Story Based Songs

[Macy]

:o

How did that slip by until post 53?!?!
Sarcasm or not reading post 23? Which is it to be Stu :D

[wws]

There's a few stories about this, one being it's based on Edge giving out about his childhood and the fact that all his catholic mates weren't allowed out to play on a Sunday....


yep - think the Dunphy book was the source - ie official from U2 I suppose... think Bono took it on for other uses later on....the opportunist/rent a cause twát that he is.

[gustavo]

Broken bottles under children’s feet
Bodies strewn across the dead end street

jesus the edge must have had some childhood :eek:

[ken foree]

electric co. from boy is about one of their friends getting electro-shock i believe. great great song, edge is amazing in the middle

[gustavo]

i think some of these songs dont have stories in them as such as such just represented stories. ie walk on wasnt a story based song just a song with a story behind it .

[CollegeTillIDie]

JILTED JOHN by Jilted John
Classic... Gordon is a Moron! :D

[Anto McC]

The idiot and his 'nowhere buddy' ( :mad: ) wrote some of the most intelligent in-depth lyrics the rock world ever saw. The music is sometimes a bit much of the same, agreed, but lyrically they're top of the world.

And can't help and won't excuse for the way I feel about the other artists mentionned. I am not a Beatles fan, my dad played their whole catalogue for years and I just can't help feeling they're terribly overrated. Musically they need to be credited for sure. Lyrically they're not more than very average. If a lyric like "Yesterday" or "Eleanor Rigby" is amongst their best... Let's just say Nicky Wire writes b-sides better than that :eek:

I also think the beatles are overrated but Lennon and McCartney are 5 times the songwriters of the idiot and his nowhere buddy.all there stuff is b-sides

[hamish]

Sir Hamish - superb pick! My parents met in the Sound of Music club in Glenamaddy (quite famous in its day) - so this song has always held a particular resonance for me. They grew up in Kilkerrin - not too far from yourself. 60s East Galway was a pretty dire place in terms of entertaiment and the showbands and ballrooms were hugely exciting for my parents generation. Didn't stop them moving to Birmingham though! Also didn't stop them inflicting Big Tom, Brendan Bowyer, Joe Dolan and the Indians on me on a daily basis :D

Jaysus, don't remind me of the 60s, I remember the showband scene only too well. :eek: There used to be half mile long queues to the Emerald ballroom here when the bands came. I was in national school at the time and a gang of us used to sneak down there at 9pm to help the band bring in their gear and get free photos and autographs. Sad, very sad but we were too young to know any better. :o

Out of curiosity I went to see Big Tom here in Gullanes Hotel in the mid 90s and fcuk all turned up, mostly middle aged married couples. I'll say one thing for him, he has terrible shakes yet he played guitar all night so he's a trooper as they say but his "muisic" :eek: To think he once used to pack out the Galtymore in London once. :confused:

Houstan Wells and the Premier Aces - there was a band.

Sorry you had to endure all that c n r in your younger days - and we think Michael Jackson's kids suffer??? Just kidding.

[hamish]

Yeah, Live at Jongleurs. Dunno if he owns the club or what, but he always turns up in flamboyant coats to make some dry comments before each act. The man is tall.

Conor 74, with the old brain recall goin' to hell in a handcart, what would I do without you - Jongluers that's the one.

I hereby appoint you Sir Hamish's official memory bank!!! :eek: :D :D

Now, here's your first task - I'm dying for a cuppa - where did I leave the tea bags?? :D

[davey]

Jaysus, don't remind me of the 60s, I remember the showband scene only too well. :eek: There used to be half mile long queues to the Emerald ballroom here when the bands came. I was in national school at the time and a gang of us used to sneak down there at 9pm to help the band bring in their gear and get free photos and autographs. Sad, very sad but we were too young to know any better.

Out of curiosity I went to see Big Tom here in Gullanes Hotel in the mid 90s and fcuk all turned up, mostly middle aged married couples. I'll say one thing for him, he has terrible shakes yet he played guitar all night so he's a trooper as they say but his "muisic" :eek: To think he once used to pack out the Galtymore in London once. :confused:

Houstan Wells and the Premier Aces - there was a band.

Sorry you had to endure all that c n r in your younger days - and we think Michael Jackson's kids suffer??? Just kidding.


Don't apologise Sir Hamish, I did get a reasonable musical education with the likes of The Dubliners, Johnny Cash and errr thats it! Folk and country were all that were played in my house aside from the showband stuff.

I saw Big Tom sans mainliners a few years ago - jesus, the years haven't been kind.

