I’m looking for suggestions for songs which have a story and something unexpected or devastating happens in the story. I’m thinking along the lines of George Jones ‘He stopped loving her today’, Jamie Lawson ‘Wasn’t expecting that’, Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue ‘Where the wild roses grow’, Stan ‘Eminem’, Plan B ‘Charmaine’. (All bangers, by the way).
The genre doesn’t matter, as long as there’s a suitable twist in the story, dark or otherwise.
Edit: I have downloaded all the suggestions. Ta.
Story of the Hurricane - Bob Dylan
It’s a fantastic song, but the title is just Hurricane :)
I believe there’s a movie of the story too :)
The kids aren’t alright, The Offspring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iNbnineUCI
I listen it as a teen without understanding the lyrics (I’m French). Just figured out what it means a few years ago.
Alone Again, Naturally by Gilbert O’Sullivan.
A small twist, but a very devastating songUnder the Red Hot Moon by Rancid
Basically the entire discography of la dispute. But this was the first one that came to mind
King’s Park https://youtu.be/H8IT-xrQRqk
Dance With The Devil by Immortal Technique fits this theme perfectly imo
Beauty is Within Us by Scott Matthew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LKBoFra5YA
I’m cheating a little bit, because this song is tied to the second episode of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. It’s a standalone story, by the way, so if you want context, you don’t have to watch the whole show, just that episode. The episode’s title is Runaway Evidence - Testation, for those curious.
But anyway, slight spoilers for that episode: it’s about a man with medical issues that could easily be solved, but his parents won’t let him take the medical procedure that would alleviate those problems due to their religious beliefs, so he lives life in anguish. If you just listen to the chorus, it might seem like a beautiful, feel-good song, but it’s so, so far from that. Just… read the lyrics.
A Better Place, A Better Time by Streetlight Manifesto
Timothy by The Buoys comes to mind.
You’ll never know by immortal technique
I read your comment then listened to all 7 mins 50 seconds. Perfectly fits the remit and a cracking tune. It’s getting downloaded and going on the list.
Glad you enjoyed it. Immortal technique is a great story teller. If you haven’t listened to him before, you should also check out “dance with the devil”
Mannnn. I saw this song in a comment last week and just read the lyrics. That still didn’t prepare me for the climax
Whats the story it tells?
Have you heard 1952 Vincent Black Lightning by Richard Thompson? The story is simple and sad, but the way it’s sung makes it especially emotional (at least for me).
