gretchen Peters, Independence Day, I Was Looking For You, Blackbirds
Mary Chapin Carpenter, He Thinks He'll Keep Her
posted by Catseye at 10:20 AM on June 11, 2018
Unfortunately, off the top of my head, I'm only coming up with two (in addition to "Don't Take the Girl"), but I feel like are others.
That reminds me! Collin Raye's Love, Me.
posted by Catseye at 10:21 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
That reminds me! Collin Raye's Love, Me.
posted by Catseye at 10:21 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
YES THANK YOU! I knew there was one about a tree!
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:24 AM on June 11, 2018
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:24 AM on June 11, 2018
Just thought of another Bobbie Gentry one that might fit better: Fancy
posted by lovableiago at 10:35 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by lovableiago at 10:35 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Decemberists, Mariner’s Revenge Song
posted by fireandthud at 11:16 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fireandthud at 11:16 AM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
Kenny Chesney: There Goes My Life
Diamond Rio: Meet in the Middle
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:50 AM on June 11, 2018
Diamond Rio: Meet in the Middle
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:50 AM on June 11, 2018
I'm not sure if "Does He Love You?" by Rilo Kiley fits all the criteria, because the chorus/verse structure progresses through the song, but it is one of the best "story songs" I've ever heard, in terms of changing your perception of the situation throughout the song.
posted by lunasol at 11:54 AM on June 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by lunasol at 11:54 AM on June 11, 2018 [2 favorites]
Rilo Kiley - Does He Love You
Rilo Kiley - All The Good That Won't Come Out
Colin Hay - Waiting for My Real Life to Begin and Beautiful World
Indigo Girls - Ghost
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:59 AM on June 11, 2018
Rilo Kiley - All The Good That Won't Come Out
Colin Hay - Waiting for My Real Life to Begin and Beautiful World
Indigo Girls - Ghost
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:59 AM on June 11, 2018
Robert Earl Keen I Gotta Go 1st verse is mom saying bye to her kid, 2nd is narrator stealing a car and running from an orphanage and a robbery, 3rd verse is leaving a card game up big, 4th is getting caught by the gangsters running the card game 4th verse is to his grave, all ending with someone saying "I Gotta Go".
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:15 PM on June 11, 2018
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:15 PM on June 11, 2018
Frankie and Johnny (Traditional)
Tracy Chapman, Fast Car
Billy Joel, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
Don McLean, Vincent
Helen Reddy, Angie Baby
Ballads: American Folk Songs with English Roots (Barbara Allen, Streets of Laredo)
26 Songs that are Just as Good as a Short Story
138 Favorite Pop, Rock, and Country Songs That Tell a Story
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:07 PM on June 11, 2018
Tracy Chapman, Fast Car
Billy Joel, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
Don McLean, Vincent
Helen Reddy, Angie Baby
Ballads: American Folk Songs with English Roots (Barbara Allen, Streets of Laredo)
26 Songs that are Just as Good as a Short Story
138 Favorite Pop, Rock, and Country Songs That Tell a Story
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:07 PM on June 11, 2018
Joe Henry's Ohio Air Show Plane Crash has verses that tell the story of a plane crash from different points of view, but has a chorus bringing them together.
posted by Quonab at 2:26 PM on June 11, 2018
posted by Quonab at 2:26 PM on June 11, 2018
Lydia performed by Slaid Cleaves, written by Karen Poston
One of my all time favorite songs.
posted by ZabeLeeZoo at 4:33 PM on June 11, 2018
One of my all time favorite songs.
posted by ZabeLeeZoo at 4:33 PM on June 11, 2018
'The Gambler' Kenny Rogers.
posted by ovvl at 6:39 PM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ovvl at 6:39 PM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]
Jill Sobule is great for this
posted by wowenthusiast at 7:21 PM on June 11, 2018
posted by wowenthusiast at 7:21 PM on June 11, 2018
"All American Boy" by Bobby Bare or Bill Parsons (1959)
“One Piece at a Time” by Johnny Cash
Also, his Starkville City Jail.
posted by Rash at 8:40 PM on June 11, 2018
“One Piece at a Time” by Johnny Cash
Also, his Starkville City Jail.
posted by Rash at 8:40 PM on June 11, 2018
The linked AskMe above references TV Tropes' Dual-Meaning Chorus entry which has a ton of examples.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:24 PM on June 11, 2018
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:24 PM on June 11, 2018
Paul Kelly, "Every Fucking City"
Hmm, actually maybe not exactly what you want, but anyway.
posted by quinndexter at 6:49 AM on June 12, 2018
Hmm, actually maybe not exactly what you want, but anyway.
posted by quinndexter at 6:49 AM on June 12, 2018
almost all of Jill Sobule's songs
posted by wowenthusiast at 7:56 AM on June 12, 2018
posted by wowenthusiast at 7:56 AM on June 12, 2018
I feel like "you missed my heart" by Mark Kozelek is the platonic ideal of this phenomenon. There's a great cover by Phoebe Bridgers as well.
posted by clownschool at 9:55 AM on June 12, 2018
posted by clownschool at 9:55 AM on June 12, 2018
I'm not sure if this fits exactly, but I think it's close: Oceanographer's Choice by the Mountain Goats
posted by litera scripta manet at 6:24 PM on June 13, 2018
posted by litera scripta manet at 6:24 PM on June 13, 2018
Eli the Barrow Boy is another Decembrists song that might fit.
posted by litera scripta manet at 6:32 PM on June 13, 2018
posted by litera scripta manet at 6:32 PM on June 13, 2018
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posted by backwards compatible at 9:33 AM on June 11, 2018 [4 favorites]