Songs That Tell Stories

Forgive me if this was already posted.

Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota,
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon(na)
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye
Rocky didn't like that he said I'm gonna get that boy
so one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon

Rock Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with the gun
to shoot off the legs of his rival

His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girls of his fancy
Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy

Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe-down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a show down

Daniel was hot he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner
Da, da, da, da, da

Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better
I'll be better doc as soon as I am able

And now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival
Ah, oh yeah, yeah
Da, da, da, da

Mickey Newbury composed this one and I'm listening to him right now (but, Joan Baez has a great recording of it, too):

Lord his daddy was an honest man, just a red dirt Georgia farmer
His mamma lived her short life having kids and baling hay.
He had fifteen years and an ache inside to wander
So he hopped a freight in Waycross and wound up in L.A.
The cold nights had no pity on that Waycross Georgia farm boy
Most days he went hungry, then the summer came.
He met a girl known on the strip as San Francisco's Mabel Joy
Destination's child born on an L.A. street called shame.
Growin' up came quietly in the arms of Mabel Joy
Laughter found his mornings, brought a meaning to his life.
On the night before she left, sleep came and left that Waycross country boy
With dreams of Georgia cotton and a California wife.

Sunday morning found him standing 'neath the red light at her door
A right-cross sent him reelining, put him face down on the floor
In place of Mabel Joy he found a merchant mad marine
Who growled "Your Georgia neck is red, but sonny you're still green".

He turned twenty-one in a grey rock federal prison
The old judge had no mercy on that Waycross Georgia boy
And staring at those four grey walls in silence he would listen
To that midnight freight he knew could take him back to Mabel Joy.

Sunday morning found him lyining 'neath the red light at her door
With a bullet in his side he cried "Have you seen Mabel Joy"?
Stunned and shaken someone said, "Son she don't live here anymore"
She left this house four years today they say she's lookin' for
Some Georgia farm boy.

Oops. Sorry for the extra "n" s in reeling and lying. I could have sworn they weren't there before.

Dylan anyone?? Lily, Rosemary & the Jack of Hearts

The festival was over, the boys were all plannin' for a fall,
The cabaret was quiet except for the drillin' in the wall.
The curfew had been lifted and the gamblin' wheel shut down,
Anyone with any sense had already left town.
He was standin' in the doorway lookin' like the Jack of Hearts.

He moved across the mirrored room, "Set it up for everyone," he said,
Then everyone commenced to do what they were doin' before he turned their heads.
Then he walked up to a stranger and he asked him with a grin,
"Could you kindly tell me, friend, what time the show begins?"
Then he moved into the corner, face down like the Jack of Hearts.

Backstage the girls were playin' five-card stud by the stairs,
Lily had two queens, she was hopin' for a third to match her pair.
Outside the streets were fillin' up, the window was open wide,
A gentle breeze was blowin', you could feel it from inside.
Lily called another bet and drew up the Jack of Hearts.

Big Jim was no one's fool, he owned the town's only diamond mine,
He made his usual entrance lookin' so dandy and so fine.
With his bodyguards and silver cane and every hair in place,
He took whatever he wanted to and he laid it all to waste.
But his bodyguards and silver cane were no match for the Jack of Hearts.

Rosemary combed her hair and took a carriage into town,
She slipped in through the side door lookin' like a queen without a crown.
She fluttered her false eyelashes and whispered in his ear,
"Sorry, darlin', that I'm late," but he didn't seem to hear.
He was starin' into space over at the Jack of Hearts.

"I know I've seen that face before," Big Jim was thinkin' to himself,
"Maybe down in Mexico or a picture up on somebody's shelf."
But then the crowd began to stamp their feet and the house lights did dim
And in the darkness of the room there was only Jim and him,
Starin' at the butterfly who just drew the Jack of Hearts.

Lily was a princess, she was fair-skinned and precious as a child,
She did whatever she had to do, she had that certain flash every time she smiled.
She'd come away from a broken home, had lots of strange affairs
With men in every walk of life which took her everywhere.
But she'd never met anyone quite like the Jack of Hearts.

The hangin' judge came in unnoticed and was being wined and dined,
The drillin' in the wall kept up but no one seemed to pay it any mind.
It was known all around that Lily had Jim's ring
And nothing would ever come between Lily and the king.
No, nothin' ever would except maybe the Jack of Hearts.

Rosemary started drinkin' hard and seein' her reflection in the knife,
She was tired of the attention, tired of playin' the role of Big Jim's wife.
She had done a lot of bad things, even once tried suicide,
Was lookin' to do just one good deed before she died.
She was gazin' to the future, riding on the Jack of Hearts.

