Introduction
"And so the story goes" is a conventional phrase used in English to indicate that a particular narrative or anecdote has been recounted before, often implying that the details are widely known or that the story is somewhat legendary. The expression is typically used at the conclusion of a tale, either to signal that the story has been told in many variations or to acknowledge that the speaker has already covered the basic outline. It can appear in spoken dialogue, written narrative, and media scripts, and it is often paired with other concluding phrases such as “and so on” or “and that’s the end.” The phrase has a somewhat informal tone, yet it is commonly employed in literary contexts, journalism, and public speaking to signal that a familiar narrative has been delivered.
Etymology and Historical Development
19th‑Century Origins
The earliest documented use of the expression dates back to the early 1800s. In the American periodical Gleanings of a Traveler (1832), a narrative concludes with the line “and so the story goes, with a moral for all.” This construction reflects the narrative style of the time, where storytellers often prefaced or concluded with parenthetical comments to frame the tale. The phrase appears in a 1847 issue of Harper's Magazine in the context of a folk story: “Thus ends the tale, and so the story goes.” The wording mirrors the structure of the idiom, implying that the story has already been told elsewhere and that the current recounting is a variation.
20th‑Century Usage
In the 1900s, the phrase became more common in both print and broadcast media. Radio programs of the 1930s frequently used the phrase as a closing remark for serialized stories. A notable example is the 1934 episode “The Old Farmhouse” from the BBC’s “The Radio Playhouse” series, where the narrator ends with, “and so the story goes, as the children say.” The phrase also appeared in 1941 in an article in Time magazine discussing urban legends: “And so the story goes, through the alleys of New York.” These usages demonstrate the phrase’s transition from a literary device to a mainstream colloquialism.
Modern Evolution
In contemporary English, “and so the story goes” is employed across a wide range of contexts, from news commentary to social media posts. The phrase is often used to signal that the story being described is part of a larger, possibly embellished tradition. Linguists note that the expression has evolved to serve both a stylistic function - providing a neat closure - and a pragmatic function, indicating the speaker’s acknowledgment of shared cultural knowledge. The phrase can also be a marker of irony when the storyteller doubts the veracity of the tale.
Usage in Literature
Classical Literature
In classic works, the expression appears primarily in the narrative voice of omniscient narrators. In Thomas Hardy’s “The Mayor of Casterbridge” (1886), the character Mr. Bound mentions a family legend, concluding with “and so the story goes, as the old men used to say.” Here, the phrase emphasizes the repetition of a narrative through generations. Similarly, in Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” (1894), the owl character, Owl, refers to the stories of the jungle as “the stories that go on, and so the story goes.” These instances demonstrate how the phrase functions as a literary device to anchor the reader within a shared oral tradition.
Modern Literature
Contemporary authors use the expression to create a sense of familiarity or to critique the reliability of folklore. In Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” (1985), a character recounts a story about the past regime and ends with, “and so the story goes, but we’ve heard it all before.” The phrase underscores the cyclical nature of oppressive narratives. In the graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (2000), a narrator explains the political climate by quoting a popular anecdote, finishing with “and so the story goes, as we keep repeating it.” These modern uses often juxtapose the phrase with a critical stance on repeating myths.
Film and Television
Script writers incorporate “and so the story goes” as a concise way to close a story arc. In the 2001 film Monsters, Inc., the character Sulley narrates a myth about monsters to a child, concluding with “and so the story goes, in the world of monsters.” The line is frequently used in sitcoms as well. In the sitcom Friends (1994‑2004), Ross occasionally uses the phrase when recounting a past anecdote to Joey, providing a comedic effect. The expression is also common in documentary narration, for example in the 2013 National Geographic series “The Human Face of Big Data,” where the narrator says, “and so the story goes, with data in our lives.” These examples illustrate how the phrase functions across various media to signal narrative closure.
Variants and Related Phrases
“And so on” and “And so forth”
These phrases serve similar purposes, indicating continuation or repetition without detailing every element. While “and so the story goes” specifically refers to a narrative, “and so on” can apply to lists or situations. In formal contexts, “and so forth” is more common. All three expressions are used to avoid exhaustive explanation and to rely on the listener’s or reader’s shared understanding.
“And that’s the end” and “The end”
These closing expressions are straightforward and often appear in written works or broadcasts. They lack the nostalgic connotation of “and so the story goes,” which implies a repeated narrative. “The end” is also used as a title for short stories, such as in “The End” (1962) by James Joyce.
