A couple of months ago I announced in this space that the prettiest song ever was “Ripple,” by the Grateful Dead.
It turns out I was mistaken: in fact, the prettiest song ever is Rod Stewart’s cover of the Dylan song, “Tomorrow Is a Long Time.”
My apologies for any confusion this might have caused.
Is anyone else coming up empty on searches on stuff that’s more than one, but less than six, months old?
I thought it was established that the Roberta Flack version of
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
was the prettiest song ever?
If you lived through the 60s, then you should know that Simon & Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” won the prize, took it home, and placed it carefully in a safe in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying “Beware of the Leopard.”
But the race for second place is an interesting one. There have been hundreds of truly pretty songs in the rock era, from Ruby and the Romantics “Our Day Will Come” to Norah Jones’ “Come Away with Me.”
Being truly pretty (let alone beautiful) is a magnificent and difficult accomplishment that is totally different from being bland and acceptable. I just wish that the headbangers and noisemakers of the rock world - and especially the critics who worship them - would appreciate the difference.
What glue are you guys sniffing? Everybody knows that it’s Here Comes The Sun. Case closed.
Asked and Answered. 
“Venus de Milo” by Prince from Parade
No, no, no, the answer is clearly: The Traveller (Days Are Numbers) by The Alan Parsons Project. Glad I could be of assistance!
Sorry, you’re all wrong. It’s “Selfless Cold and Composed” by Ben Folds Five.
Although “Here Comes the Sun” is darn close. 
Here Comes the Sun" is very pretty indeed.
But I suspect the Beatles’ (whatever the correct title is)
There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some completely not for better
Some have gone, and some remain
is even prettier.
Paul in Saudi that’d be In My Life a Lennon song off Rubber Soul.
but The first time ever… is prettier
It’s so difficult to live in a world where everyone on the Straight Dope is right, and I’m clearly incorrect. While I had been certain that the prettiest song ever was Bron-Yr-Aur by Led Zeppelin, it turns out that Webster’s definition of “song” is quite specific that a song has words, and is sung, except in the specific case of birdsong.
Since Bron-Yr-Aur has no words, I am withdrawing it from the running for “prettiest song ever”. I urge you to listen to it on vinyl, for I believe the tune and the playing are so pretty that words would irrevocably damage it. Especially if Robert Plant were singing them.
I would like to submit, for an honorable mention, Jerusalem, City of Gold (Yerushalem Shel Zahav), while noting that the prettiest song ever is almost certainly not about a city. I don’t know what the prettiest song ever is, but I bet you dollars to Deloreans that it’s about a girl. A really pretty girl.
Between Prison Sentences…
Arthur Lee (LOVE) recorded, “Five-String Serenade” complete with background
Raindrops…gotta be at least 3rd Place.
My personal favorite was “Isa Lei” by V.M. Bhatt and Ry Cooder off of the album “Meeting by the River” (also on the Dead Man Walking score). But that doesn’t have words.
For that, my votes would be either “Uncle John’s Band” by the Dead or “Lo Boob Oscillator” by Stereolab.
What’s the matter with Robert Plant??
Sure, his vocals were a little rough on the later albums, but he still did a great job. Just listen to ‘Kashmir’ or ‘Ten Years Gone’, also on Physical Graffiti.
Additional pretty Zeppelin songs -
'The Rain Song" - from Houses of the Holy (or The Song Remains the Same
‘Tangerine’ - from LZ III
‘That’s the Way’ - also from LZIII
Naw, yer all goofy :rolleyes: !
It’s “A Minor Ballad” off Gordon lightfoot’s “The Way I Feel” album.
No, actually, it’s the whole album!
Hey! I’m Canadian, allright?! 
Well, duh. That’s because the answer to the OP is “Beautiful Girl” by INXS.
Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” is the prettiest song with his “Lilac Wine” as a close second and his “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” as a close third!
Jeff, we miss you! 
I’m starting to question you guys taste in music.
Your the biggest part of me By Ambrosia is the prettiest song ever.
We had a late meeting. It’s Turn of a Friendly Card now.
Judy Collins. Lovely tune. It’s from Whales and Nightingales.
Quasi
No you fools! It’s Asleep by The Smiths. Although a few of the above are admittedly somewhat pretty. 