[Frank Ryan]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Great topic, Creekster. And I like your three choices.

Some songwriters just have a knack for storytelling. One of my personal favorites is Steve Earle. Tends to pick harsher themes, but they are excellent tunes. A few of my favorites:

Billy Austin - Song about a guy on death row. Live version is best.
(http://music.yahoo.com/Steve-Earle/B.../lyrics/557366)

Tom Ames Prayer - Story about a gunfighter/desperado looking back on his life and pondering whether there is a god.
(http://music.yahoo.com/Steve-Earle/T...lyrics/2000801)

Ben McCulloch - Story of two brothers who fought for Ben McCulloch in the Civil War. I get a kick out of this one because Ben McCulloch is a hero in Austin (and Texas in general), but Steve doesn't paint such a pretty picture.
(http://music.yahoo.com/Steve-Earle/B...lyrics/1021436)

Tecumseh Valley - Sad, yet beautiful song about a miner's daughter. This one has been covered by other artists.
(http://music.yahoo.com/Steve-Earle/T...lyrics/1021424)

Of course, when just reading the lyrics you don't get the full effect.

I love Steve Earle

Here are a couple of my favorite story songs:
Fairytale of New York by the Pogues

The Line by Bruce Springsteen

Veronica by the great Irish folk singer Christy Moore