Songs That Tell Stories

JOHN BARLEYCORN

There were three men came out of the west, their fortunes for to try
And these three men made a solemn vow
John Barleycorn must die
They've plowed, they've sown, they've harrowed him in
Threw clods upon his head
And these three men made a solemn vow
John Barleycorn was dead
They've let him lie for a very long time, 'til the rains from heaven did fall
And little Sir John sprung up his head and so amazed them all
They've let him stand 'til Midsummer's Day 'til he looked both pale and wan
And little Sir John's grown a long long beard and so become a man
They've hired men with their scythes so sharp to cut him off at the knee
They've rolled him and tied him by the way, serving him most barbarously
They've hired men with their sharp pitchforks who've pricked him to the heart
And the loader he has served him worse than that
For he's bound him to the cart
They've wheeled him around and around a field 'til they came onto a pond
And there they made a solemn oath on poor John Barleycorn
They've hired men with their crabtree sticks to cut him skin from bone
And the miller he has served him worse than that
For he's ground him between two stones
And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl and his brandy in the glass
And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl proved the strongest man at last
The huntsman he can't hunt the fox nor so loudly to blow his horn
And the tinker he can't mend kettle or pots without a little barleycorn

How did we miss that one?

Always loved John Barleycorn.

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but one of my favorites is "Me and Bobby McGee," (especially the recording done by the great Janis Joplin!)

I would bet it's on here, but don't want to go looking. My favorite by Janice is Turtle Blues (Cheap Thrills - Big Brother and the Holding Company).

I Think She Likes Me - Treat Her Right


Walked into a strange cafe
No one there's ever heard my name
Go to the bar, have a seat
Talk to that woman sittin' next to me

She asked me in a voice so low
She asked me if I come in here alone
She asked me nicely "Can I buy you a drink?"

You know I think she likes me that's what I think
I think she likes me that's what I think

She listens to every word I say
I look at her she don't look away
I tell her that I play for "Treat Her Right"
She asks me if I'm gonna play tonight - Yeah!

She cross her legs, will do no harm
She lets her finger run on down my arm
I asked her nicely "Can I buy you a drink?"

I think she likes me that's what I think
I think she likes me that's what I think

Oh yeah!

Some guy comes over, what does he think
Intruding on our private thing
The man is looking quite upset
Wavin' 'round with his gun like that

She'd told me things about her life
She'd never told me she was someone's wife
The man with the gun says "Why'd you buy her a drink?"
I said "I think she likes me that's what I think"

I think she likes me that's what I think
I think she likes me that's what I think
I think she likes me that's what I think

I - I - I - I think she likes me

I think Mark Sandman may have had a fixation for this sort of thing....

Band: Morphine
Song: Thursday

We used to meet every Thursday
Thursday
Thursday in the afternoon
For a couple a beers
And a game of pool

We used to go to a motel
A motel
A motel across the street
And the name of the motel
Was the "Wagon Wheel"

OH!

One day she said
C'mon C'mon
She said why dont you come back to my house
She said my husbands out of town
You know he's gone till the end of the month

Well I was just so nervous, so nervous
You know I couldn't really quite relax
'Cause I was really never quite sure
When her husband was coming back

It turned out it was one of the neighbors
One of the neighbors, one of the neigbors that saw my car
And they told her, yeah they told her
They think they know who you are

Well her husband is a violent man
A very violent and jealous man
Now I have to leave this town
I gotta leave while I still can

We should have kept it every Thursday
Thursday
Thursday in the afternoon
For a couple of beers
And a game of pool
(REPEAT 1X)

She was pretty cool too!

Big Dipper
Cracker

Cigarettes and carrot juice
And get yourself a new tattoo for those sleeveless days of June

I'm sitting on the Cafe Zinho's steps with a book I haven't started yet
watching all the girls walk by

Could I take you out
I'll be yours without a doubt
on that big dipper

And if the sound of this it frightens you
we could play it real cool
and act somewhat indifferent

And hey June why did you have to come,
why did you have to come around so soon
I wasn't ready for all this nature

The terrible green green grass,
and violent blooms of flowered dresses
and afternoons that make me sleepy

But we could wait awhile
before we push that dull turnstile
into the passage

The thousands they had tread
and others sometimes fled
before the turn came

REPEAT SECTION 1 x2

And we could wait our lives
before a chance arrives
before the passage

From the top you can see Monterey
or think about San Jose
though I know it`s not that pleasant

And hey Jim, a Kerouac, a brother of the famous Jack
or so he likes to say, lucky bastard

He's sitting on the cafe Xeno's steps with a girl I'm not over yet
watching all the world go by

Boy you are looking bad
Did I make you feel that sad
I'm honestly flattered

But if she asks me out
I'll be hers without a doubt
on that big dipper

Cigarettes and carrot juice
and get yourself a new tattoo for those sleeveless days of June

I'm sitting on the cafe Xeno's steps
I haven't got the courage yet, I haven't got the courage yet,

I haven't got the courage yet

Euro-Trash Girl
Cracker

Well I've been up to Paris,
and I've slept in a park.
Went down to Barcelona,
someone broke in my car.
And I'll search the world over
for my angel in black.
Yeah, I'll search the world over
for a Euro-trash Girl.

