Song Lyrics as Texts for Study?

My friend's children go to a small private school, and all the parents take turns presenting different lessons as an aid to the teachers. My friend has chosen to teach two sessions on song lyrics as texts, and not merely words set to music. She asked me to help her pick some songs.





What she is looking for are songs that tell a story, preferably something tied to real life. She wants lyrics from the 60s and 70s to minimize the chances that the children have already been exposed to them. The first week she will work with three different songs, playing the songs and then analyzing the lyrics as texts. The second week she will assign "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel and "It's the End of the World As We Know It" by REM, and have the children look up all the references in the songs.

Song Lyrics as Texts for Study?
You don't say how old the kids are, so that makes it difficult. A number of early Bob Dylan songs tell stories and have lyrics that are full of meaning. Try "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll", a song about a rich white young man who mindlessly murders a black restaurant worker, the mother of ten children...the young man gets six months, because his parents have connections. Another good one is "Only a Pawn in Their game", about the murder of Medgar Evers. These are all from the 60s. Gordon Lightfoot has a number of songs that tell stories: "Black Day in July", a song about the 1967 Detroit race riots; "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", the true story of a shipwreck on Lake Superior, and "Ballad of Yarmouth Castle, another shipwreck story; the latter two are from the 70s. "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" (from the 60s) is also good but likely not of interest outside of Canada.
Reply:Depending on the age of the students some of the songs of "Pearl Jam: deal with social issues such as child abuse


" Don't Call Me Daughter" and spousal abuse. " Better Man".


This sounds a little to dark in terms of themes.


It is probably better to stick to songs that reflect the events of an era. There have been many fine suggestions made by the others. I could add "Simon and Garfunkel" eg The Boxer
Reply:Some ideas... First off, anything by Harry Chapin, as he is a noted singer/story teller from the 70's. His most famous song was "Cat's in the Cradle". Another idea might be Vicki Lawrence's "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia". A less traditional 'story', Don McCLean's "American Pie" gives the entire history of rock and roll and is very rich in symbolism. Your best bet might be the inspiring "One Tin Soldier" by Coven, from the film "The Legend of Billy Jack". It's a fable and would be perfect for school kids. (BTW, what grade are the kids in?) Hope this helps!
Reply:The City of New Orleans by Steve Goodman


The Gambler by Kenny Rogers


Leader of the Pack by The Shangri-Las


Route 66


You've Got A Friend by Carole King


Concrete Angel by Martina Mcbride





Like others have suggested, American Pie is a great choice.
Reply:American Pie Don McClean references Buddy Holly's Death and a large number of 60s musical artists





Ballad of the Hurricane AKA Hurricane, Bob Dylan About a specific murder case and the racial implications.





Ramblin' Rose Grateful dead


Hey Hey, My My ( Into the Black)-Neil Young


Ohio-Neil Young
Reply:I know two Beatles songs from the sixties which have been included in at least two anthologies of modern poetry: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, and Eleanor Rigby. Both tell stories, and are set to great music.





Try them.
Reply:"Vincent" (Starry Starry Night). Gives an arts focus as well. Print out copies/ find prints of his art work specifically that depicted in the song.