Story songs for Story Whores
This week the Southwark Playhouse is being turned into a brothel. Not, thankfully, because of the governments cuts to the arts (not yet, anyway), but for Story Whores, a theatrical event which will see tales doled from behind the bar, in dark corners and in private rooms in exchange for cold, hard cash.The show will run for two nights, this Friday and Saturday, at 10pm. Entry is free, but if you want to see any performances you'll need to purchase some special Story Whores currency.You can find more info on all of this at storywhores.orgI'm not just telling you about this because I think it's a brilliant idea (that's mainly why), but also because I'm involved in my own small way. The show's organisers, the very fine paper/scissors/stone theatre company, asked me to select some music to play in the bar while all this is going on. The only rule I was given is that all each song must tell a story.So, below is the complete list of songs I selected. It's by no means a definitive list of narrative songs, but is hopefully a good mix of styles and stories, across famous and lesser known songs. Some follow a simple narrative, some are a little more abstract, but hopefully they will all paint pictures on your mind.I've put nearly all the songs into a Spotify playlist, which you can listen to here. It's a bit flippin long. I suggest putting it on random play and seeing what comes up. I just got Deck Of Cards by Wink Martindale followed by Eminem's Kim. It was jarring to say the least. Mostly it's more fun than that.Johnny Cash - 25 Minutes To GoJohnny Cash - Delia's GoneJohnny Cash - A Boy Named SueJohnny Cash - Folsom Prison BluesMC 900 Ft Jesus - Adventures In FailureArab Strap - Love DetectiveWeezer - Across The SeaBlur - ParklifeBlur - Country HousePulp - Common PeoplePulp - Disco 2000Dresden Dolls - BackstabberDresden Dolls - First OrgasmAmanda Palmer - OasisBongwater - David Bowie Wants IdeasCounting Crows - Mr JonesBright Eyes - Lover I Don't Have To LoveEminem - StanEminem - KimThe Dismemberment Plan - You Are InvitedMichael Jackson - Billie JeanSlint - Good Morning, CaptainSlint - Breadcrumbs TrailTricky - Black SteelNick Cave & The Bad Seeds - John Finn's WifeEels - Susan's HouseDengue Fever - Sober DriverThe Shangri-las - Leader Of The PackRicky Valance - Tell Laura I Love HerThe Undertones - My Perfect CousinRichard Marx - HazardChris De Burgh - Spanish TrainDead Kennedys - The PreyKing Missile - Cheesecake TruckWarren G - RegulateDeftones - FietceraSufjan Stevens - The Mistress Witch From McClureSqueeze - Up The JunctionM. Ward - Chinese TranslationKate Bush - Wuthering HeightsKate Bush - Army DreamersHer Space Holiday - Sleepy CaliforniaDavid Bowie - The Drowned GirlThe Louvin Brothers - Knoxville GirlTom T Hall - Harper Valley PTATom T Hall - Turn it On, Turn it On, Turn it OnBobby Gentry - Ode to Billie JoeMarty Robbins - El PasoTom Waits - Big Joe & Phantom 309Tom Waits - Burma ShaveThe Raconteurs - Carolina DramaBlackalicious - DeceptionBlackalicious - Cliff HangerSlick Rick - Children's StoryThe Smiths - Paint A Vulgar PictureThe Smiths - Frankly, Mr ShanklyLou Reed - Andy's ChestThe Kingston Trio - Tic Tic TicWink Martindale - Deck of CardsRobert Johnson - Love in VainTenacious D - TributeThe Beatles - Eleanor RigbyDon Maclean - American PieIron Maiden - Run To The HillsTim Ten Yen - Girl Number OneBat For Lashes - DanielBjork - HyperballadBuck 65 - Roses & Blue JaysComanechi - My PussySnoop Dogg - Murder Was The CaseSloan - UnderwhelmedJimi Hendrix - All Along The WatchtowerBillie Holiday - Strange FruitMississippi John Hurt - Stagger LeeLeadbelly - Boll WeevilLeonard Cohen - Famous Blue RaincoatJoan Baez - The Ballad Of Mary HamiltonBob Dylan - HurricaneScott Walker - JackieLatyrx - LatyrxCappo - The LooniestMGMT - Time To PretendThe Pipettes - Magician ManPearl Jam - AlivePearl Jam - JeremyRecoil - Luscious ApparatusThomas Truax - My Wife Had A DreamThomas Truax - The Butterfly And The EntomologistRegina Spektor - PrisonersMr Billy Williams - John, John, Put Your Trousers OnDJ Shadow - Backstage Girl