Lily washed her face, took her dress off and buried it away.
"Has your luck run out?" she laughed at him, "Well, I guess you must
have known it would someday.
Be careful not to touch the wall, there's a brand-new coat of paint,
I'm glad to see you're still alive, you're lookin' like a saint."
Down the hallway footsteps were comin' for the Jack of Hearts.

The backstage manager was pacing all around by his chair.
"There's something funny going on," he said, "I can just feel it in the air."
He went to get the hangin' judge, but the hangin' judge was drunk,
As the leading actor hurried by in the costume of a monk.
There was no actor anywhere better than the Jack of Hearts.

Lily's arms were locked around the man that she dearly loved to touch,
She forgot all about the man she couldn't stand who hounded her so much.
"I've missed you so," she said to him, and he felt she was sincere,
But just beyond the door he felt jealousy and fear.
Just another night in the life of the Jack of Hearts.

No one knew the circumstance but they say that it happened pretty quick,
The door to the dressing room burst open and a cold revolver clicked.
And Big Jim was standin' there, ya couldn't say surprised,
Rosemary right beside him, steady in her eyes.
She was with Big Jim but she was leanin' to the Jack of Hearts.

Two doors down the boys finally made it through the wall
And cleaned out the bank safe, it's said that they got off with quite a haul.
In the darkness by the riverbed they waited on the ground
For one more member who had business back in town.
But they couldn't go no further without the Jack of Hearts.

The next day was hangin' day, the sky was overcast and black,
Big Jim lay covered up, killed by a penknife in the back.
And Rosemary on the gallows, she didn't even blink,
The hangin' judge was sober, he hadn't had a drink.
The only person on the scene missin' was the Jack of Hearts.

The cabaret was empty now, a sign said, "Closed for repair,"
Lily had already taken all of the dye out of her hair.
She was thinkin' 'bout her father, who she very rarely saw,
Thinkin' 'bout Rosemary and thinkin' about the law.
But, most of all she was thinkin' 'bout the Jack of Hearts.

Mr Custer - recorded by Larry Verne

(Indian drums throughout - Indian war whoops)
That famous day in history the men of the Seventh Cavalry went riding on
And from the rear a voice was heard a brave young man with a trembling word rang loud and clear
What am I doing here
Please Mr Custer I don't wanna go
Hey Mr Custer don't make me go
I had a dream last night about the coming fight
Somebody yelled Attack and there I stood with a arrow in my back
Please Mr Custer I don't wanna go (Forward ho) Aw..

Look at them bushes out there
They're moving and there's a Injun behind every one
Hey Mr Custer - You mind if I be excused the rest a the afternoon
HEY CHARLIE DUCK YOUR HEAD (arrow whiz)
Nope you're a little late on that one Charlie
Hoo I bet that smarts

They were sure of victory the men of the Seventh Cavalry as they rode on
But from the rear a voice was heard
The same brave voice with a trembling word rang loud and clear
WHAT AM I DOING HERE
Please Mr Custer I don't wanna go Listen Mr Custer don't make me go
There's a Redskin a waitin out there fixing to take my hair
A coward I've been called but I don't wanna wind up dead or bald
Please Mr Custer I don't wanna go (Forward Ho) Aw..

I wonder what the Injun word for friend is -
Let's see - friend. Kemo Sabe. That's it
Kemo sabe. Hey out there kimo sabe. (arrows whiz)
Nope that ain't it
Just look at'em out there runnin around like a bunch a wild Injuns Huh Heh
Naw this ain't no time for jokin (arrows whizz in rapid succession)

FRANKIE & JOHNNY

Well Frankie, Frankie told Johnny
Lord I want a diamond ring
Poor Johnny told Frankie, I'll get you four diamond rings

Now Johnny went to the German
On Rampart and Dumaine
He walked in the store, the German had a diamond in his hand

Teena, teena na
Teena, na ne na
Teena na na na, teena na na ne na

Oh Johnny Johnny shot the German
Lord and he shot him through the head
He ran out the door and he fell on the sidewalk dead

When Frankie Frankie got the news
That the jury marked him dead
She come runnin' hollerin', Lord talkin' all out her head

Well Johnny started to runnin'
Lord and he didn't know where to go
They found Johnny hidin' in the grocery store next door

Till the police handcuffed and beat him
And they took Johnny out of sight
He said that's all right Frankie, everything gonna be all right

Teena, teena ne na
Teena na na ne na
Teena na na na, teena na ne na ne na

What? I've heard about twenty versions of Frankie and Johnny but never that one.