Took the train down to Athens,
and I slept in a fountain.
Some Swiss junkie in Turin
ripped me off for my cash.
Yeah, I'll search the world over
for my angel in black.
Yeah, search the world over
for a Eurotrash Girl.

The CRS on the metro
shook me down for a bribe.
On my knees for the sergeant
when my passport arrived.
Yeah, I'll search the world over
for my angel in black.
Yeah, I'll search the world over
for a Euro-trash Girl

Euro-trash Girl, Euro-trash girl.
Euro-trash Girl, Euro-trash girl.

Called my mom from a payphone
I said "I'm down to my last."
She said "I sent you to college...
now go call your dad."
And the waitress that he married,
well she hung up the phone.
You know she never did like me,
but I can stand on my own.

Sold my plasma in Amsterdam.
Spent it all in a night,
buying drinks at the Melk Weg
for a soldier in drag.
And I'll search the world over
for my angel in black.
Yeah, I'll search the world over
for a Eurotrash Girl

Euro-trash Girl, Euro-trash girl.
Euro-trash Girl, Euro-trash girl.

Yeah, I'll search the world over
for my angel in black.
Yeah, I'll search the world over
for a Eurotrash Girl (solo Johnny)

Got a tattoo in Berlin
(and a case of the crabs).
A rose and a dagger
on the palm of my hand.
And I'll search the world over
for my angel in black.
Yeah, I'll search the world over
for a Eurotrash Girl.

Euro-trash Girl, Euro-trash girl.
Euro-trash Girl, Euro-trash girl.

Yeah, I'll search the world over
for my angel in black.
Yeah, I'll search the world over
for a Eurotrash Girl.

Inspired by that... (and I like what little Cracker I have)

Every F*cking City - Paul Kelly

We argued on the channel train to Paris
The vin rouge helped us make it sweet again
But by the time that we got down to Lyon
Everything I said was wrong and you cursed me in the rain
We split up for a while in Barcelona
We met up six days later in Madrid
I was hoping that the break would make things go a little better
And for a little while it almost did
Now I'm in a bar in Copenhagen
Trying hard to forget your name
And I'm staring at the label on a bottle of cerveza
And every f*cking city feels the same

You said to call you when I got to London
A French girl told me that you'd left a note
I said to her "I like your accent" and she thought I sounded funny
So we ended up drinking in Soho
Foolishly I followed you to Dublin
Like a ghost I walked the streets of Temple Bar
And all the bright young things were throwing up their Guinness in the gutters
And once I thought I saw you from afar
Now I'm in a disco/nightclub in Helsinki
And they're playing La Vida Loca once again
And I can't believe I'm dancing to this crap but I'm a chance here
Yeah, every f*cking city sounds the same

At a cafe in the port of Amsterdam
An E-mail from you said you'd gone to Rome
For a minute I thought maybe but my funds were getting/running low
And anyway it sounded like you weren't alone
So I headed north and ended up in/until I got to Hamburg
A chilly city suits a troubled soul
And on the Reeperbahn I paid a woman far too much
To kick me out before I'd even reached my goal
Now I'm in a restaurant in Stockholm
And the waiter here wants me to know his name
And I can order sandwiches in seven different languages
But every f*cking city looks the same
Arriverderci, au revoir, aufwiedersen, hasta la vista, baby
Yeah, every f*cking city's just the same

OMG!!! I was just listening to that the other day! I love that one!

A Zappa song:

It was the blackest night!
There was no moon in sight!
(you know the stars aint shinin
cause the skys too tight)
I heard the scary wind!
I seen some ugly trees!
There was a werewolf honkin,
long the side of me!

Im mean n Im bad, (yknow I aint no sissy)
Got a big-titty girly by the name of chrissy
Talkin about her n my bike n me...
n this ride up the mountain of mystery, (mystery)

(how re you doin? )

I noticed even the crickets
Acted weird up here
And so I figured I might
Just drink a little beer
I said, gimme summa that what yer suckin on...
But there was no reply
cause she was gone!

