Sing Me a Story

I'm continuing on a unit about storytelling and tomorrow we're going to look at what happens when stories are collected into songs.

We've already talked some about storytelling. An NPR report on storytellig suggests that part of what draws us to stories is that we analyze our own lives in the stories we hear. For me, the combination of music and a strong story can be a powerful work.

Here's the list I plan to work from tomorrow. [Obviously won't be able to play them all during the period.) Once they listen to these, they'll write an essay telling the story and then reflect on what moved them.

• Jeannie C. Riley - Harper Valley P.T.A.

• Ethel Waters - Miss Otis Regrets

• Gordon Lightfoot – The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (6:33)

• Shel Silverstein – The Hills of Shiloh (3:56)

• The Weavers - Fi-li-mi-oo-re-ay (2:23)

• Finbar Wright - Danny Boy

• Bette Midler - Art or Bust with Delores DeLago

• The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby

• Kenny Rogers – The Gambler

• Charlene - I’ve Never Been to Me

• Bobbie Gentry – Ode to Billie Joe (3:40)

• Les Miserable – I Dreamed a Dream (4:29)