Piano Men
This 1970 Beatles song was inspired by a dream Paul McCartney had about his late mother offering comfort during a time of tension in the band.
Let it Be - Paul McCartney
This Rolling Stones anthem, driven by a fuzz guitar riff, became a rallying cry for discontent youth who were frustrated by consumer culture — and everything else.
I Can't Get No Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
In this Earth, Wind & Fire hit, you're asked to remember the 21st night of a certain month - even if you don't know what "ba-dee-ya" means
September - Earth, Wind, and Fire
In this Bob Dylan classic, the subject goes from “princess on the steeple” to aimless drifter, while Dylan asks how it feels to lose it all.
Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, and brown paper packages tied up with strings all appear in this Rodgers and Hammerstein number from The Sound of Music.
My Favorite Things - The Sound of Music
This Elton John track from 1973 finds the narrator longing to leave behind city life for a simpler time - and bidding farewell to a colorful path famously traveled by Dorothy.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
Nancy Sinatra made it clear in this 1966 hit that someone’s about to get walked all over — literally.
These Boots Are Made For Walking - Nancy Sinatra
Featured in Saturday Night Fever, this Bee Gees track made disco immortal and taught us that even with broken confidence, you could keep doing the title action.
Stayin' Alive - The Bee Gees
Cat Stevens offered this advice to a young lover in a bittersweet 1970 farewell: “Hold tight to your friends,” because it’s a savage world out there.
Wild World - Yusuf / Cat Stevens
In this number from Les Miserables, a shady innkeeper boasts about his scams and schemes while serving up food, lies, and sarcasm in equal measure.
Master of the House
In this Ray Charles classic, the title command is repeated to someone who's clearly worn out their welcome - and the answer comes with a suitcase and a sharp piano riff.
Hit the Road Jack - Ray Charles
In this dreamy 1965 track by The Mamas & the Papas, the singer is longing for warmth while walking through a cold city, craving the West Coast.
California Dreamin' - The Mamas and the Papas
Before he fell to Earth, this Bowie alter ego sent a signal from the sky in a glam-rock classic about alien radio contact.
Starman - David Bowie
This Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song encourages passing on wisdom and love to the next generation — and includes pedal steel guitar played by Jerry Garcia.
Teach Your Children - Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
This upbeat number from Oliver! rolls out the welcome mat, with the Artful Dodger introducing a young orphan to a life of mischief and found family.
Consider Yourself - Oliver
This Billy Joel ballad praises a complicated woman — she’s unpredictable, contradicts herself, and “carelessly cuts,” yet is still loved without question.
She's Always a Woman - Billy Joel
This Creedence Clearwater Revival song warns of trouble ahead with ominous lyrics about earthquakes, hurricanes, and a not-so-great lunar forecast.
Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
This 1972 Looking Glass hit tells the tale of a barmaid whose sailor love chooses the sea over her — even though she “wears a braided chain made of finest silver.”
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
In this Dylan breakup song, the narrator insists he's not bitter — but the harmonica and sarcasm suggest otherwise.
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - Bob Dylan
In Grease, this song is delivered by a Teen Angel who floats down to mock a character's failed beauty school dreams in doo-wop fashion.
Beauty School Dropout - Grease
In this Stevie Wonder song celebrating his newborn daughter, he plays a harmonica solo, sings with raw emotion, and handles nearly every instrument himself.
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
This Simon & Garfunkel tune, famously featured in The Graduate, asks what Jesus would say if he met an older woman by the same name.
Mrs. Robinson - Simon and Garfunkel
This soulful track by Five Stairsteps offers comfort and hope, promising that “things are gonna get easier” — eventually, even the title starts to feel like a hug.
O-o-h Child - Five Stairsteps
John Denver wrote it, but Peter, Paul and Mary made it a hit — a soft farewell from someone who's leaving on a flight with no return date.
Leaving on a Jet Plane - Peter, Paul, and Mary
This intense song from Jesus Christ Superstar takes place at a sacred site, where Jesus confronts money changers and overturns tables in righteous anger.
The Temple - Jesus Christ Superstar