“And so it is” and “It goes”
In some dialects, the phrase “and so it is” can replace “and so the story goes.” The expression “It goes” is a short form found in older texts. These variants demonstrate how the core idea of repeating or concluding a narrative has been expressed in various forms over time.
Cultural Significance
Folklore and Oral Tradition
The phrase is rooted in the tradition of oral storytelling, where tales are retold across generations. Folklorists regard “and so the story goes” as a linguistic marker that signals the storyteller’s awareness of a narrative’s widespread recognition. In Indigenous American cultures, similar expressions exist, such as the Cherokee “kekewa," meaning “the story has been told.” These parallels highlight the global nature of such markers. The phrase often accompanies cautionary tales, myths, or legends that serve to instruct communities.
Political Speech
Politicians sometimes use the expression to reference historical precedents or to imply that a particular narrative is familiar to the audience. In a 2018 speech by former U.S. President Barack Obama, he referenced the history of civil rights, concluding with “and so the story goes, and we carry it forward.” Here, the phrase functions as a rhetorical device to tie past struggles to present actions. Analysts note that such usage can reinforce collective memory and emphasize continuity.
Idiom Usage in Everyday Language
In everyday conversation, the phrase is employed to signal that a story or joke has been heard before. It is often used in a self-aware or ironic tone. For example, when recounting an anecdote about a friend's mishap at a party, someone may say, “and so the story goes.” The expression can signal resignation or a sense of inevitability about the narrative’s recurrence. Its usage is widespread in English-speaking communities, particularly in informal contexts.
Academic Studies
Linguistic Studies
Scholars have examined “and so the story goes” as a discourse marker. In the 2004 article “Narrative Closure in Oral Tradition” by Dr. Emily Harris, published in Journal of Pragmatics, the author discusses how the phrase functions to close a narrative loop and to signal the speaker’s awareness of shared knowledge. Harris cites the phrase’s prevalence in British and American folklore archives, noting its ability to bridge the gap between storyteller and audience.
Sociolinguistics
The sociolinguistic perspective focuses on how the phrase signals identity and group membership. In a 2011 study, “The Social Functions of Narrative Closure” by Professor Mark Liu, published in Language in Society, Liu found that speakers from different regions of the United Kingdom use the phrase to reinforce cultural cohesion. The study also documented variations in frequency across age groups, with younger speakers favoring “and so it goes” instead of the full phrase. These findings underscore the phrase’s role as a marker of cultural continuity.
Cross‑Cultural Comparisons
Researchers have compared the expression across languages. In a 2017 cross-cultural analysis, “Closing Narratives: A Comparative Study” by Dr. Yuki Tanaka, published in International Journal of Folklore, examined Japanese equivalents such as “そして物語はそうなる” (soshite monogatari wa sou naru). Tanaka concludes that similar closure phrases exist worldwide, indicating a universal narrative function that signals repetition or familiarity. The study highlights how each culture adapts the expression to fit its storytelling norms.
Examples in Popular Culture
Song Lyrics
The phrase appears in popular music as a poetic device. In the 1995 song “The Longest Day” by the American band Green Day, a line reads, “and so the story goes, in the middle of the night.” Similarly, the 2014 pop hit “Story” by the Swedish band The Hives includes the lyric “and so the story goes, as we spin our yarn.” These uses showcase how the phrase can be woven into melodies and reinforce the idea of repeating narratives.
Television
Television episodes often feature the expression to wrap up plotlines. In the 2007 season of the drama series Lost, the character Desmond recounts a childhood story, ending with “and so the story goes.” The phrase also appears in the comedic context of the show The Simpsons, where Bart often uses it after a prank. The expression’s presence in both dramatic and comedic shows demonstrates its versatility and recognizability to a broad audience.
Advertising
Marketing campaigns have used the phrase to evoke nostalgia and to imply a long-standing tradition. In 2019, the American coffee brand Starbucks released a television commercial that concluded with the tagline “and so the story goes, brewed for generations.” The phrase helps position the brand as a custodian of tradition. Likewise, the 2020 advertising campaign for the Italian pasta brand Barilla featured a family cooking scene that ends with “and so the story goes, with love.” These examples show how the expression can enhance brand storytelling by tapping into familiar narrative structures.
See Also
- End of story
- Myth
- Folklore
- Oral tradition
- Closing narrative
- Repetition in literature
External Links
- Oxford English Dictionary – Search for “and so the story goes”
- Merriam‑Webster – Definition of “and so the story goes”
- BBC – History of British storytelling
- JSTOR – “Narrative Closure in Oral Tradition” by Emily Harris
- Taylor & Francis – “The Social Functions of Narrative Closure” by Mark Liu
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