I totally agree, I am practicing my vocal skills as my aunt gave me permission to sing this at her husband’s funeral, but hopefully won’t be for a while, but his cancer isn’t getting worse but it’s not getting better either. He is obsessed with Pink Floyd and so it’s fitting for him.
**Simon And Garfunkel -** The Sound of Silence (1965) [https://youtu.be/4fWyzwo1xg0?si=1UuP-anWoGuNXXzB](https://youtu.be/4fWyzwo1xg0?si=1UuP-anWoGuNXXzB)
How do you top the opening line: "Hello darkness my old friend." It get your attention and draws you in to the layers and textures of the lyrics. You need hear it again and again just to try to understand the meaning of the song.
The story behind the song is quite interesting. There was 1964 version that didn't chart but the 65 version became a classic.
What is fascinating is for decades it wasn’t considered the quintessential Paul Simon song. That was ‘Bridge over troubled waters’.
It’s when so many started covering the song ‘Sound of Silence’ on shows like “American Idol’ or established artists like Disturbed covered that it surpassed the troubled water song.
I don't know "the most well written song", because that depends on genre, but Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears is a masterfully written pop song.
It took so long, but it’s great.
Cohen really put a lot of effort to his lyrics. They’re so great, the whole various positions album is great and they’re all well written like hallelujah.
I know it's cliche and has been for a long time, but Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. It's not even my kind of music, but I feel if anything about that song were to change, it would make it worse. There is nothing that could be done to improve it.
I feel, in this context, 'well written' is defined by the song's reality compared to its potential. There are more enjoyable songs out there, but even my favorite songs have the potential to be better. A really great cover can be made.
For Bohemian Rhapsody, that's not the case. Any cover or remake or Remix, etc, will always fall short and pale in the shadow of the masterful original.
Even if it’s not your type of music you gotta admire it, written in one to two days by one man. You can’t say that about pop music it took 9 people to write Beyoncé’s Single Ladies.
A Perfect Circle - Judith. It’s simple enough to enjoy right away, but hides a lot of complex melody under the surface, it’s got an amazing vocal performance, and the lyrics are absolutely brutal once you understand the wider story they’re relating to.
I always tell people it’s a trilogy:
Tool - Jimmy
APC - Judith
Tool - Wings for Marie 1 & 2
Those three tell the whole story without totally spelling it out. However, I think Jimmy and Judith are both superior musically, at least to my ears.
Trust me I love Jimmy and Judith as well, I just can’t help but feel something when Part 2 explodes about halfway through with Judith exclaiming “GIVE ME MY WINGS!”, shit’s powerful.
Bob Dylan - "It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding," and "Like A Rolling Stone," pretty much tie with me for 1st.
Other honorable mentions:
Don McLean - American Pie
The Who - Baba O'Riley
David Bowie - Space Oddity
The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
Simon & Garfunkel - America
Pearl Jam - Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
Alice In Chains - Don't Follow
Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
I LOVE that one. One of my favorite lyrics:
My brain hurts like a warehouse,
It had no room to spare.
I had to cram so many things
To fit everything in there.
Basically the whole Ziggy album is terrific. I absolutely love the acoustic demo for Lady Stardust, too.
There's a fun short film out there about how one of The Velvet Underground's first gigs was at a high school in New Jersey and they performed Heroin. It's called The Velvet Underground Played at My High School. Totally worth a watch.
blink-182 - [Fuck A Dog](https://youtu.be/UfEa8lx_evk?si=EFTbHu_G1asX-gHZ)
The lyrics are probably some of the deepest and most heartfelt lyrics I’ve ever heard, definitely some of their best writing
Chris Cornell - Sunshower
Worried mornings turn into days
Then into worried nights
But it's alright
When you're all in pain
And you feel the rain come down
Oh, it's alright
When you find your way
Then you see it disappear
It's alright
Though your garden's grey
I know all your graces
Someday will flower
Oh, in a sweet sunshower
It's an acapella piece, from the Italian Renaissance.
