# Songs that seemingly never end **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231 "2012-11-16T19:59:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/61 "2012-11-17T21:38:04Z")
> [@Ms\_Boods](#): > > Most of Beethoven is a two note motif followed by several hours of cadence. Allow Dudley Moore to demonstrate, barely escaping with his life: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GazlqD4mLvw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GazlqD4mLvw) Great! I’d never seen that one. In the mid-70’s I did see him perform it on the Dick Cavett show, with his wonderful comments afterward about how the 5th Symphony first made him aware of “the absurdity, the (pause) **chutzpah** of some of Beethoven’s cadences.” I was pleased to find that episode on YouTube a few years ago, although without the interview comments before and after. Worth looking for. . ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/62 "2012-11-17T22:01:54Z")
That whole second disc of Cream’s _Wheels of Fire_, which contains extended solos: “Train Time” with guitars, and “Toad,” with drums. Even the guitar work grows dull in a hurry, but I’d as soon have an audio recording of a gymnastics event as listen to a purely show-offy drum solo. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/63 "2012-11-17T22:37:29Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Damn those Beatles for doing something out of the ordinary that hadn’t been done before. I really wish they would have just stuck to the ordinary and never pushed the limits on rock-and-roll. What a terrible concept to push the envelope and take chances. Oh, I’ve got nothing against pushing envelopes and nothing against trying to do things that haven’t been done before. I do have something against doing it _badly_. _That’s_ the problem with _Hey Jude._ ---
**Author:** ![Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashley_Pomeroy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/64 "2012-11-17T23:51:53Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > On a less mainstream note, the Pixies Gigantic drags on 20 measures too long also. The ne plus ultra in the pop world would have to be The Orb’s “[Blue Room](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz8EKpAymFM)”, which [got to number eight](http://www.officialcharts.com/search-results-chart/_/1992/6/27) in the UK pop charts in June 1992. The official mainstream UK singles chart. It was 39:57 long, just a few second shy of forty minutes (at which length it would have been ineligible for the singles charts). It’s a rare example of an ultra-long song that’s actually engaging throughout its length - the band were on a roll at the time - without coming across as a silly novelty. And in theory it could have gone on literally forever, if the band had just looped the sequencer / automated mixing desk. I’m sure you could compile the samples together and issue the single as an iPad app (instead of an MP3) that generates the music algorithmically. I don’t know if any algorithmic compositions have hit the pop charts. Autechre don’t sell many records. But it would be a simple matter to use automated, algorithmic compositional techniques to create a dancey ambient song that’s pleasing to the ear and goes on forever; you could issue patches as the years go by in order to upgrade the instruments, add new voices etc. It would be the final evolution of music. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/65 "2012-11-18T00:06:40Z")
There are certain songs by Renaissance that are _still playing_, i.e. “Trip To The Fair”. And of course, “Layla”. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/66 "2012-11-18T00:39:47Z")
I can’t believe this thread has lasted so long with no mention of _I would do anything for love, But I won’t do that …"_ Gee, thanks, Mr. Loaf. Not. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/67 "2012-11-18T00:42:39Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Woodstock movie - Alvin Lee, “I’m Going Home”. Went on and on and on, but it was all buildup and worth every note! My favorite performance in the Woodstock movie! Dear god yes. Criminally underrated guitarist and my favorite moment of the movie next to Michael Shrieves drumming. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/68 "2012-11-18T00:55:54Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I can’t believe this thread has lasted so long with no mention of > > _I would do anything for love, > But I won’t do that …"_ > > Gee, thanks, Mr. Loaf. Not. I also have the problem with “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” The baseball part seems to last longer than most actual baseball games. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/69 "2012-11-18T01:51:31Z")
The Allmann Brothers’ “Jessica” has too many notes. If they could cut a few, it would be perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/70 "2012-11-18T02:44:39Z")
