Top 10 Best Storytelling Songwriters and Teams

This list is intended to highlight people who wrote and recorded several songs that tell good, creative, and engaging stories. These songs go beyond simple themes like "I love you a lot." While technical musicianship or vocal ability isn't the primary focus, performance and delivery do contribute to the overall quality.

The emphasis here is on somewhat cohesive, literal stories rather than just a magnificent evocation of images and emotion. I'm starting the list with those who immediately come to mind, with the hope that others will add many more artists. It's also likely that I'll expand the list myself.

Initially, the exact order of the list isn't as crucial as including some of the best and most prolific storytellers, along with some often-overlooked artists who received a reasonable amount of popularity.

The Top Ten

  1. Bob Dylan

    Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, and artist who has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. He gained fame in the 1960s with songs that became anthems for the civil rights and anti-war movements. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in... read more

    Yes, his songs have well-written stories. Example: Hurricane, Like a Rolling Stone, The Times They Are A-Changin'.

    One of those who drove the genre into mainstream popularity.

    He is the real Boss of songwriters, narrative or otherwise.

  2. Paul Simon

    Paul Frederic Simon is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actor. He first rose to fame as one half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, formed in 1964 with Art Garfunkel.

    Following the duo's split in 1970, Simon launched a highly successful solo career. He is known for incorporating world music... read more

    "Let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together. I've got some real estate here in my bag. So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner's pies, and walked off to look for America."

    You know how long it took me to realize those lyrics don't rhyme? It's a masterpiece.

    How about the haunting otherworldliness of "The Only Living Boy in New York"?

  3. Harry Chapin

    Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter, humanitarian, and producer best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s and became one of the most popular artists and highest paid performers of that decade. His best-known songs include Cat's in the... read more

    "Oh, I've got something inside me to drive the princess blind

    There's a wild man wizard, he's hiding in me,

    Illuminating my mind..."

    "Sometimes words can serve me well, and sometimes words can go to hell

    For all that they do..."

    You see, she was gonna be an actress,

    And I was gonna learn to fly.

    She took off to find the footlights,

    And I took off to find the sky.

    Awesome imagery.

  4. Jim Croce

    James Joseph Croce was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he released five studio albums and a number of singles. His songs "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "Time in a Bottle" both reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

    Jim's evocative words brought visions to your mind that made you smile, no matter what the topic was. Writing about his soon-to-be-born son (Time in a Bottle), Big Jim (You Don't Mess Around with Jim), lamenting a lover that wasn't up for real love (Thursday), or reflecting like a 50-year-old guy in a 29-year-old's body (Age), Croce's lyrics touched your soul.

    Few songwriters ever had this kind of talent. The music world in 1973 lost a man who would have filled our ears for years with many more beautiful songs. Cherish what he (and Maury) left for us: three albums of priceless memories and stories.

    Every word that Jim sang could be understood. His voice was incredible! Still very popular, even though he died 42 years ago. He is a legend for sure!

  5. David Bowie

    David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie (January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016), was an English singer born in London, the son of a sales promotion officer and a housewife... read more

  6. Bruce Springsteen

    Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and humanitarian. Known as "The Boss," he's the leader of the E Street Band.

    He's celebrated for his poetic lyrics, working-class themes, political messages tied to his native New Jersey,... read more

  7. Kris Kristofferson

    Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 - September 28, 2024) was an American country singer, songwriter, and actor. His songwriting credits include "Me and Bobby McGee," "For the Good Times," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," and "Help Me Make It Through the Night," all of which became hits for other artists.... read more

  8. Bernie Taupin/Elton John

  9. Leonard Cohen

    Leonard Norman Cohen was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist. His work explored themes such as religion, politics, isolation, sexuality, and personal relationships. Cohen passed away on November 7, 2016, at the age of 82, shortly after releasing his final album, You Want It Darker.

  10. Gordon Lightfoot

    Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. was a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music. He is credited with helping to define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s. His most popular songs include If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown, and The Wreck of... read more

    Thanks for adding one of my all-time favorites, who didn't even pop to mind when I posted the list. All the brain cylinders aren't always firing!

    It was either this man or Bob Dylan. Both are amazing songwriters/storytellers, but I just prefer this man's voice.

    Best storyteller ever. Only Bob Dylan comes close, and Gordon's voice is much better than Bob's.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Stevie Wonder

    Stevland Hardaway Morris, known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a child prodigy and signed with Motown's Tamla label at age 11. Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards and is known for hits like Superstition and... read more

  12. ?

    Alan Menken/Howard Ashman

    13. The Contenders

  13. Lou Reed

    Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed (March 2, 1942 to October 27, 2013) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was the guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of the Velvet Underground. His solo career lasted five decades and left a lasting impact on music.... read more

  14. Lennon/McCartney

  15. Billy Joel

    William Martin Joel is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and pianist. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man," he began his music career in the 1960s and gained popularity with his breakthrough 1973 hit of the same name. He released numerous successful albums throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s... read more

    I love Billy Joel's music. The song Scenes from an Italian Restaurant basically describes me and my love toward music.

    Piano Man, Honesty, For the Longest Time, The Entertainer, The Downeaster Alexa, A Matter of Trust, etc. A damn poet.

  16. Neil Young

    Neil Percival Young is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, producer, director, and screenwriter. He gained fame both as a solo artist and as a member of bands like Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Known for hits such as Heart of Gold and Rockin' in the Free World, Young is also... read more

  17. Cat Stevens

    Yusuf Islam, who was formerly known by his stage name Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is also recognized for his humanitarian efforts and educational philanthropy. Stevens gained international fame in the 1970s with hits such as Wild World and Father and Son... read more

    Thanks for adding all of these, who I also enjoy and respect.

    Wrote some of the most beautiful lyrics ever.

  18. James Taylor

    James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He's one of the best-selling artists of all time, with more than 100 million records sold worldwide.

  19. Woody Guthrie

    Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie was an American singer-songwriter and musician. His musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional, and children's songs, along with ballads and improvised works. He is best known for his iconic song "This Land Is Your Land."

  20. John Cale

    John Davies Cale is a Welsh musician, composer, singer, songwriter, and record producer who was a founding member of the American rock band the Velvet Underground. He has also had a long solo career, releasing albums such as Paris 1919 and Music for a New Society. Cale is known for his avant-garde and... read more

  21. Joni Mitchell

    Roberta Joan Mitchell, professionally known as Joni Mitchell, is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Drawing from folk, pop, rock, and jazz, Mitchell's songs often reflect social and environmental ideals as well as her feelings about romance, confusion, disillusionment, and joy. Her 1971 album Blue is frequently... read more

  22. Phil Ochs

  23. John Lennon

    John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born John Winston Lennon, 9 October 1940-8 December 1980), was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and political activist. He rose to worldwide fame as the co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in the... read more

    Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, I Am the Walrus, Sexy Sadie, Across the Universe, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, Strawberry Fields, No Reply, I'm a Loser, Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, A Day in the Life, For the Benefit of Mr. Kite, The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill, Dear Prudence, Mean Mr. Mustard, Polythene Pam, Sun King, and... Imagine, which tells the story, I suppose, of a shared world vision for some of us.

    Cry Baby Cry, The Ballad of John and Yoko, This Boy, Beautiful Boy. Would vote for him hourly if I could.

    Always number one for me and so many others!

  24. Carole King

    Carole King is an American composer and singer-songwriter. She is regarded as the most successful female songwriter in the United States during the second half of the 20th century. Between 1955 and 1999, she wrote or co-wrote 118 pop hits that charted on the Billboard Hot 100... read more

  25. Jackson Browne

    Clyde Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States. He emerged in the 1970s with a series of critically acclaimed albums and hit songs like Running on Empty and Doctor My Eyes. Browne has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall... read more

  26. Steve Harris

    Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter best known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist, primary songwriter, and founder of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. He's led the band since its formation in 1975.

    Iron Maiden is famous for their storytelling lyrical style. Bruce Dickinson pulls this off beautifully, and Steve Harris writes over 90% of Maiden's songs. His lyrics perfectly match his melodies, and his storytelling transcends lyrics. He can truly create an atmosphere with his music that takes you on a journey. Hands down, one of the greatest storytellers in music.

  27. Pete Townshend

    Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the lead guitarist and primary songwriter for the rock band The Who. He is considered one of the most influential rock guitarists and composers of all time. Townshend has also... read more

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