MetaChat - Who are some of the best living songwriters whose songs tell stories?

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10 June 2010

Who are some of the best living songwriters whose songs tell stories? Like, real beginning-middle-end stories.

post by: Miko at: 11:24 | 21 comments

Josh Ritter, IMHO

posted by amro 10 June | 11:29

John Prine

posted by mrmoonpie 10 June | 11:34

I would say possibly Colin Meloy of the Decemberists, in that his songs are almost always about fictional characters, and often have a story arc to them, if not a distinct beginning-middle-end.

posted by danf 10 June | 11:58

Seconding John Prine.

Robbie Fulks.

posted by BitterOldPunk 10 June | 12:16

Robert Earl Keen

James McMurtry

Graham Parsons

posted by octothorpe 10 June | 12:21

Oh sorry, you said living. Strike Parsons from the list.

posted by octothorpe 10 June | 12:22

Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley (Drive-By Truckers)

posted by BoringPostcards 10 June | 12:34

Grayson Capps.

posted by rainbaby 10 June | 12:40

BoPo speaks Truth.

posted by BitterOldPunk 10 June | 12:58

What octothorpe said, particularly of course James McMurtry.

Here's a story song of his that I love. Sound quality not perfect but anyway, pretty much all his stuff is amazing.

posted by mygothlaundry 10 June | 13:02

Also, Ray Wylie Hubbard!

posted by mygothlaundry 10 June | 13:15

Richard Thompson's "Vincent Black Lightening, 1952" keeps coming into my head as a good example, but I'm not familiar with Thompson's body of work or dominant writing style.

posted by rainbaby 10 June | 13:21

I was surprised you didn't mention them, BOP!

posted by BoringPostcards 10 June | 13:28

Bob Dylan's written quite a few narrative songs: Hurricane, Isis, "Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts", "The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll".

posted by octothorpe 10 June | 14:56

No mentions of Steve Earle? For shame, MetaChat, for shame.

posted by ufez 10 June | 16:45

Susana Vega - The Queen And The Solider.

posted by The Whelk 10 June | 18:09

Ack. Don't frown on me, but... Bruce Springsteen.

posted by Doohickie 10 June | 21:00

Craig Finn from The Hold Steady writes lots of story-based lyrics.

posted by TheDonF 11 June | 01:42

Mark Eitzel.

posted by mykescipark 11 June | 01:46

Chris De Burgh

posted by Wilder 11 June | 13:10

I am pretty sure Evan Dando's got a couple. Either that or I'm just thinking of his covers of Townes Van Zandt, Big Star, etc!

posted by richat 11 June | 21:43

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