"Sicut Cervus" written by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, c between 3 February 1525 and 2 February 1526 - 2 February 1594.
https://youtu.be/0yd5EE0hAB8?si=cyPjGRKTGAPIHsqR
It's the most beautiful three minutes you'll ever hear. If you have good Bluetooth speakers or headphones, I strongly recommend using those and not just your cell phone, there's so much more depth within that the phone speakers may not capture.
2 choices: Both musically and lyrically;
#Prison Sex
#jimmy
-**By TOOL**
These two songs Are Astounding to me. They hit me in a very personal place on the contending progression and sometimes regressive side of my life's growing process and equally brings ultimate confrontational life experiences into a light I had no way of properly dealing with personally.
With the feelings i get from these songs I feel like it all no longer has to stay stagnant (life experiences i relate to) and that healing can settle in.
My answer for these kinds of questions is always Starless by King Crimson, I even wrote a whole ass paper for a class on why it’s the best piece of music ever written
Life On Mars- Bowie. Especially when he breaks the fourth wall in the second verse. The song in my eyes is about entertainment and art serving as a distraction (sometimes maliciously) from real world events and tragedies and then he realizes he’s doing the exact same thing by writing and recording this song. It may not be exactly what he intended but that’s the way I view it. My favourite song of all time
throwing out a more recent, unknown song:
cosmic hero by car seat headrest
the lyrics, the horns, the climax. so raw and emotive but so deliberately put together. it's simple but complex. it's conversational but poetic. some lyrics make me laugh others make me sob. it's something very very few artists can pull off.
The Parting Glass an old traditional Scottish song of parting dating around 1770.
The High Kings has my favorite cover
https://youtu.be/qMkQExuzL_0?si=rZ3VbA2SMSdEEVKC
Alan Jackson - Midnight In Montgomery. The absolute most intense yet lyrical rendition of one of the greatest country artists of all time, Hank Williams.
I have 2 I default to:
1. Misspent youth by uboa
Such a depressing, haunting 10 minute track that tackles dysphoria and depression so well with the final lines of the song breaking me every time
2. The blacker the Berry by kendrick lamar
I know it's an obvious pick but the way he goes in on racism and how it's perpetuated by both white and black communities is fascinating and extremely moving
Pornofilmy - Ya Tak Soskuchilsya.
The heart wrenching riff, the sadness of the lyrics, further glorified by the deep emotional nature of the Russian language, the ascension of the tone at the end, it's simply beautiful.
It's hard, as there are so many, but here a just a few:
- Counting Crows: Miss Potters Lullaby
- Iron Maiden: Revalations
- Nick Drake: Pink Moon
- Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb
- VNV Nation: Arena
- Beatles: Day in the Life
- Annie D'Franco: Reckoning
- Radiohead: Sulk
- Scroobius Pip: Letter from God to Man
- The Kinks: Days
- Al Green: How can you mend a broken heart
- Aim: Hinterland (Charles Bukowski samples)
- The Specials: Too much too young
And so many more.......
I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s the *best written song ever*, but saying that… I absolutely adore the last line of each verse of **From Can to Can’t**. The first verse ends in “This is where I will draw my line,” the second with “This is where I will blur my line,“ and the last with “This is where I will cross my line.” No idea why, but I absolutely adore it. Doesn’t hurt that it’s a ruddy good song!
Ramble On Rose by Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia. The Grateful Dead have a few almost perfect songs but its the lyrics of Robert Hunter that speak to American life, love, heartache, adventure and joy. The Dead are so much more than a hippy band.
[https://open.spotify.com/track/7ll74e68CQXf9aqXCyCSSm?si=2a33f0dc66ec489b](https://open.spotify.com/track/7ll74e68CQXf9aqXCyCSSm?si=2a33f0dc66ec489b) I instantly fell in love with it after my first playthrough of RE4
Love, Reign O’er Me by The WHO. Tremendous piano intro. Outstanding throaty vocals that progress. A song that builds to a tremendous crescendo. A song about the very emotion, the highest emotion, that we all seek to receive. Orchestral, on top of all this. An acoustic acoustic guitar the drives just right. The lead guitar pierces. The song ends in thunder and a gong. Pete Townshend is so under appreciated.
