Music
and Story: Narrative in Song
All of us know of
musicians who can write popular songs that top the charts solely based on
having a memorable, upbeat sound. However, there are musicians who consider
their craft, seeking to create music that is filled with emotion and meaning. Some
of the best music captivates us through storytelling.
Using words and sounds to
weave together a musical tale, musicians can take us on an exciting journey or invite
us to peek into their hearts, revealing a dark or painful place from their
past. Regardless of the type of story, listeners can relate. We can all find
music that resonates with us because people identify with universal human
experiences and emotions.
Songs and Narratives
Although we usually
associate the term “narrative” with written stories, we can find songs that
employ narrative techniques. These musicians have shorter amounts of time and
space to tell an emotionally moving tale with a beginning, middle, and end.
Despite this challenge, songwriters have successfully conveyed stories about
love, hope, and overcoming obstacles in concise, yet powerful ways. Such songs often
make people laugh, cry, or consider an important truth.
Musicians may also choose
to go a step further than just telling one story through a song. Certain albums
present an entire story or unit – The songs fit together, complement each other,
or contribute to a unifying theme. An artist accomplishes this by creating a
concept album. Examples of concept albums include Andrew Peterson’s well-known Behold
the Lamb of God and his anthology of Resurrection Letters, as well
as The Oh Hellos’ Through the Deep, Dark Valley, which draws inspiration
from the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Therefore, when thinking about narrative
in music, we should also consider concept albums and sets of songs that are centered
around a message.
To recognize the
presence of stories in songs, let’s consider a few examples from the playlist
attached to the bottom of this post.
- “Dirty Paws” by Of Monsters and Men – The story of animals joining together with birds to fight the evil and destructive forces of a group of bees.
- “Anthem” by Sarah Sparks – A whimsical tale about an ant who sees a human and tells the rest of the colony.
- “Corner” by The Arcadian Wild – This song celebrates mothers but also applies to anyone who cheers and supports others with sacrificial love. Although the song also fits with the next category of showcasing the songwriter’s personal experience, it has a strong narrative arc.
Songs with Personal
Lyrics that Mirror Memoirs
Songwriters employ
storytelling techniques to deliver imaginative and clever tales, but they can
also draw from their own experiences to create music that resonates with
others. Weaving pieces of their past into their work, musicians create songs
that resemble memoirs.
Unlike autobiographies,
which detail a person’s entire life, memoirs focus on a specific part of the
author’s life. For example, in my creative nonfiction classes, I wrote multiple
memoir pieces that focused on specific times in my life, such as when my family
found an abandoned dog at a church graveyard and brought her home, adopting her
into our family. Likewise, memoir-like songs focus on a single event or
specific part of the musician’s life.
In the playlist, you will
find multiple songs that fit in this category. They present varied stories from
the lives of the artist and others, including emotionally honest confessions and
lessons learned through hardship.
- “Corner”
by The Arcadian Wild – As mentioned above, this song celebrates mothers. Isaac Horn
of the band stated in an
interview, “It’s the story of my mother, who has never wavered
in her aim to love me into the man I am today.” The song was originally
released near Mother’s Day of 2023.
- “While I’m In The
Wind” by Benjamin William Hastings – The entire album is
authentic and raw, but this song poignantly captures Hastings’ feelings about
how his work has affected time spent with his family. In addition to presenting
honest thoughts about this conflict, the increasing momentum and powerful
vocals at the end of the song blend to create an emotional response in the
listener.
- “Isabella”
by Dia Frampton – A song about finding freedom and recognizing the strength to
break away from a harmful environment. According to Genius.com,
Frampton drew from her life experiences and wrote the song about her little
sister.
- “Susan”
by Skye Peterson – Many people have heard of Andrew Peterson, but his daughter
is a talented young woman with a passion for writing songs that glorify Christ.
This song tells the story of Susan, who struggles to fit in and needs a friend.
- “Hospital Flowers”
by Owl City – A story about how a car crash, and disasters generally, can
change our perspectives, including seeing the need to place faith in Jesus.
The
Greatest Story
There are songs that take
us on journeys and stir feelings within us, but there are also songs that speak
of the Greatest Story of all – God’s loving plan to save us. Mainstream music
ignores the beauty of the Bible’s redemptive message. Too often, secular
artists choose to exalt human love (or what they may mistakenly call love),
forgetting that the greatest and ultimate love comes from God.
Thankfully, though, there
are Christian artists who have utilized their creative skills and musical
storytelling techniques to present the story of the fall of humankind, the
consequences of sin, and Jesus’ death and resurrection to save us. Using vivid
imagery and concise diction, these artists bring us emotionally into the story
of God’s love.
To clarify, when I
mention the word “story” in the sense of the Greatest Story, I am not referring
to imaginary events. The Bible is completely true and reliable. Unlike fiction
books and fairytales, Scripture presents us with historical people and events.
Adam and Eve were real people, who literally disobeyed God and brought sin into
the world. Jesus Christ, who is God the Son, is also real. He died on the cross
and physically rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Jesus is the Last
Adam, the One who bore our sins and paid the penalty to bring forgiveness and
eternal life to all who believe (see Romans 5:12-21 and 1 Corinthians 15:45-47).
We see His plan and work to restore our relationship with Himself throughout
Scripture – from the first pages of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation.
In the playlist included
below is a group of songs that present the story of creation, the fall, and the
hope of salvation. I have included The Arcadian Wild’s wonderful EP titled Principium
which depicts Genesis in an imaginative and emotional way, through the eyes of
God and Adam. Finally, the playlist ends with Benjamin William Hastings’ “Eden.”
This song encapsulates the overarching redemptive theme of Scripture.
- Principium by The Arcadian Wild. (Note: The lyric videos for these songs beautifully depict the story. Also be sure to check out the music videos which are works of art in their own right).
- “I. Spring: Wake” – Told from the perspective of God regarding the creation of Adam.
- “II. Summer: Walk” – Told from the perspective of God walking with man in the Garden and includes the creation of Eve.
- “III. Fall: War” – Told from the perspective of Adam at the Fall.
- “IV. Winter: Will” – Told from the perspective of Adam after the Fall. He describes his longing for a restored relationship with the Lord. The end of the song is told from God's perspective.
- “Eden” by Benjamin William Hastings.
These songs are perfect
examples of individuals using their creativity and skills to show God’s love
and beauty through music. Their songs invite listeners to ponder and stand in
awe of the Greatest Story.
Continuing the Story
Following the theme of this
blog series, the next post will look at how music can inspire storytellers as
they create works of art.
Resource
for Further Study
Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson is an excellent book that explores the intersection of story and music, as well as other aspects of writing. A great read and resource for writers, artists, or anyone interested in creativity.
