Favorite Song Which Tells A Whole Story ?

[RenoZag]

Some of my favorites:

Ode To Billie Jo - Bobby Gentry
Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
Johnny 99 - Bruce Springsteen
Hurricane - Bob Dylan
Lilly, Rosemary, & The Jack of Hearts - Bob Dylan
Taxi - Harry Chapin

[RenoZag]

1952 Vincent Black Lightning - Richard Thompson

[RenoZag]

Jungleland - Bruce Springsteen

[Martin Centre Mad Man]

The Devil Went Down to Georgia.

Charlie Daniels Band

[Jazzgirl_127]

The whole story...
Does "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" count because it's the end of a relationship?
Honestly I don't think anyone tells a story through music better than Springsteen, the characters are so real. "Youngstown" seems to fit the bill if "the whole story" can end with the death of the American dream. "Wreck on the Highway","It's Cloudy out in Pittsburgh." My absolute favorite is "Thunder Road" but since "The Promise" is a continuation I think that knocks it out of consideration. The Pete Seeger song (from a poem by a steelworker) that "American Land" was based on is sad but something that should probably be taught alongside "boring" history.

[willandi]

Alice's Restaurant is about as close as it gets. Almost word for word based on true events to Arlo... but I think my favorite is ' She got the elevator, I got the shaft". I think that was a Jerry Reed song, but I'm not sure.

[Martin Centre Mad Man]

Goodbye Earl - Performed by Dixie Chicks

Mary Anne and Wanda were the best of friends
All through their high school days
Both members of the 4H club, both active in the FFA
After graduation
Mary Anne went out lookin' for a bright new world
Wanda looked all around this town and all she found was Earl
It wasn't two weeks after she got married that
Wanda started gettin' abused
She'd put on dark glasses or long sleeved blouses
Or make-up to cover a bruise
Well she finally got the nerve to file for divorce
And she let the law take it from there
But Earl walked right through that restraining order
And put her in intensive care
Right away Mary Anne flew in from Atlanta
On a red eye midnight flight
She held Wanda's hand as they worked out a plan
And it didn't take 'em long to decide
That Earl had to die, goodbye Earl
Those black-eyed peas, they tasted alright to me, Earl
You're feelin' weak? Why don't you lay down and sleep, Earl
Ain't it dark wrapped up in that tarp, Earl
The cops came by to bring Earl in
They searched the house high and low
Then they tipped their hats and said, thank you ladies
If you hear from him let us know
Well the weeks went by and spring turned to summer
And summer faded into fall
And it turns out he was a missing person who nobody missed at all
So the girls bought some land and a roadside stand
Out on highway 109
They sell Tennessee ham and strawberry jam
And they don't lose any sleep at night, 'cause
Earl had to die, goodbye Earl
We need a break, let's go out to the lake, Earl
We'll pack a lunch, and stuff you in the trunk, Earl
Is that alright? Good! Let's go for a ride, Earl
Songwriters: DENNIS LINDE
© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
For non-commercial use only.

[GonzagasaurusFlex]

Rupert Holmes - Escape (The Piña Colada Song)

[SWZag]

Most any song by Marty Robbins. Marty was an amazing story teller.
- You Gave Me a Mountain
- Big Iron
- El Paso (and El Paso City)
- Texas Red
- Strawberry Roan
- My Woman, My Woman, My Wife
- etc.