Actually theres a lot to be said for the showband years, socially - not musically. Massive impact in dragging Ireland out of the De Valera years. I actually did my dissertation at Univ on 60s Ireland and social change - amazing how pivotal the Showbands were. Anyway, thats another thread and one that probably wouldn't garner much interest. :o


Anyway, more great story songs

Prince - Sometimes it snows in April
Kenny Rogers - Lucille
Pulp - Babies

[hamish]

[QUOTE=davey]Don't apologise Sir Hamish, I did get a reasonable musical education with the likes of The Dubliners, Johnny Cash and errr thats it! Folk and country were all that were played in my house aside from the showband stuff.

I saw Big Tom sans mainliners a few years ago - jesus, the years haven't been kind.

Actually theres a lot to be said for the showband years, socially - not musically. Massive impact in dragging Ireland out of the De Valera years. I actually did my dissertation at Univ on 60s Ireland and social change - amazing how pivotal the Showbands were. Anyway, thats another thread and one that probably wouldn't garner much interest. :o

Agree with you Davey - check out my Knacky story in terrible jokes thread re the Emerald ballroom - dangerously close to being true.

Another song or two or three

Neil Young - Needle and the damage done
Bob Seger - Horizontal Bop
Dave Edmunds - Crawling from the wreckage

Edmunds is in Glastonbury this year.

[Risteard]

Have you heard Damien Rices new song for the "free Aung Sung Suu Ski foundation"(i think thats what its called).The song is called "Unplayed Piano" and it's brilliant
Oh sweet jebus.
I rarely go out of my way to be bothered by music that is imo bad but i think that song sounds absolutely awful.
There's far worse trash out there, but as respectable "grown-up" music goes, the lyrics and especially the music are very poor.
If that's as good as they can do, she's looking at another 20 years.

Walk On was a good U2 tune though.

[BohsPartisan]

Leonard Cohen
THE PARTISAN


When they poured across the border
I was cautioned to surrender,
this I could not do;
I took my gun and vanished.
I have changed my name so often,
I've lost my wife and children
but I have many friends,
and some of them are with me.

An old woman gave us shelter,
kept us hidden in the garret,
then the soldiers came;
she died without a whisper.

There were three of us this morning
I'm the only one this evening
but I must go on;
the frontiers are my prison.

Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing,
through the graves the wind is blowing,
freedom soon will come;
then we'll come from the shadows.

Les Allemands e'taient chez moi, (The Germans were at my home)
ils me dirent, "Signe toi," (They said, "Sign yourself,")
mais je n'ai pas peur; (But I am not afraid)
j'ai repris mon arme. (I have retaken my weapon.)

J'ai change' cent fois de nom, (I have changed names a hundred times)
j'ai perdu femme et enfants (I have lost wife and children)
mais j'ai tant d'amis; (But I have so many friends)
j'ai la France entie`re. (I have all of France)

Un vieil homme dans un grenier (An old man, in an attic)
pour la nuit nous a cache', (Hid us for the night)
les Allemands l'ont pris; (The Germans captured him)
il est mort sans surprise. (He died without surprise.)

Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing,
through the graves the wind is blowing,
freedom soon will come;
then we'll come from the shadows.

[gustavo]

Oh sweet jebus.
I rarely go out of my way to be bothered by music that is imo bad but i think that song sounds absolutely awful.
There's far worse trash out there, but as respectable "grown-up" music goes, the lyrics and especially the music are very poor.
If that's as good as they can do, she's looking at another 20 years.

Walk On was a good U2 tune though.

Walk On isnt a story based song though , its a song with a story behind it .
I may have already said that on this thread but couldnt be bothered checking:)

[Risteard]

You have.
I was just pointing out that after Unplayed Piano, Suu Kyi was only saved from cranial decoupage by that song.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Thanks for that CTID - have one Prefab Sprout album - when love lies down is on it but must have lent it to someone as I can't find in my colection.

PM me matey I have their collection Life Full Of Surprises on CD and all the tracks are on my hard drive, let me know what you need.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Leonard Cohen
THE PARTISAN

Leonard was from Montreal hence his knowledge of French ... ;)

[sligoman]

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven.

Kenny Rogers - Coward of the County

[jebus]

Jesus I'd hate to let my girlfriend loose on this thread or we'll be talking Joni Mitchell for days. I'll limit myself to 2 songs for every artist, cause I could list Dylan, Bush, Young, and Springsteen songs til the cows come home here Anyway some of my picks are:

Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia
Bruce Springsteen - Devils and Dust

Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
Bob Dylan - Just Like a Woman

Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill
Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights (not her story I know, but a good song none the less)

Neil Young - Ambulance Blues
Neil Young - Tell Me Why

Joni Mitchell - Chelsea Morning
Joni Mitchell - Last Time I Saw Richard

Daniel Johnston - Life In Vain
Daniel Johnston - True Love Will Find You in The End

Beck - Lost Cause
Beck - Nobody's Fault But My Own

Ben Folds - Brick
Ben Folds - The Ascent of Stan

[jebus]

Oh and Britney Spears - Everytime :) , the video for that song is looking more and more disturbing with each passing tabloid scandal :(

[Wolfie]

Disco 2000 - Pulp
Lola - The Kinks
Polythene Pam - The Beatles
Colin Zeal - Blur
Tracy Jacks - Blur

[Risteard]

Disco 2000 - Pulp


Poor Jarvis, what was she thinking?


