# "Prettiest Song Ever" revisited
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 27, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296 "2004-01-27T16:38:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/1 "2004-01-27T16:38:37Z")
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?
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### Author:  [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/2 "2004-01-27T17:23:44Z")
I thought it was established that the Roberta Flack version of
**The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face**
was the prettiest song ever?
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### Author:  [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/3 "2004-01-27T18:21:11Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/4 "2004-01-27T18:29:59Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#):
>
> 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. 😃
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### Author:  [@twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twit)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/5 "2004-01-27T19:36:15Z")
“Venus de Milo” by Prince from Parade
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### Author:  [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/6 "2004-01-27T20:37:48Z")
No, no, no, the answer is clearly: The Traveller (Days Are Numbers) by The Alan Parsons Project. Glad I could be of assistance!
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### Author:  [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/7 "2004-01-27T22:36:35Z")
Sorry, you’re all wrong. It’s “Selfless Cold and Composed” by Ben Folds Five.
Although “Here Comes the Sun” is darn close. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2004, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/8 "2004-01-28T06:36:35Z")
_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.
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### Author:  [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/9 "2004-01-28T12:46:44Z")
**Paul in Saudi** that’d be **In My Life** a Lennon song off Rubber Soul.
but _The first time ever…_ is prettier
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### Author:  [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/10 "2004-01-28T14:40:31Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Roboto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Roboto)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/11 "2004-01-31T19:26:50Z")
Between Prison Sentences…
Arthur Lee (LOVE) recorded, “Five-String Serenade” complete with background
Raindrops…gotta be at least 3rd Place.
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### Author:  [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/12 "2004-01-31T20:11:22Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Lando\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lando_Griffin)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/13 "2004-01-31T20:21:09Z")
> [@Jurph](#):
>
> I believe the tune and the playing are so pretty that words would irrevocably damage it. Especially if Robert Plant were singing them.
😕
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
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### Author:  [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2004, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/14 "2004-01-31T21:36:43Z")
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?! 😉
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### Author:  [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/15 "2004-01-31T21:43:58Z")
> [@Jurph](#):
>
> … 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.
Well, duh. That’s because the answer to the OP is “Beautiful Girl” by INXS.
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### Author:  [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/16 "2004-02-01T05:04:50Z")
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! ☹
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### Author:  [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/17 "2004-02-01T05:16:58Z")
I’m starting to question you guys taste in music.
**Your the biggest part of me** By Ambrosia is the prettiest song ever. 😃
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### Author:  [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2004, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/18 "2004-02-01T05:26:43Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#):
>
> No, no, no, the answer is clearly: The Traveller (Days Are Numbers) by The Alan Parsons Project. Glad I could be of assistance!
We had a late meeting. It’s _Turn of a Friendly Card_ now.
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### Author:  [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/19 "2004-02-01T06:00:45Z")
Judy Collins. Lovely tune. It’s from _Whales and Nightingales_.
Quasi
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### Author:  [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2004, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prettiest-song-ever-revisited/226296/20 "2004-02-01T06:39:17Z")
No you fools! It’s _ **Asleep** _ by **The Smiths**. Although a few of the above are admittedly somewhat pretty. 😛
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