Wheres those titties I like so well,
n my goddam beer!
Is what I started to yell, then I heard this noise
Like a crunchin twig, n up jumped the devil!
(hes about this big!)

He had a red suit on
An a widows peak
An then a pointed tail
n like a sulphur reek,
Yes, it was him awright,
I swear I knowed it was!
He had some human flesh
Stuck underneath his claws
You know, it looked to me
Like it was titty skin!
I said, you son-of-a-bitch!
(cause I was mad at him!)
He just got out his floss
n started cleanin his fang
So I shot him with my shooter,
Said: bang! bang! bang!

Then the sucker just laughed n said: put it away!
You know, I ate her all up...now what you
Gonna say?
You ate my chrissy?
Yeah! titties n all!
Well what about the beer then?
Now, were the cans this tall?
Even her boots?
Would I lie to you?
****, you musta been hungry!
Yeah, this is true.
Dont they pay you good for the
Stuff that you do?
Well, you know, I cant complain when the checks come through...
Well I want my chrissy,
Oh yeah?
n I want my beer
Hah!
So you just barf it back up!
Now, devil, do you hear?
Look:
Blow it out your ass, motorcycle man!
I mean, I am the devil, do you understand?
Just what will you give me for your
Titties and beer?
I suppose you noticed this little
Contract here...
Yer goddam right, you son-of-a-whore!
Dont call me that!
Thats about the only reason
I learned writin for!
Gimme that paper! bet yer horns Ill sign!
Because I need a beer, n its titty-
Squeezin time!
Man, you cant fool me! you aint that bad!
Oh yeah?
Why you shoulda seen some of the souls that Ive had!
There was milhous nixon n agnew too!
n both of those suckers was worse n you!
Lets make a deal if you think
Thats true
I mean, youre supposed to be the devil so...whatcha
Gonna do?
Heh?

Now hold on just a second...
You wanna make a deal with me hah?
Yeah!
Well ah, I dont know man, you know...
I just dont know about this...
What?
See, cause i...
Listen, youre...are you losing your nerve?
No man, it aint got nothin to do with nerve...
Youre supposed to be the devil!
Its got to do...
Youre supposed to be bad!
Its got to do with style, fool!
I dont know if youve the right style to get into hell,
You know...
Well, actually, to tell you...tell you the honest to god
Truth,
Im very short on style as a matter of fact...
Yeah, I know...thats...thats what makes me wonder
But I have...i, I think I have something that
You may be interested in...
What is that?
You can have my soul
Its a mean little sucker
bout a thousand years old
But once you gets it
You cant give it back
You gotta keep it forever
An thats a natural fact!
Ooh wee!
Do you read me devil?
Oh yeah!
What? am I supposed to be scared, man?
Oh yeah, reety, aw-righty!
Oh yeah, thats real tough!
I bet youre real bad!
Listen fool, youve got to prove to me that youre rough
Enough to get into hell
That youve got the style enough to get into hell
So start talkin...
Alright, lemme tell ya somethin
Alright!
Ill prove to you that Im bad enough to go to hell
Yeah!
Because I have been through it!
Yeah!
I have seen it!
Yeah!
It has happened to me!
Yeah!
Remember, I was signed with warner brothers
For eight fuckin years!!!
Tell me about it!
Now youre talkin about something!
Now how bad is that?
That sounds good to me, ************!
So move right along
Tell me what your interests are, you know...
If were gonna come to some kind of agreement,
Ive got to know what youre all about, you know...
cause I dont know if youre the right type for the...
For the place, you know
Look...lemme tell you what my problem really is, you see
Ok...
My problem is that I dont belong anywhere
Aha...
You see... I dont even belong where you are, you see
I hope not!
I, Im a simple person, you know
I have very small desires in life
Titties n beer, you know
No! what?
Titties n beer!
No! no man, youre joking...
Titties n beer, titties n beer, titties n beer...
What? no! no please... no! not that! oh no man, no!
Titties n beer, titties n beer, titties n beer...
No! no! no! no! no! not titties n beer!
Oh I cant stand titties n beer!...
Titties n beer, titties n beer, titties n beer...
(Im in you! Im in you!)
Oh no! no! no! wait...
Ah! look at this! what am I gonna do with this thing?
...wait, wait, please no!
Hey! look at this!

No! dont sign it! give me time to think!
...hold on a second, boy, cause...thats
Magic ink!

Then the devil barfed
n out jumped my girl
They heard the titties plop-ploppin
All around the world, she said:

I got three beers n a fist fulla downs,
An Im gonna get ripped, so ****
You clowns!

