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?
Aw geez @viridian, why didn’t "TNTDODD" come to mind! Robbie Robertson says he wrote the song for Levon, using all the stories about the South that Helm had been telling the other members of The Hawks/The Band over the years. They were all Canadian, Levon being born and raised in Arkansas. Gee, I wonder if casting The Confederacy in a positive light would be allowed now? ;-)
Another good songwriter who has written about the South is Randy Newman. In fact his Good Old Boys is a "theme" album (I prefer that term to "concept"), all the songs relating to the South in one way or another. "Kingfish" and "Every Man A King" might qualify for the topic of this thread.
Great post Erik! I don’t think anything surpasses Lightfoot’s Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. But Knopfler’s Sailing to Philadelphia gets a special mention.
OK - so here is a quick note. I happen to be a resident of Ohio when the Kent State incident occurred - with the Ohio National Guard. Still remember the bullet holes from the REAL bullets being used in that era. Rubber bullets were not issued. This happened during my Wrestling workouts. Secondly, I was a wiper/steward/chef help with my Merchant Marines Card issued to work on the Great lakes specifically Lake Erie, Cleveland Boy. I was slated to board the Ore Boat my number was available - BUT played college soccer and had to go back to school. The truth be told thought the boat could get a last run before the storms - need I say more.
Last post of the evening. For those who have read Irving Stone’s Lust for Life or better yet “Letters to Theo “ , Don Maclean’s “Starry Starry Night” is a real tear jerker.
Last post of the evening. For those who have read Irving Stone’s Lust for Life or better yet “Letters to Theo “ , Don Maclean’s ”Starry Starry Night” is a real tear jerker. IMHO, may equal the OP’s standard.
Brownsville Girl by Bob Dylan. An epic road trip ballad.
"The only thing we knew for sure about Henry Porter is that his name wasn't Henry Porter."
It has a massive chorus, blaring, textured saxophones, wailing trumpets and detailed, reflective, storytelling lyrics.
"There was a movie I seen one time -- I think I sat through it twice. I don't remember who I was, or where I was bound. All I remember about it was it starred Gregory Peck, he wore a gun and he was shot in the back; seems like a long time ago, long before the stars were torn down."
You can almost feel that hot, Painted Desert air blowing across your face through the open car windows as you stare across the hood into the sunset and realize that your life has been sort of like a movie.
....*sigh*....and nobody has yet to mention that great late night classic that the dj could not only hit the toilet but pop outside for some...'fresh aire'... ;)
Ragged? Yes. But one of those late '60s' things that disappeared into the fog 'n mist that invades the brain and pops up...
Mrs. McGrath, an Irish folk song set during the Peninsular War of the early 19th century. The song tells the story of a woman whose son enters the British Army and returns seven years later having lost his legs to a cannonball while fighting against Napoleon presumably at the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro (fought between 3 and 5 May 1811). The general theme of the song is one of opposition to war.
I especially enjoy Springsteen's version because with his voice and the overall tone he imparts on the song is quite moving.
While the thread is supposedly about retelling of actual historical events, a lot of the fictional storytellers mentioned above, such as James McMurtry (son of novelist Larry McMurtry) are fantastic. His stories are funny and touching. I would add to this list of fictional storytellers Greg Brown. His "Poet Games" album has some terrific lyrics, particularly the title track and a track called "Brand New '64 Dodge" (a story about childhood innocence just before the assassination of President Kennedy).
It's pretty hard to listen to Edmund Fitzgerald without getting emotional. We like to camp in the Great Lakes area and recently spent some time in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Yes, we camped in Christmas, Michigan. After visiting the area, and taking in museums, the song got much more up close and personal to us. We imagined what it was like for the families hearing the song for the first time.
Kingston Trio, remember them? Several polished, musical, and meaningful songs to compete with any.
'Ballad of Old John Webb' - an accused counterfeiter, famed for his 10 pound notes, escapes. "Billy (the 10 pound notes, get it?) broke locks and Billy broke bolts and Billy broke all that he came nigh." Historically, it seems he was released for lack of evidence, but escape from the authorities is more fun. One of their best, and yet remains obscure; album 'String Along'.
'Merry minuet' - an anti cold-war song listing the unintended consequences, "dedicated to John Foster Dulles," cold-warrior extraordinaire. Best version on 'From the Hungry i.'
”El Paso” by Marty Robbins & “No Reply” by the Beatles. Robbins comes close to Lightfoot’s story telling, and the Beatles are a good bit further behind, at least on this song of theirs.
I think for the purpose of this discussion fictional stories are fine as well.
They have to have a beginning, middle and end though. So Cats in the Cradle and Ode to Billy Joe certainly qualify. Songs which are descriptive without a time element though are different.
Interesting how far back in time we have to go for these songs, and how many are western themed.
Lastly, I can't think of any solid jazz songs that qualify.
Rush - "Manhattan Project" and "Countdown" tell the stories of the development of the atomic bomb and the launch of the first space shuttle, respectively.
I got nothing against Gordon Lightfoot, but if “historical events” is what we’re talking about, I don’t see how we could skip the obvious: Bob Dylan.
The depth, subtext, humor, wit and complexity of his “historical events songs” blows any puffed up sea shanty out of ol’ Gitche Gumee.
- A tragic “boat” tale, the Hudson Belle, hired by a Harlem social club for an event, leading to unnecessary violence and injury: “Talkin’ Bear Picnic Massacre Blues”
- The kidnapping, torture and murder of Emmet Till: “The Death of Emmett Till”
- The mobilization of 30,000 US troops for a domestic disturbance (most in US history), the Ole Miss riot of ‘62: “Oxford Town”
- The death of Davey Moore: “Who Killed Davey Moore”
- The assassination of Medgar Evers: “Only a Pawn in Their Game”
- The murder of Hattie Carroll: “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll”
- The murder of Joey Gallo: “Joey”
- The imprisonment of Ruben Carter: “Hurricane”
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
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.
Mark Knopfler… many of his songs about historical and biographical events. A good example is 5:15 AM from Shangri La album about the 1967 one armed bandit murder. Great lyrics, story telling and nice recordings in many of his songs. He’s obviously a huge history buff.
Another vote for Harry Chapin’s Greatest Stories Live. Listening to this as I type. Not only is it full of musical stories of all sorts, the recording quality is excellent, especially for a live recording. You have to love this double LP.
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