# Best rock song over 8 minutes in length **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754 "2002-12-14T17:59:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/1 "2002-12-14T17:59:22Z")
I’ve always liked long songs, so I’m looking for some suggestions. My nomination? Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick, parts 1 and 2, adding up to a whopping 43:28! Even with that excessive length, I’m always disappointed when the song ends and end up wishing it was even longer. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/2 "2002-12-14T18:11:38Z")
**Jenny Ondioline** by Stereolab is an amazing song that runs about 18 minutes. ---
**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:** [December 14, 2002, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/3 "2002-12-14T18:15:27Z")
Pink Floyd is the champion, with “Astronomy Domine,” "Careful With that Axe, Eugene, “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun,” “Atom Heart Mother,” “Echoes,” and “Shine on You Crazy Diamond.” Their best works were all over eight minutes. King Crimson, “The Court of the Crimson King” (“21st Century Schizoid Man” is 40 seconds short, alas). Soft Machine, “Moon in June” (though anything on their album “Third” qualifies). Allman Brothers, “Whipping Post” (live version), “Mountain Jam,” and “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” Frank Zappa, “Willie the Pimp” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/4 "2002-12-14T18:45:46Z")
I’ll throw out a whole bunch of nominations: I second the live versions of “Whipping Post” and “Elizabeth Reed” “Voodo Child” by Jimi Hendrix on Electric Ladyland. Hendrix on guitar, Jack Cassidy on bass, Steve Winwood on organ, and Noel Redding on drums. Rock ‘n’ roll never got any better than this. “Machine Gun” (Band of Gypsys version) by Jimmy Hendrix. Actually the Isle of Wight version is better, but it’s only 7:35 in length. HELL, anything Hendrix and the Allman Brothers ever did that’s over eight minutes in length is worth listening to. “Heard It Through the Grapevine” by CCR “Beginnings” by Chicago. The full-length version is very close to 8 minutes, I believe, and it’s a great song. “Morning Dew” by the Grateful Dead on their Europe '72 album. Live at the Fillmore East by Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention. (To me, this album is essentially one song). When Bwana Dick speaks, the heavens will part!!! “Stairway to Heaven” the version on the film The Song Remains the Same by Led Zeppelin “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” the Rolling Stones. What the hell, it’s close enough to 8 minutes and it’s one of my favorite Stones songs “Sweet Jane.” Lou Reed’s live version. I only have this on a tape I made myself so I’m unsure of its legnth, but I think it’s about 9 minutes long. A great performance, regardless. “Taxi” by Harry Chapin “Alice’s Restaurant” by Arlo Guthrie. (Okay, it’s technically folk, but a lot of rock stations like to play it at Thanksgiving.) “In the Gadda de Veda” by Iron Butterfly “Superwoman” by Stevie Wonder “Nights in White Satin”/the epilogue poem by The Moody Blues “Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts” by Bob Dylan. “Tangled Up in Blue” is a better song, but it’s shorter. “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” by Bob Dylan ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/5 "2002-12-14T19:36:55Z")
**Tool** - _Reflection_ is really good. As is _Third Eye_. ---
**Author:** ![Dryga\_Yes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Dryga\_Yes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryga_Yes)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/6 "2002-12-14T19:58:59Z")
What a non-specific question… One runner-up could be Sonic Youth’s “The Diamond Sea”, which clocks in at almost 20 minutes. Spacemen 3’s “Suicide” and Television’s Marquee Moon are both great and about 11 minutes long. “Krautrock” by Faust is a damn nice song, too. “Hallogallo” by Neu! is a great song at just above ten minutes, and I think Stereolab borrowed a little from it for Jenny Ondioline. 🙂 But the winner has to be “Soon” by My Bloody Valentine. It’s IMO one of the best rock songs ever, and thus also one of the best 8+ minute-long rock songs ever. ---
**Author:** ![Dryga\_Yes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Dryga\_Yes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryga_Yes)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/7 "2002-12-14T20:04:08Z")
Oh, and I forgot one. SISTER RAY!!! \*oh but I haven’t got the time-time hey, hey, she’s busy sucking on my ding-dong she’s busy sucking on the ding-dong aww, now, just like Sister Ray says \* ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/8 "2002-12-14T20:11:03Z")
Isn’t “Stairway to Heaven” more than 8 minutes long? ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/9 "2002-12-14T20:28:36Z")
**Opeth** - _Advent_ 13:45 ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/10 "2002-12-14T20:52:40Z")
How long is _The Day the Music Died_? ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/11 "2002-12-14T20:54:34Z")
And by “_The Day the Music Died_” of course, I mean “_American Pie_” (talk about brainfarts.) ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/12 "2002-12-14T20:55:18Z")
Oh, so many…most of the songs I listen to are \>8 minutes in length! _Spock’s Beard_ [ul][li]“At the End of the Day” (16:28)[/li][li]“The Great Nothing” (27:01)[/li][li]“Harm’s Way” (11:06)[/li][li]“Flow” (15:48)[/li][li]“The Doorway” (11:27)[/li][li]“The Healing Colors of Sound” suite (live - 20:00)[/li][/ul] _Transatlantic_ [ul][li]“All of the Above” (30:59)[/li][li]“Duel With the Devil” (26:43)[/li][li]“Suite Charlotte Pike” (14:30)[/li][li]“Stranger in your Soul” (26:05)[/li][/ul] _Dream Theater_ [ul][li]“Home” (12:53)[/li][li]“A Change of Seasons” (~20:00)[/li][li]“Metropolis Part I” (9:30)[/li][li]“Lines in the Sand” (12:05)[/li][li]“Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence” (42:02)[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/13 "2002-12-14T20:56:52Z")
**Yes** _And You and I_ ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/14 "2002-12-14T20:58:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > \*\*Isn’t “Stairway to Heaven” more than 8 minutes long? \*\* Just barely, at 8:03. I nominate Nile’s “Unas, Slayer of the Gods” and Opeth’s “Black Rose Immortal”. ---
**Author:** ![Loneraven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c0e974/32.png) [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/15 "2002-12-14T21:11:03Z")
Something Corporate’s Konstantine, which is 9.35. I adore it, after having listened to it 400 times in three months. ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/16 "2002-12-14T21:11:42Z")
“The Decline” by NOFX. It clocks in at over 18 minutes. It was on its own one song [EP](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=SEARCH&sql=Aszdgyl72xpmb), which they advertised as “One song too long”. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/17 "2002-12-14T21:57:26Z")
The Stooges: “We Will Fall.” ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/18 "2002-12-14T22:19:35Z")
**Paradise By the Dashboard Light** - Meat Loaf (clocks in at just over 8 minutes…) ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/19 "2002-12-15T00:07:18Z")
Another vote for “Third Eye” by tool. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754/20 "2002-12-15T00:32:24Z")
Yeah, **Monstre**! I’ll also nominate _Jungleland_ - **Bruce Springsteen** I do just have to say that I have a hard time really liking a song that is minutes upon minutes of jamming and soloing over the same chords. It’s like a jazz tune where the actual song is 1.5 minutes, and you just play over and over and over again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-song-over-8-minutes-in-length/142754.md?page=2)