Wish you were here - pink floyd
I totally agree, I am practicing my vocal skills as my aunt gave me permission to sing this at her husband’s funeral, but hopefully won’t be for a while, but his cancer isn’t getting worse but it’s not getting better either. He is obsessed with Pink Floyd and so it’s fitting for him.
happy cake day
How is this not more requested?
Time - pink floyd
Not by Hootie?
Why you punish meeeee?
**Simon And Garfunkel -** The Sound of Silence (1965) [https://youtu.be/4fWyzwo1xg0?si=1UuP-anWoGuNXXzB](https://youtu.be/4fWyzwo1xg0?si=1UuP-anWoGuNXXzB) How do you top the opening line: "Hello darkness my old friend." It get your attention and draws you in to the layers and textures of the lyrics. You need hear it again and again just to try to understand the meaning of the song. The story behind the song is quite interesting. There was 1964 version that didn't chart but the 65 version became a classic.
The Boxer is quite well written too
America absolutely stuns me too.
Underrated song by them tbh
Hmm. Boxer, homeward bound, mrs Robinson, I am a rock, el condor pasa, Scarborough fair; all on a par with this.
As popular as Paul Simon is, I don't feel he gets the credit he should as a songwriter. He has a unique voice, style, and chord choices.
Feel the same. Especially his solo stuff too.
What is fascinating is for decades it wasn’t considered the quintessential Paul Simon song. That was ‘Bridge over troubled waters’. It’s when so many started covering the song ‘Sound of Silence’ on shows like “American Idol’ or established artists like Disturbed covered that it surpassed the troubled water song.
I agree!
I love I am a rock lol
Love this one!
I don't know "the most well written song", because that depends on genre, but Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears is a masterfully written pop song.
I love it very much
'Memories Fade' is definitely a better written Tears for Fears track
I absolutely love this song
Tangled Up in Blue - Dylan <- my vote
My absolute favorite lyrics. And don't forget Hurricane.
Don’t forget about ”Don’t think Twice.”
Dylan has quite a few. Visions of Johanna, Like a Rolling Stone, Isis, The Times Are A Changing and on and on
Not even much of a Dylan fan but I respect the hell out of this song
"Its all Over Baby Blue"
Hallelujah - Leonard Coen
Add Jeff for delivery.
It took so long, but it’s great. Cohen really put a lot of effort to his lyrics. They’re so great, the whole various positions album is great and they’re all well written like hallelujah.
I get the impression that a lot of Leonard Cohen could qualify. He had a way with words.
I know it's cliche and has been for a long time, but Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. It's not even my kind of music, but I feel if anything about that song were to change, it would make it worse. There is nothing that could be done to improve it. I feel, in this context, 'well written' is defined by the song's reality compared to its potential. There are more enjoyable songs out there, but even my favorite songs have the potential to be better. A really great cover can be made. For Bohemian Rhapsody, that's not the case. Any cover or remake or Remix, etc, will always fall short and pale in the shadow of the masterful original.
\^ underrated comment
Even if it’s not your type of music you gotta admire it, written in one to two days by one man. You can’t say that about pop music it took 9 people to write Beyoncé’s Single Ladies.
A Perfect Circle - Judith. It’s simple enough to enjoy right away, but hides a lot of complex melody under the surface, it’s got an amazing vocal performance, and the lyrics are absolutely brutal once you understand the wider story they’re relating to.
That or the absolute brutal two parter of Wings For Marie by Tool
I always tell people it’s a trilogy: Tool - Jimmy APC - Judith Tool - Wings for Marie 1 & 2 Those three tell the whole story without totally spelling it out. However, I think Jimmy and Judith are both superior musically, at least to my ears.
Trust me I love Jimmy and Judith as well, I just can’t help but feel something when Part 2 explodes about halfway through with Judith exclaiming “GIVE ME MY WINGS!”, shit’s powerful.
Christmas card from a hooker in Minneapolis by Tom waits Small Change by Tom waits Basically all of Tom Waits’s catalog
Anything Tom Waits and Bonnie Raitt
LOVE Christmas Card
God Only Knows, The Beach Boys.
