Songs That Tell Stories

Heavy Horses (Jethro Tull)
I did see that Thick As A Brick was posted, but I'm surprised there haven't been more songs by Jethro Tull (and the brilliant Mr. Ian Anderson). So, without further ado...

Song: Heavy Horses
Artist: Jethro Tull
---
Iron-clad feather-feet pounding the dust
An October's day, towards evening
Sweat embossed veins standing proud to the plough
Salt on a deep chest seasoning
Last of the line at an honest day's toil
Turning the deep sod under
Flint at the fetlock, chasing the bone
Flies at the nostrils plunder.

The Suffolk, the Clydesdale, the Percheron vie
with the Shire on his feathers floating
Hauling soft timber into the dusk
to bed on a warm straw coating.

Heavy Horses, move the land under me
Behind the plough gliding --- slipping and sliding free
Now you're down to the few
And there's no work to do
The tractor's on its way.

Let me find you a filly for your proud stallion seed
to keep the old line going.
And we'll stand you abreast at the back of the wood
behind the young trees growing
To hide you from eyes that mock at your girth,
and your eighteen hands at the shoulder
And one day when the oil barons have all dripped dry
and the nights are seen to draw colder
They'll beg for your strength, your gentle power
your noble grace and your bearing
And you'll strain once again to the sound of the gulls
in the wake of the deep plough, sharing.

Standing like tanks on the brow of the hill
Up into the cold wind facing
In stiff battle harness, chained to the world
Against the low sun racing
Bring me a wheel of oaken wood
A rein of polished leather
A Heavy Horse and a tumbling sky
Brewing heavy weather.

Bring a song for the evening
Clean brass to flash the dawn
across these acres glistening
like dew on a carpet lawn
In these dark towns folk lie sleeping
as the heavy horses thunder by
to wake the dying city
with the living horseman's cry
At once the old hands quicken ---
bring pick and wisp and curry comb ---
thrill to the sound of all
the heavy horses coming home.

Long Summer Day (Two Gallants)
I have plenty more, but for now I'll just drop one additional song in here. This one's pretty recent; excellent album, excellent lyrics. Reminiscent of a slightly harder-rocking Dylan (well, except it's two guys).

Artist: Two Gallants
Song: Long Summer Day
---
Well, the summer day makes a white man lazy....

All I've ever known is poor.
Owe my skin to the country store.
Don't own my walls, my roof, my door, and he tells me I'm free.
But why fight the will to live.
Hell might take but heaven gives, there's only one so I'll forgive.
No I ain't one to grieve.

But the summer day makes a white man lazy...

He sits on his porch killing time.
I've got to work to feed my wife and baby.
I work so goddamn hard that it's a crime.
Well i went down to the polling place but the white man there just laughed in my face.
Said, "boy this ain't no nigger's race.
You best get on your way."
"Sir i believe I've got the right."
He said, "you ain't got nothin' if you ain't white.
And i thought i said get out of sight."
Well what was I to say.

The summer day makes a white man lazy...

When I was about the age of five, I watched my daddy burned alive.
They cut him low and they hung him high, swaying in the breeze.
But the last words I heard him say before they stole his life that day was "Forgive them lord, they've gone astray.
Please take me to my ease."

The summer day makes a white man lazy....

Well I don't know but i heard tell of a furnace below, a place called hell and who would catch me if I fell?
Who would pray for me?
But one thing i see for sure, its hot as hell up here i know and the devil lives right down the road.
It's all the same to me.

And the summer day makes a white man lazy...
He sits on his porch killing time.
But the summer day makes a nigga' feel crazy.
Might make me do something out of line.
Well if you should see my wife tell her i won't be home tonight, so don't leave on the light.
I've got a little business down the road.
And if I'm dead by sunrise kiss my baby girl for me.
It ain't life if it ain't free.
I've got a mighty burden to unload.

