A big difference between literature and music is that in literature all the narrative elements of the story must be conveyed in words. That's not the case for music: some of the narrative responsibilities can go to the composition, the arrangement, the vocal delivery, the mixing, et cetera. All of these are auditory methods of storytelling. In instrumental music, these are the only methods of storytelling. So it takes some of the pressure off the lyrics - the words - to carry all the narrative weight. This means you can do interesting things like have the music and the lyrics tell opposing stories and let the listener dig into the resulting tension.

A great example of this is the song "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster The People:

The music here is as laid-back and sunny as a California beach. But the lyrics, notoriously, are written from the perspective of a school shooter. That contrast - the welcoming story of the music versus the violent story of the words - is what makes this song unforgettable.