diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs
index 851067267..cdf3f8513 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs
@@ -28,10 +28,12 @@ module Hledger.Cli.Commands (
   ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Checkdupes
   ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Close
   ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Commodities
+  ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Descriptions
   ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Diff
   ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Help
   ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Import
   ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Incomestatement
+  ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Notes
   ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Payees
   ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Prices
   ,module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Print
@@ -71,11 +73,13 @@ import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Checkdates
 import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Checkdupes
 import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Close
 import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Commodities
+import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Descriptions
 import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Diff
 import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Files
 import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Help
 import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Import
 import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Incomestatement
+import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Notes
 import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Payees
 import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Prices
 import Hledger.Cli.Commands.Print
@@ -104,11 +108,13 @@ builtinCommands = [
   ,(checkdupesmode         , checkdupes)
   ,(closemode              , close)
   ,(commoditiesmode        , commodities)
+  ,(descriptionsmode        , descriptions)
   ,(helpmode               , help')
   ,(importmode             , importcmd)
   ,(filesmode              , files)
   ,(diffmode               , diff)
   ,(incomestatementmode    , incomestatement)
+  ,(notesmode              , notes)
   ,(payeesmode             , payees)
   ,(pricesmode             , prices)
   ,(printmode              , print')
@@ -175,8 +181,10 @@ commandsList = unlines [
   ," activity                 show postings-per-interval bar charts"
   ," balance (b, bal)         show balance changes/end balances/budgets in accounts"
   ," commodities              show commodity/currency symbols"
+  ," descriptions             show unique transaction descriptions"
   ," files                    show input file paths"
-  ," payees                   show payees"
+  ," notes                    show unique note segments of transaction descriptions"
+  ," payees                   show unique payee segments of transaction descriptions"
   ," prices                   show market price records"
   ," print (p, txns)          show transactions (journal entries)"
   ," print-unique             show only transactions with unique descriptions"
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.hs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e13d373ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{-|
+
+The @descriptions@ command lists allpayees seen in transactions.
+
+-}
+
+{-# LANGUAGE MultiWayIf #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE ScopedTypeVariables #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE TemplateHaskell #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE CPP #-}
+
+module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Descriptions (
+  descriptionsmode
+ ,descriptions
+) where
+
+#if !(MIN_VERSION_base(4,11,0))
+import Data.Monoid
+#endif
+import Data.List
+import qualified Data.Text.IO as T
+
+import Hledger
+import Hledger.Cli.CliOptions
+
+
+-- | Command line options for this command.
+descriptionsmode = hledgerCommandMode
+  $(embedFileRelative "Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.txt")
+  []
+  [generalflagsgroup1]
+  hiddenflags
+  ([], Just $ argsFlag "[QUERY]")
+
+-- | The descriptions command.
+descriptions :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
+descriptions CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts} j = do
+  d <- getCurrentDay
+  let q  = queryFromOpts d ropts
+      ts = entriesReport ropts q j
+      descriptions = nub $ sort $ map tdescription ts
+
+  mapM_ T.putStrLn descriptions
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.md b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f6fb01dbb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+descriptions
+Show descriptions.
+
+_FLAGS_
+
+This command lists all descriptions that appear in transactions.
+
+Examples:
+
+```shell
+$ hledger descriptions
+Store Name
+Gas Station | Petrol
+Person A
+```
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.txt b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6654538a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+descriptions
+Show descriptions.
+
+_FLAGS_
+
+This command lists all descriptions that appear in transactions.
+
+Examples:
+
+$ hledger descriptions
+Store Name
+Gas Station | Petrol
+Person A
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.hs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ae9423815
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+{-|
+
+The @notes@ command lists allpayees seen in transactions.
+
+-}
+
+{-# LANGUAGE MultiWayIf #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE ScopedTypeVariables #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE TemplateHaskell #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE CPP #-}
+
+module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Notes (
+  notesmode
+ ,notes
+) where
+
+#if !(MIN_VERSION_base(4,11,0))
+import Data.Monoid
+#endif
+import Data.List
+import qualified Data.Text.IO as T
+
+import Hledger
+import Hledger.Cli.CliOptions
+
+
+-- | Command line options for this command.
+notesmode = hledgerCommandMode
+  $(embedFileRelative "Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.txt")
+  []
+  [generalflagsgroup1]
+  hiddenflags
+  ([], Just $ argsFlag "[QUERY]")
+
+-- | The notes command.
+notes :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
+notes CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts} j = do
+  d <- getCurrentDay
+  let q  = queryFromOpts d ropts
+      ts = entriesReport ropts q j
+      notes = nub $ sort $ map transactionNote ts
+
+  mapM_ T.putStrLn notes
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.md b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7ea63d421
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+notes
+Show notes.
+
+_FLAGS_
+
+This command lists all notes that appear in transactions.
+
+Examples:
+
+```shell
+$ hledger notes
+Petrol
+Snacks
+```
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.txt b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..44fa12f8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+notes
+Show notes.
+
+_FLAGS_
+
+This command lists all notes that appear in transactions.
+
+Examples:
+
+$ hledger notes
+Petrol
+Snacks
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs
index 55efb8dc0..f958a8e4b 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 {-|
 
-The @payees@ command lists payees:
-
-- with the notes option the note field is included along with payees
+The @payees@ command lists allpayees seen in transactions.
 
