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#Stories6Music - Help create a playlist of songs that tell stories

Tom Robinson wants listeners' suggestions for a special playlist inspired by songs that tell stories via #Stories6Music.

It's all about story telling on Sunday's Now Playing (6-8pm) when we'll compile a yarn-spinning playlist of YOUR tall tale song choices.

Don McLean's enigmatic lyrics to 'American Pie' sold at auction this week for $1.2 million (nice work if you can get it). The lyrical message behind this Uncle Sam slice of Americana is debatable, but one's things for sure, it takes the listener on an epic journey.

So that got us thinking, this week's Now Playing must unquestionably be all about songs that tell a story.

There are of course many artists who excel at this genre. Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits to name a few, but we think you can do better than choosing the obvious ones.

Who can forget the apologetic tenor of Outkast's 'Ms Jackson'? What is Mike Skinner if not an expert narrator? Pulp's 'Common People' is a great song but also a terrific fable, right? Even Barry Manilow's 'Copacabana' is a story-telling song! "Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl..." Congratulations on the marriage by the way, Bazza.

You could choose some of your favourite contemporary musical parables from the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Bright Eyes, Eminem, Arcade Fire, Jay Z, Sun Kil Moon...and many more.

Perhaps you're familiar with artists who made their careers with spinning yarns in song form, such as Springsteen, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Simon & Garfunkel or Meat Loaf.

Or you could always play it safe and go for ultimate story-telling song, Johnny Cash's 'A Boy Named Sue'.

You pick the music, so get your story-inspired suggestions to Tom via the hashtag #Stories6Music to help create a playlist. Comment on the Now Playing Facebook page, here on the blog, email nowplaying@bbc.co.uk or drag tracks onto our Spotify and Rdio playlists.

2 hours

Last on

Sun 12 Apr 2015 18:00

Music Played

  • Don McLean

    American Pie

    • Greatest Hits.
    • EMI.
  • Pulp

    Pencil Skirt

  • Richard Thompson

    1952 Vincent Black Lightning

    • Capitol.
  • The Streets

    Blinded By The Lights

  • Bruce Springsteen

    Sinaloa Cowboys

  • Will Smith & DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air

  • The Mamas & the Papas

    Creeque Alley

    • The Mamas & The Papas - 20 Greatest H.
    • MFP.
  • Frank Turner

    Long Live The Queen

  • Bobbie Gentry

    Ode To Billy Joe

  • Arctic Monkeys

    Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured

  • Michelle Shocked

    Anchorage

    • COOKING VINYL.
  • Tenacious D

    Tribute

  • Eminem

    Stan (feat. Dido)

    • Curtain Call: The Hits.
    • Interscope.
  • Jilted John

    Jilted John

    • The Seventies Album (Various Artists).
    • Sanctuary.
  • Public Enemy

    Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos

  • Regina Spektor

    Genius Next Door

  • Gorillaz

    Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head

  • Carly Simon

    You're So Vain

    • The Very Best Of Carly Simon.
    • Global Television.
  • Warren G & Nate Dogg

    Regulate

    • (CD Single).
    • Virgin.
    • 4.
  • Warren Zevon

    Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner

  • Pearl Jam

    Jeremy

    • Epic.
  • Jamie T

    Sheila

    • CD SINGLE.
    • Virgin.
  • Squeeze

    Up The Junction

    • Big Squeeze: The Very Best Of Squeeze.
    • Universal/A&M.

Broadcast

  • Sun 12 Apr 2015 18:00