You will get an inside look at the personal stories behind your favorite songs as songwriters get up close and personal with exclusive stories about how and why they wrote them. Songs tell a story, and now popular singers and songwriters are sharing more of the story! These artists reveal the inspiration, influence, and background, and when and why they wrote their most famous songs, in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song. Includes great photos of the songwriters. The print edition contains the lyrics to all 101 songs, and the eBook includes lyrics to 85 of the songs.

Which Side Are You On? tells the story of the classic union song that was written in 1931 by Florence Reece in a rain of bullets. It has been sung by people fighting for their rights all over the world. Florence's husband Sam was a coal miner in Kentucky. Many of the coal mines were owned by big companies, who kept wages low and spent as little money on safety as possible. Miners lived in company houses on company land and were paid in scrip, good only at the company store. The company owned the miners sure as sunrise. That's why they had to have a union. Miners went on strike until they could get better pay, safer working conditions, and health care. The company hired thugs to attack union organizers like Sam Reece. George Ella Lyon tells this hair-raising story through the eyes of one of Florence's daughters, a dry-witted, pig-tailed gal whose vantage point is from under the bed with her six brothers and sisters. The thugs' bullets hit the thin doors and windows of the company house and the kids lying low wonder whether they're going to make it out of this alive; wonder exactly if this strike will make their lives better or end them, but their mother keeps scribbling and singing. "We need a song," she tells her kids. That's not at all what they think they need. Graphic novelist Christopher Cardinale brings Florence's triumphant story to life in true rip-roaring union style. Selected as an IRA Notable Book for a Global Society and a 2012 Skipping Stones Honor Book.

At the heart of 'The Story of Genesis and Exodus: An Early English Song, about 1250 A.D' lies a tapestry of fervent exploration into the foundational myths that underpin Western theological and cultural narratives. This anthology, meticulously compiled by Richard Morris and additional unnamed scholars, bridges the medieval and modern eras, offering readers a rare glimpse into the literary and stylistic diversity of early English storytelling. Through its compilation of texts, the collection showcases the evolutionary trajectory of English literary expression and the varying interpretative landscapes of biblical stories, enhancing our comprehension of their enduring legacy and significance in both religious and literary contexts. The contributing authors, under the stewardship of Richard Morris, are custodians of a rich legacy that traverses historical, cultural, and literary epochs. Their collective expertise illumines the anthologys themes, synergizing to present a compendium steeped in the rich traditions of Anglo-Saxon literature and early English vernacular. This blend of historical narratives and literary craftsmanship offers a unique vantage point into the socio-cultural and religious zeitgeist of the era, spotlighting the mosaic of influences that have shaped the interpretation and retelling of these seminal biblical tales. 'The Story of Genesis and Exodus: An Early English Song, about 1250 A.D' beckons to the discerning reader, inviting them on a scholarly voyage through the annals of literary and religious history. This anthology is not only a profound academic resource but a gatekeeper to the philosophical and theological inquiries that have intrigued humanity across ages. For those earnest in diving deep into the confluence of myth, history, and early literary expression, this collection promises a rich tapestry of insights, fostering a deeper appreciation for the intricate dialogue between the past and the present, the divine and the mortal, encapsulated within its pages.

The Song in the Story is the first full-length examination of lyric insertions in medieval French literature. Boulton's discussion of the function of the literary device is firmly placed in the context of contemporary rhetorical theory and the literary trends of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

"... a book which asks and answers a new, interesting question, using a rich range of biblical and humanistic methodologies." -- Journal of Biblical Literature This book examines a literary form within the Bible that has slipped through the cracks of modern scholarship: the mixing of song and story in biblical narrative. Journeying from ancient Egyptian battle accounts to Aramaic wisdom texts to early retellings of biblical tales in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jewish-Hellenistic literature, and rabbinic midrash, Steven Weitzman follows the history of this form from its origins as a congeries of different literary behaviors to its emergence as a self-conscious literary convention.

The illustrations of Keith Conaway and the story-songs of Cecil Williams present the American West as few have known it. Coupled with Michael Patrick's narrative, a neglected part of American history becomes vivid. The role of African-Americans in settling the West comes alive. The explorers, homesteaders, cowboys, outlaws, cavalrymen, rodeo riders, and town founders are all there, filled with life and energy and telling a complete story of the West. Their living on the plains and in mountains in a free, relatively integrated society is a story that completes the history of a country that is diverse and colorful.