Most Dylan songs are based on stories such as the Hurricane and The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll.
I like this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpGIM6sp1hs&mode=related&search=)but i've a feeling that besides the fact its happened thousands of times, Dylan actually saw this happen himself.
Still tells a story i suppose.

[sligoman]

Most Dylan songs are based on stories such as the HurricaneCompletely forgot about that. Definitely put that in my favourites.

[SligoBrewer]

most of babyshambles stuff, dirty pretty things, some arctic monkeys

[SkStu]

Sir Hamish - superb pick! My parents met in the Sound of Music club in Glenamaddy (quite famous in its day) - so this song has always held a particular resonance for me. They grew up in Kilkerrin - not too far from yourself. 60s East Galway was a pretty dire place in terms of entertaiment and the showbands and ballrooms were hugely exciting for my parents generation. Didn't stop them moving to Birmingham though! Also didn't stop them inflicting Big Tom, Brendan Bowyer, Joe Dolan and the Indians on me on a daily basis :D

small world... my mum is from Glenamaddy and my dad from Dunmore (they also met in the Sound of Music). Got cousins in Kilkerrin.

anyway, best story based song...

the entire Streets album, A Grand Dont Come For Free.

love that album, the story and the concept

[BohsPartisan]

Just thought of a few more.
From The Jam's Setting Sons album. (Was going to be a concept album set around a civil war in '80's Britain but the concept was abandoned due to pressure to record the album from the record company).

Thick as Thieves, Burning Sky, Little boy Soldiers, The Eton Rifles, The Wasteland.

[CollegeTillIDie]

5 Minutes by The Stranglers... the incidents related in one of the verses actually happened to one of J.J. Burnel's friends.

[Magicme]

Actually theres a lot to be said for the showband years, socially - not musically. Massive impact in dragging Ireland out of the De Valera years. I actually did my dissertation at Univ on 60s Ireland and social change - amazing how pivotal the Showbands were. Anyway, thats another thread and one that probably wouldn't garner much interest. :o



My dad was part of that "Revolution" He played in a band called the Ventures who toured the UK, America & Canada (we moved to Canada when I was a baby so that they could pursue this further!) The Ventures had a few hits in the Irish Charts & were kept off the top spot by The Men Behind The Wire with their song "Armoured Tanks etc"

Its how my parents met, he was playin the hotel she was workin in. My first "gigs" were dances my dad was playing at.

Oh and Louis Walsh was their Roadie for a while!!!

[Block G Raptor]

the entire Streets album, A Grand Dont Come For Free.

love that album, the story and the concept

Damn You beat me to it
Great Fans think alike :D

[DmanDmythDledge]

Bob Dylan- Hurricane

Boomtown Rats- I Don't Like Mondays

[Wolfie]

No Limits - 2 Unlimited

This a wordy, challenging, autobiographical tour de force. Scholars have pored over this musical gold for the myriad interpretations that can be derived from this late 20th Century Meisterwork.

The writer(s) cunningly try to convey to the listener that there were "no limits" to this true life story.

They inform the listener that they would "reach for the sky". A helicopter is not mentioned in the song. Perhaps they intended taking out a Digital Televsion subscription. We may never know.

They also explain how "no river too deep" and how "no mountain too high". Some detractors have pointed out that Holland is flat and has little or no mountains - but this is a minor oversight on the Dutch Duo's part.

Scholars have oft debated if the song was about some sort of outdoor excursion they were embarking on and the terrain they intended to tackle along the way.

This tune is a wonderful gift to humanity.

[Calcio Jack]

Bob Dylan- Hurricane

Boomtown Rats- I Don't Like Mondays

Dylan, Lonsome death of Hattie Carroll
Positively 4th Street (based on Roy Keane ,Dylan didn't know that when he penned it)
Sarah
Ira Hayes (one of the US marines who raised the flag on Iwo Jima WW2, although Dylan didn't write it )

and lots of others by the Zim

[Jerry The Saint]

U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday, guess we all know upon which real story this is based :(



the "when fact is fiction and TV reality" and "can't believe the news today" phrases make me assume they're referring to a rather modern issue, so I'd rather have thought it were about the killings in Maiden City in 1972. But guess only Bono will know...


