I think the ballad is a dying art form, but it's always been cool to me to get a story told in 3-6 minutes with a catchy hook. Here's a couple of my favorites. What are some of yours?
The Ballad of Grim & Lily by Bree Sharp
http://breesharp.bandcamp.com/track/the-ballad-of-grim-lily
Sam Hall by Johnny Cash
Stan by Eminem
Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix