In 2009, Rolling Stone assembled a list of the top 500
Greatest Songs of All Time. For the list, they conducted two polls—one that
asked a panel of 162 artists, producers, industry executives, and journalists
to pick the greatest songs of all time. The second was conducted in 2009 with a
similar panel, asking that they pick the best songs from the 2000s. By
compiling the two lists, Rolling
Stone was able to create a top 500 list of all time. Here are the top 10
songs, along with a selection of their lyrics:
1.
Bob
Dylan—Like a Rolling Stone
a.
How does it feel, how does it feel? / To be
without a home / With no direction home, like a complete unknown / Just like a
rolling stone?
2.
Rolling
Stones—Satisfaction
a.
I can’t get no satisfaction / ‘Cause I try and I
try and I try / I can’t get no, I can’t get no
3.
John
Lennon—Imagine
a.
Imagine all the people/ Living life in peace /
You, you may say I’m a dreamer / But I’m not the only one
4.
Marvin
Gaye—What’s Going On
a.
You see, war is not the answer / For only love
can conquer hate / You know we’ve got to find a way / To bring some lovin’ here
today
5.
Aretha
Franklin—Respect
a.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T / Find out what it means to me /
R-E-S-P-E-C-T / Take care, TCB
6.
Beach
Boys—Good Vibrations
a.
I, I love the colorful clothes she wears / And
the way the sunlight plays upon her hair / I hear the sound of a gentle word /
On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air
7.
Chuck
Berry—Johnny B. Goode
a.
His mother told him, “Someday you will be a man
/ And you will be the leader of a big old band / Many people coming from miles
around / To hear you play your music when the sun go down / Maybe someday your
name will be in lights / Saying Johnny B. Goode tonight.”
8.
Beatles—Hey
Jude
a.
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
/ Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders / For well you know that it’s a
fool who plays it cool / By making his world a little colder
9.
Nirvana—Smells
Like Teen Spirit
a.
With the lights out, it’s less dangerous / Here
we are now, entertain us / I feel stupid and contagious / Here we are now,
entertain us
10.
Ray
Charles—What’d I Say (Live Berlin) 1962
a.
Ooh mama, don’t you treat me wrong / Come and
love your daddy all night long / All right darlin’, yeah… / When ya see me in
misery / Come over baby se about me / Dar-dar-darlin’, alright, yeah / Well,
alright baby, alright