Then she gave us the finger!
(it was rigid n stiff)
Thats when the devil, she farted
An she went right over the cliff!
The devil was mad!
(I took off to my pad)
I swear I do declare!
How did she get back there?
I swear I do declare!
How did she get back there?
I swear I do declare!
How did she get back there?
I swear I do declare!
How did she get back there?

Alright!

is there any frank zappa song that doesn't tell a story?

Montana
Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa (guitar, vocals)
Ralph Humphrey (drums)
Sal Marquez (trumpet, vocals)
Tom Fowler (bass)
Bruce Fowler (trombone)
George Duke (keyboards, synthesizer)
Ruth Underwood (marimba, vibes, percussion)
Ian Underwood (flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone)
Jean-Luc Ponty (violin, baritone violin)
Kin Vassy (vocals)
Tina Turner & The Ikettes (vocals)

I might be movin' to Montana soon
Just to raise me up a crop of
Dental Floss

Raisin' it up
Waxen it down
In a little white box
I can sell uptown

By myself I wouldn't
Have no boss,
But I'd be raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss

Raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss

Well I just might grow me some bees
But I'd leave the sweet stuff
For somebody else...but then, on the other hand I'd

Keep the wax
N' melt it down
Pluck some Floss
N' swish it aroun'

I'd have me a crop
An' it'd be on top (that's why I'M movin' to Montana)

Movin' to Montana soon
Gonna be a Dental Floss tycoon (yes I am)
Movin' to Montana soon
Gonna be a mennil-toss flykune

I'm pluckin' the ol'
Dennil Floss
That's growin' on the prairie
Pluckin' the floss!
I plucked all day an' all nite an' all
Afternoon...

I'm ridin' a small tiny hoss
(His name is MIGHTY LITTLE)
He's a good hoss
Even though
He's a bit dinky to strap a big saddle or
Blanket on anyway
He's a bit dinky to strap a big saddle or
Blanket on anyway
Any way

I'm pluckin' the ol'
Dennil Floss
Even if you think it is a little silly, folks
I don't care if you think it's silly, folks
I don't care if you think it's silly, folks

I'm gonna find me a horse
Just about this big
An' ride him all along the border line

With a
Pair of heavy-duty
Zircon-encrusted tweezers in my hand
Every other wrangler would say
I was mighty grand

By myself I wouldn't
Have no boss
But I'd be raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss

Raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss
Raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss

Well I might
Ride along the border
With my tweezers gleamin'
In the moon-lighty night

And then I'd
Get a cuppa cawfee
N' give my foot a push...
Just me 'n the pymgy pony
Over the Dennil Floss Bush

N' then I might just
Jumb back on
An' ride
Like a cowboy
Into the dawn to Montana

Movin' to Montana soon
(Yippy-Ty-O-Ty-Ay)
Movin' to Montana soon
(Yippy-Ty-O-Ty-Ay)

Donald and Lydia
John Prine

Small town, bright lights, Saturday night,
Pinballs and pool halls flashing their lights.
Making change behind the counter in a penny arcade
Sat the fat girl daughter of Virginia and Ray

(Spoken:)
Lydia
Lydia hid her thoughts like a cat
Behind her small eyes sunk deep in her fat.
She read romance magazines up in her room
And felt just like Sunday on Saturday afternoon.

Chorus:
But dreaming just comes natural
Like the first breath from a baby,
Like sunshine feeding daisies,
Like the love hidden deep in your heart.

Bunk beds, shaved heads, Saturday night,
A warehouse of strangers with sixty watt lights.
Staring through the ceiling, just wanting to be
Lay one of too many, a young PFC:

(Spoken:)
Donald
There were spaces between Donald and whatever he said.
Strangers had forced him to live in his head.
He envisioned the details of romantic scenes
After midnight in the stillness of the barracks latrine.

Repeat Chorus:

Hot love, cold love, no love at all.
A portrait of guilt is hung on the wall.
Nothing is wrong, nothing is right.
Donald and Lydia made love that night.

(Spoken:)
Love
The made love in the mountains, they made love in the streams,
They made love in the valleys, they made love in their dreams.
But when they were finished there was nothing to say,
'Cause mostly they made love from ten miles away.

Repeat Chorus:

There's also a classic blues song called "Betty and Dupre" that I like. The best recording of it is by Barbara Dane.

I like that one by Chuck Willis.

Haven't heard that one before. But I'm impressed you know the song, Edgar!

i'm not

I have heard it by a number of artists, ever since the 1950s. Besides Willis, I also have it by Harry Belafonte, and if I recall, didn't Bob Dylan do a version?

Hey! I think you might be right about that, now that I think of it....

I had forgotten about him doing it...I always associate him with folk music.