Monday, October 19, 2015

Music Monday- Every Lyric Tells a Story Story

Today, for Music Monday, I would like to share some of my favorite story telling songs with you.

I hope some of these videos will stir some memories for you.  Warning, some of these songs are long - but after all, it takes a while to tell a story.

One of my favorite story telling songs of all time - City of New Orleans, written by Steve Goodman.
I so love the lyrics.  By the end of the song, you will mourn the decline of train travel.

And the sons of Pullman porters
and the sons of engineers
ride their fathers' magic carpet made of steam....


Simon and Garfunkel, a folk rock duo from the 1960's and early 1970's, had a hit with a song called Scarborough Fair/Canticle.  The song consists partially of a traditional English ballad (Scarborough Fair) and partially a  anti war song Paul Simon wrote in 1963 and rewrote for this (Canticle).

The intertwining of the two sets of lyrics is remarkable.


Speaking of Simon and Garfunkel, I also love a song called The Boxer, down and out on the streets of New York City. In this live version, they sing an extra verse that wasn't in the original studio version.

I am older than I once was
And younger than I'll be; that's not unusual....
After changes upon changes
We are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same


One more story for you, this time, a true story.  I know people who can not stand this song.  But as we are coming up on the 40th (November 10, 1975) anniversary of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald...well, I hope you like the story as much as I do.

Do you have a favorite story-song?

7 comments:

  1. "Taxi". Saw Chapin sing it live so many times.

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  2. Every song speaks to me and has a story of its own. Music lovers interpret lyrics their own way they say.

    For now, I'm crushing on 'Hey You' by Floyd all over again.

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  3. Currently I am obsessed with The Scientist by Coldplay. So, I will have to go with that one. :)

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  4. Some good tracks here, I'm also a fan of 'The Boxer' and like you have a very eclectic taste in music, it can lift a mood in seconds

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  5. All great songs. Scarborough Fair rings in my head even now. Songs are wonderful. They express so much more that words could ever do.

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  6. Hi Alana,

    I didn't care for the true story... or the song. ROFL

    I love Simon and Garfunkel, which probably has to do with the fact that I like harmonizing tunes. Barbershop Quartets are my favorite harmony of choice, but there are some decent tunes shared here today. Thanks!

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  7. I love Simon and Garfunkel. Saw them in concert in 2009 and they were awesome.

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