Great songs that tell a stories

JohnStinson · 12-28-2007, 11:05 AM

Id love to get a list of GL songs that are great story songs...of course Wreck is one. What are the others..then perhaps if anyone is interested..listing comparable Story songs that could go along with GLs.

The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
The Ballad of the Yarmouth Castle
Ode to Big Blue
Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Patriots Dream (maybe)
...

also attached a Word doc...if thats easier...not sure if everyone can write to it??

John

charlene · 12-28-2007, 02:16 PM

I added:
Miguel
Mother of a Miners Child
Black Day in July

Paul Farnham · 12-28-2007, 06:43 PM

Affair on Eighth Ave.

JohnStinson · 12-28-2007, 08:56 PM

Home From the Forest
Steel Rail Blues
10 Degrees and Getting Colder

It actually takes a little bit of thought to determine if a song is telling a story or not. Its a bit subjective.

But I think these three would qualify.

JohnStinson · 12-28-2007, 09:08 PM

Hi Charlene,

Not sure how or if I can get the "document" ...that has been changed after it was uploaded to this forum.

My few attempts have not shown your additions. Did you add to the document.

Do you know??

BILLW · 12-28-2007, 10:14 PM

I always thought that Does Your Mother Know was a great story song.

John I've tried twenty ways and I can't write to and then save changes to the document ??

Bill

brink- · 12-28-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnStinson

Id love to get a list of GL songs that are great story songs...of course Wreck is one. What are the others..then perhaps if anyone is interested..listing comparable Story songs that could go along with GLs.

The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
The Ballad of the Yarmouth Castle
Ode to Big Blue
Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Patriots Dream (maybe)
...

also attached a Word doc...if thats easier...not sure if everyone can write to it??

John

John have you checked out TJ's site on You Tube? StoneWall Studios the link is
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=thomasj157

thomasj157 is what he has all the videos under. All that you have listed except Patriots Dream are on video plus more.

RM · 12-29-2007, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnStinson

It actually takes a little bit of thought to determine if a song is telling a story or not. Its a bit subjective.

Indeed. I've always thought that every song was a story; as Kristofferson wrote, "partly truth and partly fiction". That being said, I'll throw "Ghosts of Cape Horn" into the mix.

charlene · 12-29-2007, 12:36 AM

I saved it but it doesn't show up cuz it's saved in MY files/computer I guess..
You have to update your document and save it..
????????

JohnStinson · 12-29-2007, 01:30 PM

Updateing Document.
Well I just tried again.
1. Downloaded doc from Forum
2. Saved it to my HDrive
3. Edited it. Saved it.
4. Uploaded to Forum.

How could I forget Cherokee Bend...obvious story. BUT here is the kicker..I mentioned the word "Great" story songs. Its not just is it a story...is it also a great song. ???

John

BILLW · 12-30-2007, 09:40 AM

NIce job John but you might want to edit your first post and swap docs, could be confusing to first time readers of this thread. Just a thought.

Bill

JohnStinson · 12-30-2007, 10:12 AM

Not sure how to delete old version of the document.

Changed Thread name....so this is like the love songs cd

Question...what is the story that Miguel is telling? Is Miguel an American or a Mexican.. why does he cross the border ( the line) What does he set right with his gun...does he kill someone. ?

The document now has a column for describing the story.

John

patybear · 12-30-2007, 12:50 PM

How about Circle of Steele?
patybear

timetraveler · 12-31-2007, 12:56 AM

And might I also suggest that you add Cherokee Bend to the list?

RM · 12-31-2007, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnStinson

Question...what is the story that Miguel is telling? Is Miguel an American or a Mexican.. why does he cross the border ( the line) What does he set right with his gun...does he kill someone. ?

Here's my take on the story : Miguel was born in Mexico, fathered by a dead-beat dad. His mother was very loving, but ashamed of her lack of wealth. Miguel, being the chivalrous lad that he was, decided to commit armed robbery to provide his mother with some finer amenities.The police came to arrest him, and he killed one of them.

Here, the time frame becomes confusing : Either before or after the crime, he had managed to cross the border and impregnate a beautiful young lass out of wedlock. He visited often, avoiding the authorities. Sadly, on the day his child was born, he met his demise. So, in summary, Miguel was an irresponsible thug.

JohnStinson · 12-31-2007, 11:31 AM

Great interpretation!

So the short story is Miguel is the story of:

" a irresponsible thug who gets killed ."

I'll add that to the document.
lol

John

JohnStinson · 12-31-2007, 11:36 AM

Updated the document

john

Jesse Joe · 01-03-2008, 08:26 AM

Fine As Fine Can Be... for his daughter Ingrid.

On Yonge Street

The House You Live In

JohnStinson · 01-03-2008, 11:08 AM

Cherokee Bend is a DEFINITE one, I think.

Here's a very subjective view point on this subject of songs that tell stories. They probably should have some element of "time" passing. Should also probably have a subject like a character or boat or a car some thing that the story is about.

So a song like Cherokee Bend clearly has time passing by.

If you look at On Yonge Street, its is a series of observations about what you see on this Street. If Gord had said something along the lines of "in 1900 it was all dirt..then the paver came along in 1945...then the burger joints opened in 1965"...then the song has a subject..the street...and an element of time. So it is then a story song.

But my way of thinking is always questionable. Thats what my wife tells me all the time.

The House You Live In. ..To me this is more a "sermon" on how to live.
Any mention of "time" is general in nature and not specific to any particular moment.

A song like Gypsy might qualify. It tells the story of a visit to a fortune teller gypsy. The time element is there...He tells of the visit, what happened during the 'reading' then he goes home and goes to sleep. The time element is short, just an evening but it is a very specific time element.

Oh and ...the list has to be GREAT songs...unless we think that every Gord song is great.
I'll update the list.
Oh and we need to have an explanation of what the STORY is about for the list ...help me out here.

john

JohnStinson · 01-03-2008, 11:13 AM

here's the updated document.

If you want to add or edit it. Just download it. Make changes. Then upload it as another version.

John

Jesse Joe · 01-03-2008, 11:43 AM

You are correct John. I had a good one, "Circle Of Steel" but it was already posted.

JohnStinson · 01-03-2008, 11:56 AM

Hey Jessie...you are making me think too much.

So Circle of Steel

..its got a time element ...talks of dawn...xmas..

But, IMHO,...

Its still very general in its subject matter.

Rows of lights on a circle of steel WHICH JOINT, WHERE IS IT
She tips her gin bottle back... WHO IS SHE
A child is born....WHAT CHILD
A doctor's.. WHAT DOCTOR
Christmas dawns... WHAT CHRISTMAS

...there are no names...no specifics... the song keeps it all a mystery.

I think Gord is preaching again about the life of a gambler and how hard it can be...or something like that.

But I am still adding it to the list.

John...still thinking.

JohnStinson · 01-03-2008, 11:58 AM

Jessie Joe,

Should I leave On Yonge Street and House on the list?

John

JohnStinson · 01-03-2008, 11:59 AM

Updated Document

Jesse Joe · 01-03-2008, 01:27 PM

Well you do whatever you think John.

As far as "Circle Of Steel" the song is about poverty, but no names mention.