For example, Two Sets of Joneses, a mid-90's tune by Big Tent Revival, is simply a tale of two couples, one with it all and the others scraping by. Contrasting their spiritual lives and how that impacts their fates.
Brad Paisley is like the O. Henry of story songwriting; there are a staggering amount of examples. We Danced is the best-ever he-meets-her story; so ordinary and plain, and there lies the charm. Waitin' On a Woman, of course; for the commitment of the old man and his advice. Whiskey Lullaby isn't the greatest content-wise, but man, as far as story quality.... Two People Fell in Love is just wonderful. And Little Moments shows what marriage ought to be about. Part II, Letter to Me, Welcome to the Future....really, everything in varying degrees of effectiveness.
Kenny Chesney has a good selection of story songs and reminders, too. There Goes My Life shows how plans and priorities can change in an instant, The Good Stuff is an especially well-crafted tale, beginning with the familiar setting of the bar but going into a completely unexpected direction. Don't Blink, slow down and enjoy the good moments of life with people you enjoy; all too soon it'll be gone.
Rodney Atkins gives parenting advice in Watching You, reminding us that people are always watching your behavior, and part of setting that example would be Just Fishin' with Trace Adkins. Chuck Wicks has Stealin' Cinderella, Blake Shelton his Austin.
Miranda Lambert is very good at these as well. Over You is about grief and dealing with loss, while The House that Built Me is about returning to your home-place. But before you can return, even if you are Famous in a Small Town, you have to install some New Strings. And sometimes that means finding yourself on a Greyhound Bound for Nowhere.
And of course Keith Urban. He paints the feelings and emotions of events as they're happening in his music, so they're not exactly songs that tell a story; but more like the feelings and reactions of the players in this show called Life. Making Memories of Us, Tonight I Wanna Cry, Kiss a Girl, I'm In, Hit the Ground Runnin', Put You in a Song, Without You and Long Hot Summer are examples of this. (He and Brad Paisley are my favorite guys in country.)
And Garth Brooks, gosh. "The Beaches of Cheyenne", "Unanswered Prayers", "Thunder Rolls", "More Than a Memory", "Ireland", so many others. (Which aren't online except for covers, but anyway...)
And Taylor Swift. The Story of Us, Never Grow Up, Long Live, Mine...basically everything she's ever written. Which is a good thing. I may not like all of them, but there's something nice to say about most of her stuff.
Carrie Underwood has some great story songs, too. Temporary Home, Jesus Take the Wheel and See You Again are the first that spring to mind.
And the huge collection of brilliant 90's-country hits....David Ball's Riding With Private Malone, the Dixie Chicks' Travelin' Soldier, John Michael Montgomery's Little Girl, Jason Michael Carroll's Alyssa Lies(heartbreaker to end all heartbreakers) and Where I'm From. Diamond Rio gives us One More Day to Meet in the Middle. Colin Raye's Love, Me, Little Red Rodeo and One Boy, One Girl.
70's/80's rock had a bunch of good story songs, like Bryan Adams' Summer of '69, Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer, John Fogerty's Centerfield, Journey's Don't Stop Believing and Faithfully, or Richard Marx's Right Here Waiting.
And American Idol alumni have, too. Besides Carrie, there's also been Kelly Clarkson, with Breakaway or My Life Would Suck Without You. David Cook's had Time of My Life. Daughtry's had Home, among others.
There's Christian music that tells a story, but you have to look hard to find it. A lot of Eli's music is story songs. Tunes like Grace Walks By, The Lumber Song, Things I Prayed For and Valleys. Some DC Talk and Steven Curtis Chapman and FFH.
And then there's those songs that may not tell a tale themselves, but serve as the soundtrack to memories and stories from the past.
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