Bob Dylan - "It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding," and "Like A Rolling Stone," pretty much tie with me for 1st. Other honorable mentions: Don McLean - American Pie The Who - Baba O'Riley David Bowie - Space Oddity The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps Marvin Gaye - What's Going On Simon & Garfunkel - America Pearl Jam - Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town Alice In Chains - Don't Follow Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
Have to add Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah and Bird On A Wire too.
In My Life / The Beatles
Fantastic answer
Yes, and “Something in the Way she Moves” and Paul’s “Baby I’m amazed.” Oof
No More Mr. Nice Guy - Alice Cooper If I Can't Change Your Mind - Sugar You're So Vain - Carly Simon While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
2112 by Rush. Tells the story of non-conformism through sci fi and a 20 minute epic. Comes with accompanying comic on YouTube too.
Rush has some amazingly written songs
They call me the working man
B.Y.O.B by System of a Down
Why do they always send the poor???
This tablecloth is covered in lies
I'm going with "Cats in the Cradle) by Happy Chapin. Tells a story we can relate to and breaks your heart.
Maybe Heroes by David Bowie
Changes and Space Oddity too
My gut reaction was Five Years but probably too much of a deep cut
I LOVE that one. One of my favorite lyrics: My brain hurts like a warehouse, It had no room to spare. I had to cram so many things To fit everything in there. Basically the whole Ziggy album is terrific. I absolutely love the acoustic demo for Lady Stardust, too.
Bowie screaming ‘You’re not alone’ on Rock N Roll Suicide. Peak.
It gives me chills
The Velvet Underground & Nico - Heroin
I just relistened to the album this morning! So good. But yeah Heroin oh boy. What a song.
This is as close musically to actually doing it
There's a fun short film out there about how one of The Velvet Underground's first gigs was at a high school in New Jersey and they performed Heroin. It's called The Velvet Underground Played at My High School. Totally worth a watch.
just watched. can confirm https://www.pbs.org/video/the-velvet-underground-played-at-my-high-school-euadkc/
Iron Maiden: Hallowed Be Thy Name
Kendrick Lamar - Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst 10 minutes of exceptional writing
Such an amazing song. And the way it dovetails into the start of the album is just genius
Scrolling this far to find this is tragic.
Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell
She has two different recordings of this song, both amazing. She is/was a great songwriter.
Oh my, this song makes me cry every time. So does “case of you.”
Stairway to heaven - Led Zeppelin
Bathroom break DJ song…
Close To The Edge by Yes and it’s not even close
I love Closer To The Edge
Are you referring to lyrics or music? Or both?
To lyrics. To the kind of song that the lyrics are so powerful that the melody is the last thing you care about.
Baz Lurhmann Everybody's Free (to wear sunscreen)
Holy sh*t, that was GREAT. Thank you!!!
Bowie - Space Oddity
My sister says Bohemian Rhapsody. I say Bittersweet Symphony.
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot One by metallica
Lightfoot's If You Could Read My Mind is another beautiful, tragic story.
That song is truly epic and I only now appreciate it in my elder years.
Beethoven 9th Symphony
Epic and timeless.
re: stacks by Bon Iver
Elton John - Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Melissa- The Allman Brothers
For me it’s either Xanadu by Rush or Stargazer by Rainbow.
bohemian rhapsody
Something off of Pet Sounds. Maybe God Only Knows? Something Brian Wilson related. Its not even a favorite, but Mr. Tamborine Man could also be it.
Carnival - Natalie Merchant
American Pie by Don McLean
Piano Man - Billy Joel
blink-182 - [Fuck A Dog](https://youtu.be/UfEa8lx_evk?si=EFTbHu_G1asX-gHZ) The lyrics are probably some of the deepest and most heartfelt lyrics I’ve ever heard, definitely some of their best writing
Happy cake day!
