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Better story teller than Edmund Fitzgerald?

There was a thread on A'gon about the most perfect song.  We had reasons for picking various, but for me it was Gordong Lightfoot's Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Perhaps it featured an aspect of song writing that no one else much cared for:  A deep and detailed story in the song.

So I ask you, A'goners, what songs are as good or better at telling a story of a historical event? 

erik_squires
daledeee1's avatar
daledeee1
563 posts
 

Star Spangled Banner

Harry Chapin "Cats in the Cradle"  

loomisjohnson
1,943 posts
 

The band played waltzing matilda. Brilliant and spot on historically.

crimsoniter's avatar
crimsoniter
31 posts
 

Al Stewart - Roads To Moscow

The Waterboys - Red Army Blues

 

certainly plenty of Dylan

and yes Gord's  Fitz is an amazing tune and story

jnovak's avatar
jnovak
419 posts
 

Wow! This list hits many of the artists near and dear to me. I got on the board of our local coffee house years ago just to get my mitts on their tapes. Man do I have a collection. This list could never be complete without the late great STAN ROGERS!! There is no such thing as a bad Stan Rogers song. If anyone wants to buy just one Stan album, make it "Between the Breaks.... Live. It is great. Buy it!!! Joe

mitchagain
443 posts
 

Since "Roads To Moscow" has been mentioned, I'll go with "Josephine Baker" by Al Stewart.

I have walked past the Mariner's Church in downtown Detroit (referred to in the song as the "Maratime Sailors' Cathedral") and I can verify that is an emotional experience, particularly if a similar freighter happens to be gliding by on the Detroit River.  

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