The Mariner's Revenge Song (The Decemberists)
Hmm, wait. No Decemberists yet? Just one more. These guys are the best modern storytelling band I've heard, bar none. They're fan-tastic. They have lots of good ones, but this is a personal favorite of mine, and perhaps their most iconic.

Song: The Mariner's Revenge Song
Artist: The Decemberists
---
We are two mariners
Our ships' sole survivors
In this belly of a whale

Its ribs are ceiling beams
Its guts are carpeting
I guess we have some time to kill

You may not remember me
I was a child of three
And you, a lad of eighteen

But I remember you
And I will relate to you
How our histories interweave

At the time you were
A rake and a roustabout
Spending all your money
On the whores and hounds
Oh Ohhhhh

You had a charming air
All cheap and debonair
My widowed mother found so sweet

And so she took you in
Her sheets still warm with him
Now filled with filth and foul disease

As time wore on you proved
A debt-ridden drunken mess
Leaving my mother
A poor consumptive wretch
Oh Ohhhhh

And then you disappeared
Your gambling arrears
The only thing you left behind

And then the magistrate
Reclaimed our small estate
And my poor mother lost her mind

Then one day, in spring
My dear sweet mother died
But before she did
I took her hand as she, dying, cried:
Oh Ohhhhh

"Find him, bind him
Tie him to a pole and break
His fingers to splinters
Drag him to a hole until he
Wakes up naked
Clawing at the ceiling
Of his grave
*sigh*"

It took me fifteen years
To swallow all my tears
Among the urchins in the street

Until a priory
Took pity and hired me
To keep their vestry nice and neat

But never once in the employ
Of these holy men
Did I ever, once, turn my mind
From the thought of revenge
Oh Ohhhhh

One night I overheard
The prior exchanging words
With a penitent whaler from the sea

The captain of his ship
Who matched you toe to tip
Was known for a wanton cruelty

The following day
I shipped to sea
With a privateer

And in the whistle
Of the wind
I could almost hear...
Oh Ohhhhh

"Find him, bind him
Tie him to a pole and break
His fingers to splinters
Drag him to a hole until he
Wakes up naked
Clawing at the ceiling
Of his grave

"There is one thing I must say to you
As you sail across the sea
Always, your mother will watch over you
As you avenge this wicked deed"

[haunting, sailor-esque musical interlude lead by mandolin, accordion and tuba]

And then that fateful night
We had you in our sight
After twenty months at sea

Your starboard flank abeam
I was getting my muskets clean
When came this rumbling from beneath

The ocean shook
The sky went black
And the captain quailed

And before us grew
The angry jaws
Of a giant whale

[instrumental noise]
oh ohhhhhhhhhh
[screaming]
ohhhhh
[screaming]

Don't know how I survived
The crew all was chewed alive
I must have slipped between his teeth

But, oh! What providence!
What divine intelligence!
That you should survive
As well as me

It gives my heart
Great joy
To see your eyes fill with fear

So lean in close
And I will whisper
The last words you'll hear
Ohh Ohhhhh

Prophasi
Welcome, and thanks for the songs. I enjopyed them very much.

welcome...nice stuff

I've been listening to Tony Rice a lot...this is a sad song from the pen of Gordo Lightfoot...a little obscure

Home From The Forest


Oh the neon lights were flashin'
And the icy wind did blow
The water seeped into his shoes
And the drizzle turned to snow
His eyes were red, his hopes were dead
And the wine was runnin' low
And the old man came home
From the forest
His tears fell on the sidewalk
As he stumbled in the street
A dozen faces stopped to stare
But no one stopped to speak
For his castle was a hallway
And the bottle was his friend
And the old man stumbled in
From the forest

Up a dark and dingy staircase
The old man made his way
His ragged coat around him
As upon his cot he lay
And he wondered how it happened
That he ended up this way
Getting lost like a fool
In the forest

And as he lay there sleeping
A vision did appear
Upon his mantle shining
A face of one so dear
Who had loved him in the springtime
Of a long-forgotten year
When the wildflowers did bloom
In the forest

She touched his grizzled fingers
And she called him by his name
And then he heard the joyful sound
Of children at their games
In an old house on a hillside
In some forgotten town
Where the river runs down
From the forest

With a mighty roar the big jets soar
Above the canyon streets
And the con men con but life goes on
For the city never sleeps
And to an old forgotten soldier
The dawn will come no more
For the old man has come home
From the forest

I checked out Tony Rice's version of that song at your suggestion -- enjoyed it quite a bit. I like Tony Rice a lot, so I'll definitely be checking out the rest of that album. Thanks!