the first song that came to my mind was [Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI7SJuItKFs) “na na na na na”… Also, I’ve always been a big fan of Bruce Springsteen’s [Glory Days](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vQpW9XRiyM), but like others have stated - I always change the station once the “outro” rolls around. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/71 "2012-11-18T05:20:35Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Dear god yes. Criminally underrated guitarist and my favorite moment of the movie next to Michael Shrieves drumming. My man! My feelings exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/72 "2012-11-18T11:00:48Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I can’t believe this thread has lasted so long with no mention of > > _I would do anything for love, > But I won’t do that …"_ Ahem. > [@Smapti](#): > > And before anyone gets any ideas, I’d just like to mention a few songs that _don’t_ overstay their welcome; > > - I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That). You can’t cut a single second of it without losing something. I stand by that. It’s 12 minutes long and _every second of it_ is essential. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/73 "2012-11-18T13:43:58Z")
> [@Win\_Place\_Show](#): > > the first song that came to my mind was [Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI7SJuItKFs) “na na na na na”… As my ex-husband used to say, “Will someone please stop that man before he na-nas again?” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/74 "2012-11-18T14:44:40Z")
I think Led Zeppelin’s _Kashmir_ feels like it plods on for an inexorably long time. “Duhn nuhn nuhn-duhn nuhn nuhn-duhn nuhn nuhn-duhn nuhn nunh” ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/75 "2012-11-18T16:07:25Z")
Sometimes a song has a perfectly acceptable but rather short natural length by which time it has run out of ideas, ‘Hey Jude’ is a perfect example of this - more is not always more, sometimes its less, check out TRex with Metal Guru [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHcI8KlmlLw) The thing is, it is not even a long song, but its a good 1:30 longer than any ideas the song actually has, and here is another one that ran out of ideas long before the finish [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ylww2dOW7fg/hqdefault.jpg "20th Century Boy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylww2dOW7fg) This one has a beginning and end, and no middle, yet surprisingly is only 3 minutes long.LOL [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cMqdwtd8TrQ/hqdefault.jpg "THE BONZO DOG DOO DAH BAND The Intro & The Outro .wmv") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMqdwtd8TrQ) Fleetwood Mac just had to have one of these, and I love the first half of it, but it does have a rather long second half, you used to have to flip the single to get it all - or buy the album [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rN4FMVqq1cg/hqdefault.jpg "Fleetwood Mac - Oh Well (FULL VERSION)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN4FMVqq1cg) One endless disco version of ‘Heaven must be missing an angel’ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JUSPQ6BMd9w/hqdefault.jpg "TAVARES - Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel (with lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUSPQ6BMd9w) How about this for self indulgent twaddle [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lcWVL4B-4pI/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGH8gFig0MA8=&rs=AOn4CLDPGwrxDh81eJAWTZRfFzoEQtelvw "Manfred Mann - Blinded by the Light") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcWVL4B-4pI) No wonder punk was a breath of fresh air. This is the way to do the extended mix, ‘Pick up the pieces’ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MfAJLGFWxYo/hqdefault.jpg "Average White Band - Pick up the pieces") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfAJLGFWxYo) And here are the B52’s with the extended version of Rock Lobster - proof that it can be done, and done well [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2V2h_Bd_Gg) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/76 "2012-11-18T18:11:03Z")
The only song that makes me literally scream when I hear it is: I keep Working my way back to you babe With a burning love inside. End it, already. ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/77 "2012-11-18T20:06:56Z")
‘Wurm’ from “The Yes Album” has a looming three-chord glacial inevitability - like the name. King Crimson’s ‘In the Wake of Poseidon’ does the Mellotron Heat-Death of the Universe quite well, too. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/78 "2012-11-18T21:00:45Z")
Hmm, we seem to be drifting over to prog rock, and that’s way too easy a target ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/79 "2012-11-19T02:53:11Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There are certain songs by Renaissance that are _still playing_, i.e. “Trip To The Fair”. Bonus points for actually knowing who Renaissance are, but I think their winner would have to be the live version of _Ashes are Burning_ from _Some Enchanted Evening_. “More guitar solo? Really?” ---
**Author:** ![cdsilv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cdsilv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdsilv)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231/80 "2012-11-19T08:26:23Z")
Um - “Alice’s Restaraunt”? - usually played on Thanksgiving day a few time (just keeps comin’ round on the gitar"… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-seemingly-never-end/641231.md?page=5)