From American Songwriter · Alex Hopper · · 30s
1970s Folk Songwriters' Storytelling Power
Three 1970s folk artists crafted entire narratives in single verses.
In brief
Three 1970s folk artists crafted entire narratives in single verses. John Prine, Jim Croce, and Gordon Lightfoot each wrote full stories in one verse during the 1970s. Originally reported by American Songwriter.
John Prine's Narrative Skill
John Prine crafted movie-worthy tales in short verses during the 1970s.
“Me and Loretta, we don’t talk much more / She sits and stares through the back door screen / And all the news just repeats itself / Like some forgotten dream that we’ve both seen”
Jim Croce's Storytelling
Jim Croce created a vivid character in 'Bad, Bad Leroy Brown' for 1970s folk audiences.
“Now Leroy he a gambler / And he like his fancy clothes / And he like to wave his diamond rings / In front of everybody’s nose”
Gordon Lightfoot's Epic Verse
Gordon Lightfoot wrote a full story about the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking in one verse.
“The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down / Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee / The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead”
What matters most
John Prine, Jim Croce, and Gordon Lightfoot each wrote full stories in one verse during the 1970s.