Here's one written by Hank Williams. I'm sure it's been covered by plenty of people, but the version that enchanted me was the one by Sharon Shannon (and sung by the male vocalist from the band The Hothouse Flowers).

Song: Banks Of The Old Ponchartrain
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
---

I traveled from Texas to old Louisianne
Thru mountains and valleys and plains
Footsore and weary I rested awhile
On The Banks Of The Old Ponchartrain.

The fairest young maiden that ever I saw
Passed by as it started to rain
We both found a shelter beneath the same tree
On The Banks Of The Old Ponchartrain.

I ventured a smile but she thought I was bold
I hastened to try and explain
Somehow I knew I would linger awhile
On The Banks Of The Old Ponchartrain.

We hid from the shower an hour or so
She asked me how long I'd remain
I told her I'd spend the rest of my days
On The Banks Of The Old Ponchartrain.

As time drifted by we fell deeper in love
A love that would just bring her pain
I knew that one day I would leave her alone
On The Banks Of The Old Ponchartrain.

I just couldn't tell her that I ran away
From a jail on the West Texas plain
I prayed in my heart I would never be found
On The Banks Of The Old Ponchartrain.

Then one day a man put his hand on my arm
Said I must go west the same day
I said I couldn't without saying goodbye
On The Banks Of The Old Ponchartrain.

Tonight as I sit here alone in my cell
I know that she's waiting in vain
I'm hoping and praying someday to return
To The Banks Of The Old Ponchartrain.

not to quibble but i don't think Hank wrote that. His lyrics are more haiku-like, short and succinct, This looks more like an epic ballad he set to music, I know Rose Maddox had a version in the late 40's...she might have written it.

In any case...a great find. Thanks

Warren Zevon-short and sweet

Well, I went home with the waitress
The way I always do
How was I to know
She was with the Russians, too

I was gambling in Havana
I took a little risk
Send lawyers, guns and money
Dad, get me out of this

I'm the innocent bystander
Somehow I got stuck
Between the rock and the hard place
And I'm down on my luck
And I'm down on my luck
And I'm down on my luck

Now I'm hiding in Honduras
I'm a desperate man
Send lawyers, guns and money
The **** has hit the fan

donald fagen does Graham Greene

The Goodbye Look



The surf was easy on the day I came to stay
On this quiet island in the bay
I remember a line of women all in white
The laughter and the steel bands at night

Now the Americans are gone exept for two
The embassy's been hard to reach
There's been talk and lately a bit of action after dark
Behind the big casino on the beach

The rules are changed
It's not the same
It's all new players in a whole new ball game

Last night I dreamed of an old lover dressed in gray
I've had this fever now since yesterday
Wake up darling they're knocking the Colonel's standing in the sun
With his stupid face the glasses and the gun

I know what happens
I read the book
I believe I just got the goodbye look

Won't you pour me a Cuban breeze Gretchen

I know a fellow with a motor launch for hire
A skinny man with two-tone shoes
Cause tonight they're arranging a small reception just for me
Behind the big casino by the sea

I know what happens
I read the book
I believe I just got the goodbye look

Panz, I like "The Goodbye Look" although I don't know it.

Hey, prophasi, I love Jethro Tull and this one I do know.

Meanwhile back in the year One --- when you belonged to no-one ---
you didn't stand a chance son, if your pants were undone.
`Cause you were bred for humanity and sold to society ---
one day you'll wake up in the Present Day ---
a million generations removed from expectations
of being who you really want to be.
Skating away ---
skating away ---
skating away on the thin ice of the New Day.

