There are several theories on the birth of uta monogatari, but it seems to be related to the 'kotobagaki' (preface or captions) of waka poems, such as the preface to "Manyoshu" (the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry) and "Kokin Wakashu" (A Collection of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poetry).
歌物語の成立には諸説あるが、『万葉集』の「左注」や、『古今和歌集』などに見られるような、和歌の「詞書」に記された出来事との関係が指摘される。