# Best Long Song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 4, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520 "2005-11-04T18:52:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/1 "2005-11-04T18:52:32Z")
So, which 10 minute plus tracks make your day? My nominations are: _The Man Don’t Give A F\*\*k_- **Super Furry Animals** You might not know this one, but it’s 30 minutes of anti-establishment psychadelic dance rock, that manages to be uplifting, despite the bleak message. _Sinnerman_- **Nina Simone** Tell me someone who doesn’t like this…Nina’s glorious voice, double rhythm clapping, and the “Power” part makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. _Free Bird_- **Lynyrd Skynyrd** Fab guitars, free love and the open road…what’s not to love? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/2 "2005-11-04T19:12:08Z")
Since the guitars are lousy, there’s a lot not to love about **Free Bird** My choices: **Atom Heart Mother** by Pink Floyd – rock on an epic scale. **Echoes** by Pink Floyd **Shine on You Crazy Diamond** – Pink Floyd **Whipping Post** (live at the Fillmore) by the Allman Brothers Band **In Memory of Elizabeth Reed** – Allman Brothers **Thick as a Brick** – Jethro Tull **The Soft Parade** – Doors **Moon in June** – Soft Machine (and all the other songs on their **Third** album. **My Generation** – The Who (live version on “Live at Leeds”) **Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys** – Traffic **Lullabye of Broadway** – Golddiggers of 1935 Add **William Tell Overture, 1812 Overture** , Milhaud’s **Le Boeuf Sur Le Toit** , plus Beethven’s Symphonies #3, 5, 7, and 9 and Violin Concerto if you want to consider classical music. I like long songs. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/3 "2005-11-04T19:26:33Z")
**Albuquerque** by Weird Al Yankovic clocking in at 12 minutes. or **The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota** if it qualifies. Might be only 8 or 9 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/4 "2005-11-04T19:33:04Z")
I get a kick out of Van Morrison’s [Summertime in England](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Summertime-In-England-lyrics-Van-Morrison/6466445EB074193B48256A340008AFC6). I even like the song. It’s brilliantly hokey, especially if you’re into poetry. My favorite line: _Oh my high in the art of suffering one_. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/5 "2005-11-04T19:34:26Z")
**In-A-Gadda-Da-Vidda** by Iron Butterfly, at 17:02 **Light of Day, Day of Darkness** by Green Carnation, at 60:05 **Black Rose Immortal** by Opeth, at 20:14 Just a couple of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/6 "2005-11-04T19:38:07Z")
**Scheherazade** and \*\*Ashes Are Burning \*\* by Renaissance (live) **The End** by The Doors Any Grateful Dead jam where they actually played, not just noodled about. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/7 "2005-11-04T19:41:36Z")
All long songs bow before the operatic genius of PARADISE BY THE DASHBOARD LIGHT by Meatloaf. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/8 "2005-11-04T19:41:59Z")
Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - Elton John Alice’s Restaurant - Arlo Guthrie ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/9 "2005-11-04T19:43:25Z")
> [@Push You Down](#): > > All long songs bow before the operatic genius of PARADISE BY THE DASHBOARD LIGHT by Meatloaf. that’s not really that long compared to some of the others listed - it just has that spoken interlude that makes it seem long. If you’re talking \*Meatloaf \* - the title track from \*\*Bat Out Of Hell \*\* is a really good long song ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/10 "2005-11-04T19:46:08Z")
I’ll add **Close to the Edge** by **Yes** ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/11 "2005-11-04T19:48:32Z")
“Sister Ray” by the Velvet Underground, from _White Light/White Heat_. This is a great “tune out the world with headphones on” song. “Jenny Ondioline” by Stereolab, from _Transient Random-Noise Bursts_. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/12 "2005-11-04T19:48:57Z")
**Jesus of Suburbia** by Green Day, which clocks in at just over 9 minutes. And of course **Hey Jude** by The Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![doverpro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@doverpro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doverpro)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/13 "2005-11-04T19:56:21Z")
**Alice’s Restaurant** **The Legend of the USS Titanic** by Jamie Brockett (OK, maybe this one doesn’t belong in any “best of” discussions, but I have some fond memories of finding KAAY in the late evening and catching Bleaker Street and once in awhile this song would be on. “497 1/2 feet of rope!” ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/14 "2005-11-04T20:02:36Z")
There’s a 40 minute version of The Orb’s\*\* Blue Room\*\* that I like. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/15 "2005-11-04T20:03:58Z")
does it have to be pop/rock music? what about **Rhapsody in Blue** - George Gershwin ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/16 "2005-11-04T20:07:58Z")
**99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, 99…** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/17 "2005-11-04T20:16:04Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > **99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, 99…** 😃 You really need to be stopped 😉 > [@anyrose](#): > > does it have to be pop/rock music? > what about > **Rhapsody in Blue** - George Gershwin Awesome addition. One of my favorites. Might as well add \*\*American in Paris \*\* also. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/18 "2005-11-04T20:18:17Z")
Do medleys count? If so, I’ll throw in Tina and the B-Sides live version of “Matter of Time” off of their **The Last Polka** album. ---
**Author:** ![Phantoms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e36b37/32.png) [@Phantoms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phantoms)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/19 "2005-11-04T20:32:24Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Since the guitars are lousy, there’s a lot not to love about **Free Bird** > > My choices: > > **Atom Heart Mother** by Pink Floyd – rock on an epic scale. > **Echoes** by Pink Floyd > **Shine on You Crazy Diamond** – Pink Floyd > **Whipping Post** (live at the Fillmore) by the Allman Brothers Band > > –List shortened by me — > > I like long songs. I have to second Echoes by PF. I also need to throw in: **There only was one choice** by Harry Chapin \*\*The End \*\* by The Doors. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520/20 "2005-11-04T20:36:46Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > Alice’s Restaurant - Arlo Guthrie I’ll second Alice’s Restaurant. And add: Master of Puppets - Metallica Estranged - Guns N’ Roses [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-long-song/329520.md?page=2)