songs with a story

[Nadski]

hey guys,

i was wondering if you could name any songs preferably between the 90s and now that have a story behind it and meaningful lyrics, and it doesnt have to be specifically about anything just meaningful thanks

[Chouchou]

Many songs by The Decemberists have stories in their lyrics. For example, "O, Valencia!" is a story reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet. "The Crane Wife 1 and 2" and "The Crane Wife 3" are based on a Japanese folktale.

[Nadski]

thank you i will be sure to check them out

[pace e amore]

Stan by eminem
Chris Dolmeth by Hopsin
Brenda's got a baby by tupac
I can't decide by Hopsin
Don't come down by Obie Trice

That's all I can think of off the top of my head right now.

Edit: Difficult by eminem is also sort of a mashup of a whole bunch of different stories.

[Nadski]

thank you!

[qboy]

Jake Bugg - Someone Told Me
Glasvegas - I Feel Wrong (Homosexuality Pt 1)
Glasvegas - Stronger Than Dirt (Homosexuality, Pt. 2)
Glasvegas - --- Actually nearly everything by them is a story in it's own right!
Måns Zelmerlöw - Wires
Måns Zelmerlöw - The Prayer
Metronomy - Back On The Motorway
The Streets - It was supposed to be so easy (well the whole album really!)
Nizlopi - JCB

Going a bit earlier

Mike and the Mechanics - The Living Years
Nena - 99 Luftballons (The original German version - English translation at Nena: '99 Luftballons' Song Lyrics - English )
Rod Stewart - The Killing Of Georgie (Part I And II)

[Kerze]

[YOUTUBE]Nebraska - Bruce Springsteen (original version - audio only) - YouTube[/YOUTUBE]
Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen is the first thing that came to mind for me (mostly because of my great big Bruce crush, but regardless, amazing song from one of my favourite albums.

[YOUTUBE]Joanna Newsom - Ys - Monkey and Bear - YouTube[/YOUTUBE]
Joanna Newsom; the song is LONG, and a bit 'out there' but it's still good, tells a story and has a morral.

[YOUTUBE]Judy and the dream of horses - YouTube[/YOUTUBE]
Belle and Sebastian = love.

[Jazzmyn]

A lot of Conor Oberst's music is very meaningful, deep and tells stories. His band is Bright Eyes. I suggest you check them out!

Elliott Smith also comes to mind. He was quite amazing.

[Tiny Catastrophe]

Concrete Angel-Martina McBride, She Thinks His Name Was John-Reba McEntire, Fancy-Reba McEntire, Because of You-Kelly Clarkson...Those are just off the top of my head

[Chouchou]

Originally Posted by Kerze

Judy and the dream of horses - YouTube]Youtube Video[/URL]
Belle and Sebastian = love.

D'oh, forgot about Belle and Sebastian. They really are amazing. Some more songs by them: "Sukie in the Graveyard", "The State I Am In", and "Act of the Apostle I & II".

Another one, "I'm Waking Up to Us", has to do with the breakup of two of the members of B&S.

[Marlowe]

Originally Posted by Chouchou

Many songs by The Decemberists have stories in their lyrics. For example, "O, Valencia!" is a story reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet. "The Crane Wife 1 and 2" and "The Crane Wife 3" are based on a Japanese folktale.

The Decemberists are an amazing band. Most of their songs are ballads. For instance the mariners revenge song tells the life story of a boy who grows up to seek revenge against a man who did his mother wrong. And their entire album "the Hazards of Love" is a single story, almost like a rock opera.

The stories they tell in their music are both mundane (apology song is about losing a friends bicycle) and epic (the mariners revenge song) but I think they really do meaningfully deal with the emotions and times of our lives.