I forget where I got it. But it is a story song, isn't it?

Found the source for edgar. Jack Dupree's version of this oft-recorded ballad is on the LP "Blues from the gutter" (re-released on CD by Atlantic). Dupree places the action in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

But that's great. I love to find new versions of songs I like.

Edgar - I'm really enjoying this thread. Good going Boss!

I love the diversity of the material. I believe music is something that brings us all a bit closer.

Here's one that is a little too early but I was reminded of it by your signature line... This song is so romantic, it makes me a little teary.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
in the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
we're happy tonight,
walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
as we go along,
walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
we'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
when you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,
as we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
the plans that we've made,
walking in a winter wonderland.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
in the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
we're happy tonight,
walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
as we go along,
walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
and pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
until the alligators knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
walking in a winter wonderland.

Walking in a winter wonderland,
walking in a winter wonderland.


The lyrics came from this site which is kind of nice...

http://www.the-north-pole.com/carols/index.htm

Famous Blue Raincoat

It's four in the morning
The end of December
I'm writing you now just to see if you're better
New York is cold but I like where I'm living
The music on Clinton Street all through the evening
I hear that you're building your little house deep in the desert
You're living on nothing now Hope you're keeping some kind of record
Yes, and Jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her
That night that you planned to go clear
Did you ever go clear?
Ah, the last time we saw you you looked so much older
Your famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulder
You'd been to the station to meet every train
Then you came back without Lilly Marlene
Then you treated my woman to a flick of your life
And when she came home she was nobody's wife
And what can I tell you my brother my killer
What can I possibly say?
Except that I miss you
I guess that I forgive you
I'm glad you stood in my way
If you decide to come by here
For Jane or for me
Well your enemy is sleeping
And his woman is free
Well I see Jane's awake
She sends her regards
And Jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her
That night that you planned to go clear
Sincerely, L. Cohen

by Leonard Cohen

So Far Away - Carol King

So far Away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn't help to know that you're just time away
Long ago I reached for you, and there you stood
Holding you again could only do me good
How I wish I could, but you're so far away

One more song about moving along the highway
Can't say much of anything that's new
If I could only work this life out my way
I'd rather spend it being close to you
But you're so far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn't help to know you're so far away
Yeah, you're so far away

Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely
Nothing else to do but close my mind
I sure hope the road don't come to own me
There are so many dreams I have yet to find
But you're so far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
And doesn't help to know you're so far away
You're so far away
Yeah, you're so far away
You're so far

I can't think of Carol King without thinking of "You're So Vain." My first wife said it should be my song. ????? Anyway, it says "I bet you think this song is about you don't you" I ask, just whom is it about, then?

Love Letter -- Bonnie Raitt

Sittin' in front of your house,
Like rain in early dawn
Workin' on a Love Letter
Got my radio on.

Got my eye on your window pane
and I smoked a lot of cigarettes.
Mercy, Mercy but love is strange
and you haven't even kissed me yet.

Look comes to push,
push comes to shove,
shove comes to touch,
touch will come to love.

Workin' on a Love Letter,
Listenin' to a love song,
I'm writing you a love letter, love letter,
got my radio on...radio, radio

Hope you get the message baby.
I know that you're gonna let me in.
It's real in your neighborhood
and this is more than I'm gonna bend.

Look comes to push,
push comes to shove,
shove comes to touch,
touch will come to love.

Why don't sit waitin'
Why don't behavin'
Love's waiting in the car,
In the car and rain now.

Workin' on a Love Letter,
Listenin' to a love song,
I'm writing you a love letter, love letter,
got my radio on...radio, radio

Great Piffka, I love Bonnie Raitt.

Stagger Lee
There are dozens of versions of this song. This is the cleaned up Dick Clark approved version recorded by Lloyd Price:

The night was clear and the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumbling down

I was standing on the corner when I heard my bulldog bark
He was barking at the two men who were gambling in the dark
It was Stagger Lee and Billy two men who gambled late
Stegger Lee threw a seven then this poor boy he threw eight

Stagger Lee told Billy I can't let you go with that
You have won all my money and my brand new stetson hat
Stagger Lee went home and he got his forty four
He said going to that barroom just to pay that debt I owe
Stagger went to the barroom and he stood across the barroom door
He said nobody move and he pulled his forty four
Stagger Lee shot Billy Oh he shot that poor boy so bad
Til the bullet came through Billy and it broke a bartender's glass

More, more!