"Spoken" songs recommendations.
 

I like the combination of well executed acoustic guitar and the spoken word combined into "songs" (with no or minimal singing). It's different and has a unique pull but it's not common. I'd just like to hear more of it. Hence my asking what you might know and propose in this vein - especially in the folk/roots tradition.

Suggestions? Thanks

Not sure I can think of any where it is all talk and no sign.

I like songs with both speaking and singing , a la "Lake Marie" by John Prine.

Kris Kristofferson comes to mind. And his musical progeny, Shawn Mullins.

Folky/rootsy, for sure.

Alice’s Restaurant.

Guy Clark - Let Him Roll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KbS5t0NuOU

Dave Stamey: Talkin' Bronc Ballet Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HBIYfU4FK4

Corb Lund: Talkin' Veterinarian Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JChwFoCxVC8

Hold it! That's my gimmick, you can't do that. :)

Seriously I do a lot of things that way.

A couple of mid period Bob Dylan songs that I like in that vein are Three Angels and Clothes Line Saga.

One of my favorite Leo Kottke songs is "Jack Gets Up." Great lyric.


I tried insert the YouTube link to a live version with just 12-string guitar, but it wouldn't work. If you'd like to hear it with just acoustic, This may play that live version

John Lee Hooker did a lot of that in his career, and he's a master of making you believe a lyric from his delivery, for example:




That one got adapted by Nick Cave too.

My all-time favorite rap song is just as current today as it was in 1966. It could be nicely adapted to acoustic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo4EnABWB4Y

Eugene by Greg Brown

How about William Shatner (Captain Kirk)? Here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xWi1ly59aw

Not sure if it’s what you have in mind, but, Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows”
is a favourite.

https://youtu.be/iAgiK07Py9M

This one is a mix of spoken and sung voices featuring the haunting voice of Greg Brown. Written by the amazing Anais Mitchell.

Thanks for the good suggestions so far, folks. Keep them coming. There has to be a lot more.

Don't the know that the guitar is "all that," but I love "Here Comes My Girl" by Tom Petty &TH. Mostly spoken verses.

There is also the option of doing a spoken version of a song not written that way. I wasn't happy with my original efforts with Gordon's Sit Down Young Stranger. Changing to a spoken version made all the difference.

Bob Dylan--Talking world war III Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFEe4eMBb3s

Woody Guthrie-- Talking Hard Work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waQOS3hKIa8

Mama, just killed a song...
 

I concur! Bill Shatner is THAT DUDE!

He has performed many 'definitive' cover versions, but who could forget this classic:




And if you thought it couldn't get any worse...YOU WHERE WRONG!