I don't know if you are aware of this or it is what you were pointing out but "sunday, bloody Sunday" supposedly isn't about 1972 but the Bloody Sunday in Dublin during the war of independance (Croke Park killings e.t.c). Don't think Bono has ever said what its about but that is the widely held assumption.


There's a few stories about this, one being it's based on Edge giving out about his childhood and the fact that all his catholic mates weren't allowed out to play on a Sunday....

This is all wrong. The song really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday. You wake up in the morning, you've got to read all the Sunday papers, the kids are running round, you've got to mow the lawn, wash the car, and you think "Sunday, bloody Sunday!"

[jebus]

This is all wrong. The song really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday. You wake up in the morning, you've got to read all the Sunday papers, the kids are running round, you've got to mow the lawn, wash the car, and you think "Sunday, bloody Sunday!"


someones been reading their big book of steve coogan jokes i see ;)

[Aldini98]

Chooctown - Hamell on trial - class

[CollegeTillIDie]

No Limits - 2 Unlimited

This a wordy, challenging, autobiographical tour de force. Scholars have pored over this musical gold for the myriad interpretations that can be derived from this late 20th Century Meisterwork.

The writer(s) cunningly try to convey to the listener that there were "no limits" to this true life story.

They inform the listener that they would "reach for the sky". A helicopter is not mentioned in the song. Perhaps they intended taking out a Digital Televsion subscription. We may never know.

They also explain how "no river too deep" and how "no mountain too high". Some detractors have pointed out that Holland is flat and has little or no mountains - but this is a minor oversight on the Dutch Duo's part.

Scholars have oft debated if the song was about some sort of outdoor excursion they were embarking on and the terrain they intended to tackle along the way.

This tune is a wonderful gift to humanity.

Yes it is used to play an acoustic guitar version of this song as a party piece:D oh and regarding the Lyrics one of the writers came from Belgium and they have mountains in the South ;)

[Risteard]

and lots of others by the Zim
John Brown

[TonyD]

Billy Bragg - The Saturday Boy - A touching story of unrequited love. It also contains one of my favourite lines in any song

"But I never made the first team, I just made the first team laugh
And she never came to the phone, she was always in the bath"

Genius.

[Billsthoughts]

Dylan, Lonsome death of Hattie Carroll
Positively 4th Street (based on Roy Keane ,Dylan didn't know that when he penned it)
Sarah
Ira Hayes (one of the US marines who raised the flag on Iwo Jima WW2, although Dylan didn't write it )

and lots of others by the Zim

What about "Joey"
You couldnt get more of a story song than that. Plays out like a movie.

[BohsPartisan]

No Limits - 2 Unlimited



Don't know if you've heard Metallica's song Invisible Kid on St. Anger but the tune is a rip off of No Limits, I kid you not!

[Wolfie]

Yes it is used to play an acoustic guitar version of this song as a party piece:D oh and regarding the Lyrics one of the writers came from Belgium and they have mountains in the South ;)

Interesting College, very interesting. Obviously, this revelation about the Southern Belgian mountains casts further interpretation on the previously mentioned excursion. Where better to venture than Southern Belgium, for fecks sake!! It was staring us all in the face.

The full song title should have been "No Limits - in the course of our Journey to Southern Belgium"

BohsPartisan adds that Metallica appear to have been heavily influenced by 2 unlimiteds classic as well. Maybe they could combine forces and form a super group!!!!

[Calcio Jack]

What about "Joey"
You couldnt get more of a story song than that. Plays out like a movie.



Too true indeed almost every track on the album that contained Joey play out like a move, especially Romance in Durango ,about a Mexican bandit on the run, which starts with a killer of an opening line that straight away sets the atmospere and mood of the song ; "...hot chilli peppers in the blistering sunn, me and Magdelena on the run, I hope this time we can escape..." the other great movie song (for me ) on that album is Black Diamond Bay , after 30 years am still trying to figure out who is the "stranger" that says "my darling je vous aime beaucoup"...

Anyway my top Dylan songs that could be made into a movie

1. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts.
2. Romance in Durango.
3 Simple Twist of fate
4. Black D B
5. Brownsville Girl (co-written by Sam Sheapard)
6.Man in the long black coat .
7.Changing of the guards

[Billsthoughts]

Anyway my top Dylan songs that could be made into a movie

1. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts.
2. Romance in Durango.
3 Simple Twist of fate
4. Black D B
5. Brownsville Girl (co-written by Sam Sheapard)
6.Man in the long black coat .
7.Changing of the guards

sam shepard in ireland the mo......
have always had a fondness for ramblin gamblin willie......