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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
jnovak's avatar
jnovak
404 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
411 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.  

serjio's avatar
serjio
371 posts
 

hotel California ..... I am convinced that this is exactly how it happened ..

onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,141 posts
 

"Frankie And Johnny" traditional

"Stagger Lee" traditional

"King Of California" Dave Alvin

"Tangled Up In Blue" Bob Dylan

"Powderfinger" Neil Young

 

buckycyo
13 posts
 

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. 

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