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Mar 12, 2024 · Whether you're looking for heartbreak songs, tales of vengeance or something a little more lighthearted, country music has the perfect story song for you. On this list, you'll find murder...
- "Philadelphia Lawyer," Maddox Brothers and Rose
- "El Paso," Marty Robbins
- "Ode to Billie Joe," Bobbie Gentry
- "A Boy Named Sue," Johnny Cash
- "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town," Kenny Rogers & The First Edition
- "The Carroll County Accident," Porter Wagoner
- "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died," Tom T. Hall
- "Coat of Many Colors," Dolly Parton
- "Uneasy Rider," Charlie Daniels
- "Golden Ring," George Jones and Tammy Wynette
Early country and rock influencers Maddox Brothers and Rose pushed the murder ballad tradition that predates recorded popular music into the future with this recording of a Woody Guthrie standard. Note that the murder ballad and fractured love story combo has persisted throughout country music history, from Lefty Frizzell's "Long Black Veil" in 195...
This epic story of a gun-slinging cowboy became a No. 1 country and pop hit— an unlikely feat at a time when four-plus minute songs from any genre weren't considered radio or jukebox friendly. Over 60 years later, "El Paso" remains the quintessential country story-song that's tied to a specific place. It's a trend that's continued with Blake Shelto...
Gentry's debut single famously knocked the Beatles' "All You Need is Love" off top of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Beyond being a gorgeous blend of orchestral country instrumentation and Gentry's rich vocals, it's an arresting story with still-unanswered questions about its deeper meaning. Listen here.
Songwriter and children's author Shel Silverstein penned this humorous yet poignant tale that's a better-known example of Cash's silly side than the entirety of 1966 novelty album Everybody Loves a Nut. Silverstein wrote numerous story-songs of note, many of which were cut by Bobby Bare. In the grand scheme of Cash's career, it represents one of ma...
Rogers was an ace storyteller, as heard on "The Gambler," "Lucille" and "The Coward of the County." Before his run as a solo country sensation, Rogers and country-rock band the First Edition brought to life this Mel Tillis-penned tale of a person with disabilities and Vietnam veteran who's begging for grace from a cheating wife. Listen here.
Wagoner's main contribution to story-songs tells of a single-car accident in which two reputable peoples' cheating ways get exposed to their neighbors and spouses. It's part disaster song in line with formative folk tune "Wreck of the Old 97," part old fashioned cheating song. It won the CMA Song of the Year trophy in 1969. Listen here.
Before Dennis Linde, Brandy Clark and Ashley McBryde, Hall set the bar high for story-songs that create more than vivid characters— they paint a portrait of an entire small town. "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" is one of several Hall songs that back this up, with "The Little Old Lady Preacher" being another. In each case, it's easy to picture ...
Just like her peer Loretta Lynn, Parton inserted real-life experiences into story-songs that connected on a personal level with everyday folks. The autobiographical element in early Parton songs often pointed back to her humble upbringing in East Tennessee. Take for instance "Coat of Many Colors," which spoke to anyone who'd ever been ridiculed for...
Before Hank Williams Jr. found his own voice through similar tales, Daniels poked good-natured fun at the tension between rednecks and outsiders. In this case, Daniels gives a sympathetic take on a hippie who's stepped into the wrong rural Mississippi bar. More famously, musical morality play "Devil Went Down to Georgia" paints as vivid a picture a...
A No. 1 hit and all-time great country duet, "Golden Ring" follows a cheap engagement band from being a priceless symbol of a marriage to the meaningless relic of a divorce. Notably, Jones and Wynette were freshly divorced at the time of the single's release. It's the type of fractured love song that few ever sang better than Jones ("He Stopped Lov...
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- When It Rains It Pours – Luke Combs. A somber tale of misfortune and woe this is not. Luke Combs’ When It Rains It Pours is a funny twist on the old saying, telling the story of a man’s three-week good luck strike after his girlfriend leaves him.
- You’re Gonna Miss This – Trace Adkins. A reminder that life is a fleeting moment, You’re Gonna Miss This by Trace Adkins asks us not to take the present for granted while yearning for the future.
- She Got The Best of Me – Luke Combs. A tale of heartbreak and newfound passion, Luke Combs’ She Got The Best of Me tells the story of the singer’s first love and heartbreak and the resulting pain from giving his all to a failed relationship.
- Warning – Morgan Wallen. Morgan Wallen’s Warning narrates a wistful story told from the privilege of hindsight. As the singer reflects on the ill-fated encounter with a woman in a bar and dwells on his heartbreak, he laments that the various locations and items he saw on his way should have come with a warning.
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- "Fancy" by Reba McEntire. Reba McEntire / Via Youtube. This song is so amazing, and you really have to listen to get the full story (and track down the complete song — one verse is cut in the radio version).
- "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" by Reba McEntire. Reba McEntire / Via Youtube. Reba's an amazing storyteller. In this song, she tells the story of a murder, a wrongful conviction, and a killer who was never caught.
- "Two Black Cadillacs" by Carrie Underwood. Carrie Underwood / Via Youtube. Don't ever mess with Carrie Underwood — she will take you all the way out.
- "Alyssa Lies" by Jason Michael Carroll. Jason Michael Carroll / i40films / Via Youtube. You'll need a box of tissues for this song.
- "Whiskey Lullaby" Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss. We still need to have tissues handy when listening to Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss' hit duet. "Whiskey Lullaby" is a heartbreaking tale of lost love, alcoholism and, ultimately, a reunion in death -- a country Romeo and Juliet, if you will.
- "The House That Built Me" Miranda Lambert. In March of 2010, Lambert released "The House That Built Me," as the third single from her Revolution album. The fastest-rising single of her career, the song hit the country Top 20 in just eight weeks, and reached No. 1 -- Lambert's first time in the top spot -- in June.
- "I Drive Your Truck" Lee Brice. While Brice's "I Drive Your Truck" was inspired by a very specific story, its become a so much more than that. As its universality exemplifies, we've all clung to the physical mementos (and non-physical memories) of a late loved one to find comfort following a loss.
- "Church Bells" Carrie Underwood. Underwood's 2016 No. 1 hit "Church Bells," from her 2015 album Storyteller, is about sweet (and deadly) revenge. Co-writers Zach Crowell, Brett James and Hillary Lindsey use the titular church bells the same way poets and novelists use certain symbols: First, they signify love, then sanctuary, and, finally, the ending of a terrible ordeal and the keeping of a secret.
Apr 3, 2024 · Behind some of the greatest country songs of all time are the stories and inspiration that have moved generations. From tales of love and heartache to anthems of freedom and resilience, each song carries a piece of history and a snapshot of the American spirit.
Jul 5, 2023 · Country. 20 Country Music Documentaries That Tell a Great Story. With the release of the 'CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair' documentary, we delve into other documentaries that shed light on...