 -}
 
@@ -20,10 +18,8 @@ module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Payees (
 #if !(MIN_VERSION_base(4,11,0))
 import Data.Monoid
 #endif
-import Data.Function
 import Data.List
 import qualified Data.Text.IO as T
-import System.Console.CmdArgs.Explicit as C
 
 import Hledger
 import Hledger.Cli.CliOptions
@@ -32,19 +28,17 @@ import Hledger.Cli.CliOptions
 -- | Command line options for this command.
 payeesmode = hledgerCommandMode
   $(embedFileRelative "Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.txt")
-  [flagNone ["notes"] (setboolopt "notes") "include note field with payees"
-  ]
+  []
   [generalflagsgroup1]
   hiddenflags
   ([], Just $ argsFlag "[QUERY]")
 
 -- | The payees command.
 payees :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
-payees CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts, reportopts_=ropts} j = do
+payees CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts} j = do
   d <- getCurrentDay
-  let shownotes = boolopt "notes" rawopts
-      q  = queryFromOpts d ropts
+  let q  = queryFromOpts d ropts
       ts = entriesReport ropts q j
-      payees = nub $ sort $ map (if shownotes then tdescription else transactionPayee) ts
+      payees = nub $ sort $ map transactionPayee ts
 
   mapM_ T.putStrLn payees
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.md b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.md
index 275e6c0a8..798d0ac5c 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.md
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ Show payee names.
 
 _FLAGS_
 
-This command lists all payee names that appear in transactions. With the optional notes directive (`--notes`) it will include the note field along with the base payee name.
+This command lists all payee names that appear in transactions.
 
 Examples:
 
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.txt b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.txt
index e22b818b3..59ddeb1f5 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.txt
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.txt
@@ -3,9 +3,7 @@ Show payee names.
 
 _FLAGS_
 
-This command lists all payee names that appear in transactions. With the
-optional notes directive (--notes) it will include the note field along
-with the base payee name.
+This command lists all payee names that appear in transactions.
 
 Examples:
 
diff --git a/hledger/hledger.cabal b/hledger/hledger.cabal
index 125761883..af6a202de 100644
--- a/hledger/hledger.cabal
+++ b/hledger/hledger.cabal
@@ -72,11 +72,13 @@ extra-source-files:
     Hledger/Cli/Commands/Checkdupes.txt
     Hledger/Cli/Commands/Close.txt
     Hledger/Cli/Commands/Commodities.txt
+    Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.txt
     Hledger/Cli/Commands/Diff.txt
     Hledger/Cli/Commands/Files.txt
     Hledger/Cli/Commands/Help.txt
     Hledger/Cli/Commands/Import.txt
     Hledger/Cli/Commands/Incomestatement.txt
+    Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.txt
     Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.txt
     Hledger/Cli/Commands/Prices.txt
     Hledger/Cli/Commands/Print.txt
@@ -123,11 +125,13 @@ library
       Hledger.Cli.Commands.Checkdupes
       Hledger.Cli.Commands.Close
       Hledger.Cli.Commands.Commodities
+      Hledger.Cli.Commands.Descriptions
       Hledger.Cli.Commands.Diff
       Hledger.Cli.Commands.Help
       Hledger.Cli.Commands.Files
       Hledger.Cli.Commands.Import
       Hledger.Cli.Commands.Incomestatement
+      Hledger.Cli.Commands.Notes
       Hledger.Cli.Commands.Payees
       Hledger.Cli.Commands.Prices
       Hledger.Cli.Commands.Print
diff --git a/hledger/package.yaml b/hledger/package.yaml
index c96bc120a..b341efb5e 100644
--- a/hledger/package.yaml
+++ b/hledger/package.yaml
@@ -65,11 +65,13 @@ extra-source-files:
 - Hledger/Cli/Commands/Checkdupes.txt
 - Hledger/Cli/Commands/Close.txt
 - Hledger/Cli/Commands/Commodities.txt
+- Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.txt
 - Hledger/Cli/Commands/Diff.txt
 - Hledger/Cli/Commands/Files.txt
 - Hledger/Cli/Commands/Help.txt
 - Hledger/Cli/Commands/Import.txt
 - Hledger/Cli/Commands/Incomestatement.txt
+- Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.txt
 - Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.txt
 - Hledger/Cli/Commands/Prices.txt
 - Hledger/Cli/Commands/Print.txt
@@ -168,11 +170,13 @@ library:
   - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Checkdupes
   - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Close
   - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Commodities
+  - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Descriptions
   - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Diff
   - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Help
   - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Files
   - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Import
   - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Incomestatement
+  - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Notes
   - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Payees
   - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Prices
   - Hledger.Cli.Commands.Print
diff --git a/tests/descriptions.test b/tests/descriptions.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..23ec1f4ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/descriptions.test
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# descriptions command
+
+# basic descriptions report
+<
+2018/1/1 foo  ; foo:
+  a
+
+2018/1/1 bar | baz
+  a
+
+$ hledger -f - descriptions
+bar | baz
+foo
+>=
+
+# filtering transactions by tag
+$ hledger -f - descriptions tag:foo
+foo
+>=
diff --git a/tests/notes.test b/tests/notes.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a15272202
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/notes.test
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# notes command
+
+# basic notes report
+<
+2018/1/1 foo  ; foo:
+  a
+
+2018/1/1 bar | baz
+  a
+
+$ hledger -f - notes
+baz
+foo
+>=
+
+# filtering transactions by tag
+$ hledger -f - notes tag:foo
+foo
+>=
diff --git a/tests/payees.test b/tests/payees.test
index 29974a5db..e5d510144 100644
--- a/tests/payees.test
+++ b/tests/payees.test
@@ -13,12 +13,6 @@ bar
 foo
 >=
 
-# with payee and note fields togother
-$ hledger -f - payees --notes
-bar | baz
-foo
->=
-
 # filtering transactions by tag
 $ hledger -f - payees tag:foo
 foo