So as you push off from the shore,
won't you turn your head once more --- and make your peace with everyone?
For those who choose to stay,
will live just one more day ---
to do the things they should have done.
And as you cross the wilderness, spinning in your emptiness:
you feel you have to pray.
Looking for a sign
that the Universal Mind (!) has written you into the Passion Play.

Skating away ---
skating away ---
skating away on the thin ice of the New Day.

And as you cross the circle line, well the ice-wall creaks behind ---
you're a rabbit on the run.
And the silver splinters fly in the corner of your eye ---
shining in the setting sun.
Well, do you ever get the feeling that the story's
too damn real and in the present tense?
Or that everybody's on the stage, and it seems like
you're the only person sitting in the audience?

Skating away ---
skating away ---
skating away on the thin ice of the New Day.

Skating away ---
skating away ---
skating away.

" Would you care for another cup of tea, dear?"

3 wooden crosses-randy travis


A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher
Riding on a midnight bus, bound for Mexico
One was headed for vacation, one for higher education
And two of them were searching for lost souls
That driver never ever saw the stop sign
And 18-wheelers can't stop on a dime


There are, three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Why there's not four of them, heaven only knows
I guess it's, not what you take, when you leave this world behind you
It's what you leave behind you when you go

That farmer left a harvest, a home and 80 acres
The faith and love for growing things, in his young son's heart
And that teacher left her wisdom, in the minds of lots of children
And did her best, to give them all a better start

And that preacher whispered can't you see the promise land
As he lay his blood stained Bible in that hooker's hand



That's the story that our preacher told last Sunday
As he held that blood stained Bible up, for all of us to see
He said bless the farmer, and the teacher, and the preacher
Who gave this Bible to my mama, who read it to me

There are, three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Why there's not four of them, now I guess we know
It's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you
It's what you leave behind you when you go

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway

BRAD PAISLEY'S new one

isn't that clever?

the economy of words...great story

thanks FM

Child;s song-Tom Rush

written by Murray McGlaughlin


Goodbye mama goodbye to you too paw
Little sister you'll have to wait a while to come along
Goodbye to this house and all its mem'ries
We all just got to old so say we're wrong

I've got to make one last trip to my bedroom
I guess I'll have to leave some stuff behind
Funny how the same old crooked pictures
Just don't look the same to me tonight

Ain't no use in sheddin' no more tears ma
Ain't no use in shoutin' at me pa
I can't live no longer with your fears ma
I love you but that hadn't helped at all

All of us has got to do what matters
And each of us must see what we can see
Though it was long ago you must remember
That you were once as young and scared as me

Mama I don't know how hard it is yet
When you realized you're growin' old
I know how hard it is now to be younger
I know you tried to keep me from the cold

Thanks for all you've done it may sound hollow
But thank you for them good times that we've known
But I must have my own road to follow
You will all be welcomed in my home

I have got my suitcase I must go now
I don't mind about them things you said
Sorry mom I just don't know where I'm goin'
Remember little sister look ahead

Tomorrow I'll be in some other sunrise
And maybe I'll have someone by my side
Mama give your love back to your husband
Father you have taught me well goodbye
Goodbye mama goodbye to you too paw

Corb Lund - I Wanna Be In The Cavalry


I Wanna Be In The Cavalry
lyrics by Corb Lund, music by Stan Rogers/Corb Lund

I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
I wanna good steed under me like my forefathers before
I wanna good mount when the bugle sounds and I hear the cannons' roar
I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war

I wanna horse in the volunteer force that's riding forth at dawn
Please save for me some gallantry that will echo when I'm gone
I beg of you sarge let me lead the charge when the battle lines are drawn
Lemme at least leave a good hoof beat they'll remember loud and long

I'd not a good foot soldier make, I'd be sour and slow at march
And I'd be sick on a navy ship, and the sea would leave me parched
But I'll be first in line if they'll let me ride, by god, you'll see my starch
Lope back o'er the heath with the laurel wreath underneath that vict'ry arch