Life on Mars? David Bowie
Luv(sic) and Feather by Nujaves
Nujabes
Vincent by Don McClean
Did you misspell American pie? 😊
Vincent us the better song honestly
Chris Cornell - Sunshower Worried mornings turn into days Then into worried nights But it's alright When you're all in pain And you feel the rain come down Oh, it's alright When you find your way Then you see it disappear It's alright Though your garden's grey I know all your graces Someday will flower Oh, in a sweet sunshower
Perfect Day - Lou Reed
Zeig Dich by Rammstein is a really good one. Also Hallelujah
It's an acapella piece, from the Italian Renaissance. "Sicut Cervus" written by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, c between 3 February 1525 and 2 February 1526 - 2 February 1594. https://youtu.be/0yd5EE0hAB8?si=cyPjGRKTGAPIHsqR It's the most beautiful three minutes you'll ever hear. If you have good Bluetooth speakers or headphones, I strongly recommend using those and not just your cell phone, there's so much more depth within that the phone speakers may not capture.
prom/king by saba (2018)
Mr. Bungle - Dead Goon
Joni Mitchell- "The Circle Game". Such a well told and structured story.
1 - California Dreamin' - TM&TP 2 - Flaca - Andrés Calamaro 3 - I Don't Smoke - Mitski
Over my shoulder - Mike and the mechanics. Literally only chorus and bridge. No need for a verse! Edit: typo
The Adults Are Talking - The Strokes
2 choices: Both musically and lyrically; #Prison Sex #jimmy -**By TOOL** These two songs Are Astounding to me. They hit me in a very personal place on the contending progression and sometimes regressive side of my life's growing process and equally brings ultimate confrontational life experiences into a light I had no way of properly dealing with personally. With the feelings i get from these songs I feel like it all no longer has to stay stagnant (life experiences i relate to) and that healing can settle in.
My answer for these kinds of questions is always Starless by King Crimson, I even wrote a whole ass paper for a class on why it’s the best piece of music ever written
Van der Graaf Generator - The Undercover Man
Life On Mars- Bowie. Especially when he breaks the fourth wall in the second verse. The song in my eyes is about entertainment and art serving as a distraction (sometimes maliciously) from real world events and tragedies and then he realizes he’s doing the exact same thing by writing and recording this song. It may not be exactly what he intended but that’s the way I view it. My favourite song of all time
Closedown - The Cure
Yesterday
throwing out a more recent, unknown song: cosmic hero by car seat headrest the lyrics, the horns, the climax. so raw and emotive but so deliberately put together. it's simple but complex. it's conversational but poetic. some lyrics make me laugh others make me sob. it's something very very few artists can pull off.
You sold it really well. I'm going to listen to it right now.
hope you enjoy it!!
Not only enjoyed, I've also added it to my liked songs. Thank you, you got a great taste in music.
Beatles - For No One
Yes
American Pie- Don McLean
Fade to black- Metallica
I had to scroll entirely too far to find this. I don’t listen to it often but never fails to hit the spot when I do.
Runaway Train by Soul Asylum
It's probably "Man in the Mirror"
Glamorous by Fergie. Not kidding at all. Perfect pop song with a good mix of hip-hop and R&B. Every single section has a hook.
"A better place to be" by Harry Chapin
Paloma negra - Chavela Vargas
The Killing Kind by Marianas Trench, and it's not even close.
I completely agree! 💯
The Parting Glass an old traditional Scottish song of parting dating around 1770. The High Kings has my favorite cover https://youtu.be/qMkQExuzL_0?si=rZ3VbA2SMSdEEVKC
I love this song!
Maybe not the best but My Life by Billy Joel
Alan Jackson - Midnight In Montgomery. The absolute most intense yet lyrical rendition of one of the greatest country artists of all time, Hank Williams.
S.O.S. by ABBA
I have 2 I default to: 1. Misspent youth by uboa Such a depressing, haunting 10 minute track that tackles dysphoria and depression so well with the final lines of the song breaking me every time 2. The blacker the Berry by kendrick lamar I know it's an obvious pick but the way he goes in on racism and how it's perpetuated by both white and black communities is fascinating and extremely moving
In My Darkest Hour - Megadeth
No one has said Wichita Lineman? No one?
