The public has spoken and ranked the 40 greatest songs in history. Are you ready to find out which ones are on the top of the list? We are sure that you will agree with some of them and disagree with more than a couple. Let us find out if your favorite songs made the cut!
Music Lovers Have Spoken And They Said That These Are The Greatest Songs In History
Louie Louie – The Kingsmen
Released in 1957, this song was penned by Richard Berry. Apparently, an FBI investigation was launched to look into the song. Its nearly unintelligible lyrics were thought to be obscene, and it was even banned by many radio stations throughout the country!
Louie Louie – The Kingsmen
Break On Through (To The Other Side) – The Doors
This song was written by John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and Jim Morrison. Released in 1967, Elektra Records changed the “she gets high” line under the thought that a drug reference would get it banned on the radio. Prior to the ‘90s, the renditions of this song deleted the word “high.”
Break On Through (To The Other Side) – The Doors
I Get Around – The Beach Boys
Do you want to hear a fun fact about this song? Apparently, Brian Wilsons’ father Murry got fired as the manager of the Beach Boys while they were recording this song! It came out in 1964 and was composed by Mike Love and Brian Wilson.
I Get Around – The Beach Boys
I Am A Rock – Simon And Garfunkel
This song was released in 1965. Paul Simon got the credit for this song. On top of that, he originally recorded it all by himself! He and Garfunkel ended up redoing it for the album Sounds of Silence.
I Am A Rock – Simon And Garfunkel
Honky Tonk Women – The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards composed this 1969 song for the Rolling Stones. The single was released in the United Kingdom the day after the death of Brian Jones, a founding member of the band. He was 27 years old at the time of his death.
Honky Tonk Women – The Rolling Stones
Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
Pete Townshend originally wrote this song in 1971 for a rock opera inspired by the teachings of Meher Baba, an Indian religious master who called himself an Avatar. Isn’t that the most fascinating thing ever?
Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
I Can See for Miles – The Who
Pete Townshend wrote this song in 1967. Did you know that it is believed to be an inspiration behind “Helter Skelter” by the Beatles? Paul McCartney penned their song after hearing a critic call “I Can See for Miles” the “heaviest” song he has ever heard. Yes, “Helter Skelter” was an effort to outdo the Who!
I Can See for Miles – The Who
Purple Haze – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
So what could the Purple Haze possibly be about? Released in 1967, Jimi Hendrix himself had this to say about the song: “The Purple Haze…was about a dream I had that I was walking under the sea.”
Purple Haze – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Behind Blue Eyes – The Who
Released in 1971, Pete Townshend wrote “Behind Blue Eyes” about a 1970 concert. A female groupie tried to sleep with him, but he returned to his room on his own. He wrote it right after it happened!
Behind Blue Eyes – The Who
The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan himself wrote this 1964 hit song. We have a very interesting fun fact about it. Did you know that Steve Jobs recited its second verse before he unveiled the Macintosh for the very first time in 1984?
The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan
That’ll Be The Day – The Crickets
This 1957 song was composed by Norman Petty, Buddy Holly, and Jerry Allison. In June 1956, Allison, Holly, and Sonny Curtis watched The Searchers, a movie in which John Wayne repeatedly said, “That’ll be the day.” It served as the inspiration behind this song!
That’ll Be The Day – The Crickets
Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones
This is another song written by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. It came out in 1971 and was about Marsha Hunt. She was Jagger’s secret girlfriend and the baby momma of Karis, his first kid.
Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones
Somebody To Love – Jefferson Airplane
Did you know that this 1967 song was written by Darby Slick, the guitarist of The Great Society? He was the brother-in-law of Grace Slick. When she joined Jefferson Airplane, she took the song as well.
Somebody To Love – Jefferson Airplane
White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane
This song, on the other hand, was written by Grace Slick herself. She said she penned the 1967 song after she took acid. It was meant to be a slap to people who read “Alice in Wonderland” and similar novels to their kids but wonder why they got into drugs.
White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane
Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones
Up next, we have yet another Keith Richards and Mick Jagger song! Released in 1966, the song was allegedly inspired by Ulysses, the James Joyce novel. The “I have to turn my head until my darkness goes” line came from the running theme of desolation and desperation that was evident in the book.
Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones
All Along The Watchtower – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Bob Dylan was a fan of Jimi Hendrix’s cover! He liked it even better than his very own original rendition. He said, “I liked Jimi Hendrix’s record of this and ever since he died I’ve been doing it that way … Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it’s a tribute to him in some kind of way.” The song came out in 1968.
All Along The Watchtower – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
The song was written by none other than Stephen Stills. It was released in 1966. In one interview, he said that the title of the song came to him when he handed it to the record company exec. Apparently, he explained, “I have this song here, for what it’s worth, if you want it.”
For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
Light My Fire – The Doors
This 1967 hit came with writing credits for John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and Jim Morrison. The following year, Buick offered them $75k to use “Come on, Buick, light my fire” in a commercial. Morrison had been in London and could not be reached, so the other band members agreed. When the frontman found out, he threatened Buick that he will smash one of their cars using a sledgehammer on TV if they went ahead with the plan.
Light My Fire – The Doors
Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
John Fogerty wrote this song, which came out in 1969. Apparently, he composed it after he watched The Devil and Daniel Webster. He explained that it was a reference to “the apocalypse that was going to be visited upon us.”
Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Baba O’Riley – The Who
This 1971 song was also penned for the Rock Opera that Townshend was planning. In an interview, he explained that it’s about “the absolute desolation of teenagers at Woodstock, where audience members were strung out on acid and 20 people had brain damage. The irony was that some listeners took the song to be a teenage celebration: ‘Teenage Wasteland, yes! We’re all wasted!’”
Baba O’Riley – The Who
Blackbird – The Beatles
The Fab 4 released this song, penned by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, in 1968. The former played it for his fans camping outside the first time that Linda Eastman, his future wife, stayed over at his place.
Blackbird – The Beatles
Nowhere Man – The Beatles
This 1965 song by the Beatles has writing credits for McCartney and Lennon. Apparently, the latter wrote it about himself. He had been trying to come up with another song for their album Rubber Soul for 5 hours by then!
Nowhere Man – The Beatles
Great Balls Of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis released this song in 1957. It is one of the top-selling singles in history! However, some of the credit deserves to go to Jack Hammer and Otis Blackwell, the composers of the song.
Great Balls Of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis
Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley And His Comets
Bill Haley and His Comets came out with this hit in 1954. It was written by Jimmy DeKnight and Max C. Freeman. Haley’s cover of the 1952 original went on to be the anthem of the rebellious youth from the ‘50s. It has been even attributed as the song that took rock ‘n’ roll into mainstream consciousness!
Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley And His Comets
Jumpin’ Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones
Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Bill Wyman penned Jumpin’ Jack Flash, which came out in 1968. It is cool to hear that it is actually the most-performed song of the band. The Rolling Stones have played it more than 1,100 times on the stage!
Jumpin’ Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones
Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
We have seen many entries from the Beatles on the list, but not many were written by George Harrison. The guitarist wrote the 1969 song at Eric Clapton’s house when the band was going through a rough time.
Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
Surprise, surprise. We have yet another banger from The Rolling Stones! The 1965 song was, of course, written by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. The former said that he wrote it in his sleep and even recorded the first version on a cassette player while he was still knocked out.
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
Drive My Car – The Beatles
Did this song always sound suggestive to you? If that was the case, you were on the right track. After all, McCartney said that the title of this 1965 hit written by him and Lennon is a euphemism for sex.
Drive My Car – The Beatles
Only The Lonely – Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison and Joe Melson wrote this song and even tried selling it to the Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley. They turned the offer down, which ended up a good song. After all, Orbison was able to keep it and release it by himself in 1960!
Only The Lonely – Roy Orbison
You Really Got Me – The Kinks
Ray Davies is the one you should thank for penning this 1964 song. He said, “When I came up with [‘You Really Got Me’] I hadn’t been writing songs very long at all. It was one of the first five I ever came up with.”
You Really Got Me – The Kinks
Hey Jude – The Beatles
Can you believe that this timeless song came out in 1968? It was famously written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for Julian, the former’s son, who was dealing with his parents’ divorce at the age of 5. The frontman of the band was splitting up with his then-wife Cynthia after his affair with Yoko Ono.
Hey Jude – The Beatles
God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
Brian Wilson and Tony Asher teamed up to write their 1966 hit song. Additionally, Wilson said that he worked on it in an effort to match the quality of the Rubber Soul album by the Beatles.
God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
A Day In The Life – The Beatles
John Lennon and Paul McCartney also worked on this song together. It came out in 1967, and they have confirmed that it is a hundred percent about drugs. In particular, it was all about their acid trips!
A Day In The Life – The Beatles
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
Good Vibrations came out in 1966, but this classic will love on forever! It was written by Mike Love and Brian Wilson. The latter said his mom was the inspiration for this one: “[She] used to tell me about vibrations. I didn’t really understand too much of what it meant when I was just a boy. It scared me, the word ‘vibrations.’ She told me about dogs that would bark at people and then not bark at others, that a dog would pick up vibrations from these people that you can’t see, but you can feel.”
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
Blowin’ In The Wind – Bob Dylan
“Blowin’ in the Wind” became famous as one of the anthems of the civil rights moment. Written and performed by Bob Dylan himself, this timeless tune came out in 1963. We still love it to this day!
Blowin’ In The Wind – Bob Dylan
Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry has said that he wrote this early rock ‘n’ roll hit of his as, more or less, an autobiography. It came out in 1958. Some have even called it “the first rock & roll hit about rock & roll stardom.”
Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry
Yesterday – The Beatles
This is yet another popular song by the Beatles that was written by the power duo Paul McCartney and John Lennon. The 1965 song has an odd history to it. McCartney has claimed that he came up with the melody for it in a dream!
Yesterday – The Beatles
Imagine – John Lennon
John Lennon released Imagine in 1971. He credits Yoko Ono for co-writing it. He said it “should be credited as a Lennon/Ono song. A lot of it – the lyric and the concept – came from Yoko, but in those days I was a bit more selfish, a bit more macho, and I sort of omitted her contribution.”
Imagine – John Lennon
What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
This was song was written by Bob Thiele under the name George Douglas. In the beginning, the 1967 Louis Armstrong song did not do so well in the states. It might have sold less than 1,000 copies there, but it was very popular in the United Kingdom. The song even reached number one on the Singles Chart!
What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
The Sound Of Silence – Simon And Garfunkel
Paul Simon wrote this 1965 hit, which snagged the top position on our list. In January 1966, it was battling it out with “We Can Work It Out” by the Beatles for the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100!
The Sound Of Silence – Simon And Garfunkel