Let me earn my spurs in the battle's blur where the day is lost or won
I'll wield my lance as the ponies dance and the blackguards fire their guns
A sabre keen, and a saddle carbine and an army Remington
Where the hot lead screams with the cold, cold steel let me be a cav'lryman

Let 'em play their flutes and stirrup my boots and place them back to front
For I won't be back on the rider-less black (jack) and I'm finished in my hunt
I wanna be in the cavalry if I must go off to war
I wanna be in the cavalry, but I won't ride home no more


I Wanna Be In The Cavalry: Reprise
lyrics by Corb Lund, music by Stan Rogers/Corb Lund

I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
I wanna good steed under me like my forefathers before

Courageous at first we took their worst, our positions we held stout
We clung to belief and we hung on the speech from our trusted leaders' mouths
Overwhelming odds and a hopeless cause and our cities overrun
There were them that said we was badly led and God were we outgunned

I lost count of the worthy mounts that from under me were cut
My favourite mare with her head in the air took the cannons in her gut
In the first two weeks on that bloody creek my brother lost his arm
Was only sixty days till all we prayed was get us home unharmed

O for the day that we signed our names and the well that we were wished
The men's congrats and the pats on the backs and the ladies that we kissed
The band that played and the grande parade and the patriotic shouts
All faded fast, didn't even last till the uniforms wore out

And there were none to replace nor to help us face the winters cold and bleak
That chilled to the bone the pneumonia prone and froze our bootless feet
Then the typhoid hit with its fevered fits, TB and dysentery
That proved in the end to have killed more men than the vilest enemy

We were finally forced to feed on horse and carcass we could scrounge
When the wagons stopped and we'd burnt their crops to charred and barren ground
With morale in doubt and our pride run out no honour did I see
All I seen were a thousand dreams piled dead in front of me

I wanna be in the cavalry if the send me off to war
I wanna be in the cavalry but I won't ride home no more

wonder what battle...

Bobby and Suzanne -- Ridley Bent

Bobby played a lot of football
He was one hell of a defensive nose
He had his sights set on playing the pros
You'd never catch him smoking dope
Amber was the new girl in school
And she was smoking in the noon day sun
Bobby saw a pretty girl with tight blue jeans
He never saw the badge or a gun

It was her first time undercover
She was a narc for the Blair County heat
She was 23 but she looked 17
Perfect for a high school sting
Well Bobby he had his heart set
And Amber she had a little plan
She asked Bobby if he could get a dime bag
And he played the middleman

Next she got close to Suzanne
A sweet girl with All American looks
You'd never catch her with the riff raff -- no
She always had her head in the books
She trusted Amber as a close friend
She opened up about her troubled past
And she gave Amber a bag of shake one day
Because she was her friend, and she asked

The raid came during first class
The police came in hard and fast
Bobby resisted arrest
And more than a few of them desks were trashed
He and Suzanne got 20 weeks each
Sweeping streets and raking leaves
He lost his chance at a football scholarship
Passing ten dollars in weed

Bobby lost interest in football
He started drinking -- he drank a lot
He'd line them bottles up on the fencepost
Oh how he loved to hear that .44 pop
One night after killing a forty pounder
Of Johnny Walker Red
He came face to face with the man he hated most
And didn't hesitate to shoot him dead

Well the dead man was the Director
Of Police Services at the school
He was the brainchild behind the operation
That left Bobby looking like a fool
He was quite impressed by the number of arrests
That resulted from his little drug sting
Until his murder got Bobby 25 to life
In a bed in a cell at Sing Sing

So Suzanne went to law school
Passed the bar and picked up Bobby's case
Now he's out and he knows how to fix cars
It sure is nice to be out of that cage
Well Suzanne always had a crush on Bobby
And now Bobby he felt the same
They had a shotgun wedding that winter, yeah
He hopes to be a grandpa someday (Hell, yeah)

talented Canuck chai...is this from his first album "Blam"?