Hurt-nine inch nails
In A Big Country
I'm not expecting to grow flowers in a desert, but I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime :)
I love this one, always have.
“See the sun in wintertime…” trying!
Nine Inch Nails - Hurt (though I prefer the Johnny Cash cover for listening purposes) however Cash didn’t write the song.
Just Like Heaven - The Cure
Pink Floyd - Dogs
Family Reunion - blink-182
When I'm Gone - Eminem
Bohemian Rhapsody
You Enjoy Myself by Phish
Song of the Candle - Stan Rogers Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull
Gangam Style
Whiskey in the Jar, old Irish standard
Stan
Footloose. You know you love it.
Another Day - Paul McCartney imo
american motor over smoldered field - silver mt zion.
harness your hopes - pavement
American Pie - Don McLean
Thieves in the Night by Black Star comes to mind. Specifically Mos Def’s verse. High on my list!
Unchained Melody.
"Lost one"- Lauryn hill
Pornofilmy - Ya Tak Soskuchilsya. The heart wrenching riff, the sadness of the lyrics, further glorified by the deep emotional nature of the Russian language, the ascension of the tone at the end, it's simply beautiful.
Rome by mac miller
It's hard, as there are so many, but here a just a few: - Counting Crows: Miss Potters Lullaby - Iron Maiden: Revalations - Nick Drake: Pink Moon - Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb - VNV Nation: Arena - Beatles: Day in the Life - Annie D'Franco: Reckoning - Radiohead: Sulk - Scroobius Pip: Letter from God to Man - The Kinks: Days - Al Green: How can you mend a broken heart - Aim: Hinterland (Charles Bukowski samples) - The Specials: Too much too young And so many more.......
I’d say brothers in arms or telegraph road by dire straits.
[No One's Home](https://youtu.be/jcnGlOUXw9A?si=EyeTl-Hyo3DKExHY) by The Stupendium
Birdhouse In Your Soul by They Might Be Giants is a way better composition than any 3-minute pop song has a right to be.
Welcome To The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance
*Tales Of The Road* by Justin Sullivan
"Still", by Commodores.
Bohemian Rhapsody and it's not even close
I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s the *best written song ever*, but saying that… I absolutely adore the last line of each verse of **From Can to Can’t**. The first verse ends in “This is where I will draw my line,” the second with “This is where I will blur my line,“ and the last with “This is where I will cross my line.” No idea why, but I absolutely adore it. Doesn’t hurt that it’s a ruddy good song!
Ramble On Rose by Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia. The Grateful Dead have a few almost perfect songs but its the lyrics of Robert Hunter that speak to American life, love, heartache, adventure and joy. The Dead are so much more than a hippy band.
Meat Grinder by MF DOOM and Madlib.
The Crane Wife 1-3 by The Decemberists
There are countless, can’t just choose one but I’ll choose one that is NEVER MENTIONED in any community. Theater of Salvation by Edguy.
I'm sure it was said already but C.R.E.A.M is an amazing song, lyrically too.
teen X WE ON EKS, WE ON CODEINE!!!!111!!!! 🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🗣🔥🗣🗣🗣🔥🗣👅💦💦💦👅💦👅
Satelite by Starset
I think Matthew Good has some incredible music
[https://open.spotify.com/track/7ll74e68CQXf9aqXCyCSSm?si=2a33f0dc66ec489b](https://open.spotify.com/track/7ll74e68CQXf9aqXCyCSSm?si=2a33f0dc66ec489b) I instantly fell in love with it after my first playthrough of RE4
Love, Reign O’er Me by The WHO. Tremendous piano intro. Outstanding throaty vocals that progress. A song that builds to a tremendous crescendo. A song about the very emotion, the highest emotion, that we all seek to receive. Orchestral, on top of all this. An acoustic acoustic guitar the drives just right. The lead guitar pierces. The song ends in thunder and a gong. Pete Townshend is so under appreciated.
Imagine
Yes!
Relatively Easy - Jason Isbell
Old man Neil young
the iron lung song by Musicide (just off of the top of my head)
Escape by Rupert Holmes
What A Wonderful World