In your opinion, what is the greatest rock & roll song ever? And why? You can use whatever criteria you wish; musical skill, composition, tight harmony, meaninfulness of lyrics, kick-arse guitar riffs, amazing drum solos, videos with hot chicks in hot pants, cool cover art, whatever.

Me? Even though I very nearly fall on my knees and worship the likes of BB King, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana, and Mark Knopfler, I think the A-1 greatest rock & roll song is Save Me by Queen. I think this song has it all; clever composition, a great guitar riff, Freddie Mercury's great voice, and a meaningfulness to which nearly everyone can relate.
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Just Pick One?...Hmmmmmmm

I think I'll go with Baba O'Riley by the Who

Great Guitar, Great Lyrics, Classic Who sound.
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Wow, it's so very hard to narrow the list down to twenty, let alone just one!!!

I guess if I could only choose just one "best" rock-n-roll song I'd pick ..... damn it I'm having a hard time here.

OK, I'd have to choose "Free Four" (Pink Floyd - Obscured By Clouds) for a couple of reasons:

1. The line "The memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime" is a simple but powerful reminder that we are what we DO to and for others, not what we THINK of ourselves. What we do and what we say have an impact on everything we know of the world and also on the way we perceive ourselves inside that world. Be careful what you do yet be carefree at the same time. Live life fully but don't tread on others.

2. I'm a HUGE Pink Floyd fan so I pretty much had to pick a song from that band. :-)
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Point in time kind of thing...

Over the years:

Magic Carpet Ride
Baba Oreily
Stairway to Heaven
Born to Run
Free Bird
Maggot Brain
Welcome to the Jungle
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Led Zep "Over The Hills & Far Away"
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Sorry boys, despite all the possible options, there ain't but one clear choice: Voodoo Child. If you need reasons why, you don't know $#!+.
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Won't Get Fooled Again


MCS
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And yet, by the definition of many, none of you has yet actually mentioned a real "rock & roll" song.

How 'bout a little Eddie Cochran or Little Richard or somethin'?
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As much as I want to bring Elvis or Chuck Berry into the deal, I have to say Led Zeppelin's Rock & Roll sure is a fine example of a rock song. :-)
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Might change my opinion tomorrow, but today

"Can't You Hear Me Knockin' " by the Rolling Stones.
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True. I was using the broader definition of "rock & roll."

From Wikipedia:

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Knowing that every answer is completely subjective, I'll suggest this one for several reasons.

1. It is epic in length
2. It has blistering guitar work and solid drumming
3. It was performed before 1/2 million people
4. It gives nods to several "classic" rock and rollers
5. It receives a special reward at the end

It's not my favorite, but it may be the greatest ever. :-)
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Not everyone can link to youtube at work, what is the song, Jerry?
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So hard to pick just one.
Today's pick-"All Along the Watchtower"-Jimi Hendrix
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Sorry Tom. It's "I'm going Home" by Ten Years After...
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Green Grass and High Tides

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R82OM5tzcrk
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Wow, I'm shocked you left one off, Dave (or Tom). :-)


I'd go with Ramble On, but like Tom, it's day to day.

I think it was Miles Davis, or one of his band members, that said something to the effect of "Who's to say what the best of any music style is, my opinion is the only one that matters to me."
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Comfortably Numb.
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Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
Sweet Child of Mine - Guns 'N Roses

Couldn't decide which.
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I love that song! I didn't think another soul in the world knew about it.
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