David Vance SubstackRead More
I always liked a song with a dramatic story to it and here are four fantastic examples where it all ends in, well, death! Yes, I come to cheer you all up on this final day of 2025!
British singer Tony Christie is probably best known for his classic “Is this the way to Amarillo” but he recorded some other outstanding songs and I commend to you “I did what I did for Maria” It’s a tale of love, murder and revenge in less than 3 minutes and it is insanely catchy! I wonder exactly what happened to Maria? Anyway, I would do what Tony did in the same circumstances.
Next up, on the Substack jukebox is the 1960’s song “The Green Green Grass of home” from Welsh singer Tom Jones. What I love most about this song is the bittersweet twist at the end. Spoiler alert – it’s not a happy ending! Again, what a great story in the song and Tom Jones could really sing!
Third, we get to Nottingham’s finest, Paper Lace. Now there aren’t many top charter toppers about the US cavalry in the 1800’s but “Billy, don’t be a hero” was the exception! It features the tale of Billy, a brave but foolhardy trooper and explains his demise. It’s a jaunty melody but a sad song! I loved it!
If you have made it this far, without a tear, then I have kept the saddest to the end. It’s “Honey” by Bobby Goldsboro all the way from 1968. It’s an *incredibly* emotional song and the last verse would bring a tear to a stone!
So there you have it, a little collection of well written songs that stand the test of the passing of each year, even 2025.
