Best The Rolling Stones Songs

If you could only put yourself back in the day-- segregation, assassinations, dictators, Nam, no birth control or abortion,before the flower children and Woodstock-- this spoke from the heart, the urgency, and then a sitar (magical escapist thinking) of all things. A confused, passionate age, and this says it all; I could not foresee this thing happening to you. Yes.

This is their best song. It is edgier than all the rest. It is a very visual song. One of my all time favorite songs. I do like Wild Horses and I think that song needs mention, but I have heard renditions of Wild Horses that were done better than the original by different artists.

This song is amazing, It goes well with the topics of its time, the death toll from Nam, the controversy, all the pain and suffering of this time is matched by this song, it's a comforting but depressing song, so if ya like this song lets all paint this world the way we feel. BLACK.

First heard this song on Guitar Hero a few years ago but since then I've bought almost all their albums up to date and I still continue to listen to this song today. It's just awesome!

While I know PIB and SFTD are more popular, this song is quite simply AMAZING. None of those songs come even close to the level of raw emotion and mastery this song shows.

Everything, from the moody guitars, to the message to the amazing and beautiful Merry Clayton voice work (just listen at how her voice breaks in the middle of the song, amazing) work together to create a masterpiece.

I'm not even a fan of The Rolling Stones and I consider this one of the greatest songs of all time.

I am highly disappointed to see Paint It Black at #1. It's good for the first minute, but then gets really boring afterwards. Meanwhile, Gimme Shelter is an absolute thriller with dark lyrics, and great overlapping guitar melodies to go along with it. I mean, Paint It Black also has dark lyrics, but it's simply not as complete of a song as this, and many other songs by the Rolling Stones.

The reserved nature of the song allows it to build and have an incredible energy once it gets going. Keith Richards guitar is out of this world and the vocal interplay between Mick Jagger and Merry Clayton is otherwordly. Take into account the powerful social lyrics and you have one of the greatest songs ever recorded, not just by the Stones but by anyone.

There are various recordings on line but the long version which I think was recorded in Germany? With Lisa Fischer joining Mick on vocals is a special piece of pop music. Not to disrespect the Merry Clayton original but I just find the vocal range of Lisa is immense, and Mick has advanced his delivery. This would reach number 1 even relased as a single today

First off, there's never been anything like it before or since. It's simple, with a lyrical content that most simple minds will never grasp. Jagger's delivery is legendary, with a bite. The bass by keith (not by to take anything away from Mr. Wyman) as well as his Keith's guitar he has never surpassed, but pay close attention to Nicky Hopkins and in their lies the best rock 'n roll piano on record. I could vote for about 20 favorite Stones songs, depends on the mood I'm in. But to be honest there is truly no better rock song than this one!

No hesitation here. Well, Gimme Shelter could pretend to this title, but there's something more to Sympathy for the devil. The always-growing musical (and lyrical! ) force all along the song is just incredible. The African music-inspired drums are genius and so is Anita Pallenger's "Who Hoo! " that is the song's benchmark and is so well used (especially live) at the ending of the song.
You could add to this the very strong meaning of the lyrics, the fact that the real devil actually is man himself. We cannot blame some fallen saint with a lust for power and recognition because human nature is the source of evil.
The very best rock 'n roll (but not only! ) band at their very best!

This is the best (lyrically) song ever written PERIOD! Yes it has a very catchy tune and Jagger's delivery is spot on, but the lyrics. The depth of what the song is saying is tremendous. The song takes us through history, through all the bad things that have happened and blames the devil. Towards the end, we see, the devil is none other than us! So have some sympathy for him!

This song is the paragon of controversy, lyrically it portrays the problems of mankind, the futility of war and religion ultimatley stating mankind mirrors satan, it's depth at that time was far more powerful, stating it was the American public that caused the death of their leader was and still is a controversial but somewhat true statement, The Rolling Stones had the guts to say what everyone else was too scared to and that's why their the most inspirational rock band of all time (in my opinion anyway), this song is them doing exactly what they do best not to mention the sublime delivery by Jagger, a legendary solo by Keith.

Exquisite, elegantly simple, yet so, so powerful and so deep, as in emblematic of the times where Rock actually came to maturation. Rock was the music that expressed the most revolutionary decade that marked what was to happen and be developed till the end of the century. Nobody has matched the mix of simplicity and power of this song both in form and content.

I was there during the high times of the Beatles and the Stones. Absolutely nothing like Satisfaction. The ultimate killer song then and now. Not to denigrate the other great songs, but there is something about the opening chords of Satisfaction, the simple driving rhythm and the metronomic timing that elevates simplicity into a masterpiece.

Think to when you first heard this opening riff (if you can remember, it's been played everywhere and often) and you'll realize you knew then that rock n' roll had changed. This song crossed into raunchy rebellious territory in a new in your face way. Yes, we've all heard it a zillion times by now, but it's the song of the century.

It's the song that best represents the Rolling Stones. It's their signature song. Their first US hit. The first song to have a mainstream global audience that made every parents' head explode, and popularized distortion of electric guitars in rock music, an effect that can still be heard over fifty years later. And it's at FOUR...

*slow clap*

Jagger has a great voice all the time but for some reason in this song when he sings that "You can't always get what you want" it just hits people. And I guess I'm just a cliche cause it hits me too.

Love it! I heard a young boy is singing it solo at a gas station and my love for the song made me melt when I heard him singing it as he pumped gas for his mom. best rolling stones song!

Honestly if I could vote for 1A and 1B it would be this and Gimme Shelter. Just an epic song, musically, vocally, lyrically, the Stones' magnum opus.

Well written, great flow. Puts me right back into my childhood raiding my brothers record collection, love it.

Almost PERFECT... Think about Mean Streets, about De Niro. The song fits his character the best. The riff is awesome and lyrics are great. I love the vocals. It deserves the 2nd place, after Gimme Shelter, obviously

Funkin awesome! The pace of the songs really nice! One of the 1st songs I heard of this band.. I listened to all the more critically acclaimed ones, but this still is my favorite

The greatest rock song ever written. It is dangerous, it is edgy and it is hopeful all at the same time. It is incomparable live.

Once I heard this song on Elite Beat Agents I knew I would be a rock fan for life, the one song I can truly call life changing.

Should definitely be no.1! Because of the energy flooding into you when listening to this rock'n'roll masterpiece! From the first riff you just get into it and want to sing it out loud in the metro instead of just keeping it for yourself through your headphones!

"I'm no schoolboy, but I know what I like. "
I'm surprised this song doesn't get more love. One of the coolest guitar riffs ever. Not to mention some of their best lyrics.

Another favourite..They did it at the concert last night in DETROIT, accompanied by amazing fireworks... Totally fantastic... A night to remember...

Second best Guitar riff ever heard, second only to Jumping Jack Flash! Kick ass Sax Solo by the Keys Great song over all, and very sexy lyrics!

Beautiful, beautiful song, sort of unlike the Stones, but with the violin and piano, and vocals... Amazing. Such a sweet, unusual, sad song. At least top five, I'd say first, but they have a lot of other great stuff too. I'm a 13 year old girl. A lot of us listen to Justin Bieber and One Direction, and loads of autotuned junk, but not me. I love rock, alt, things that aren't constantly playing on top 40. Rock on.

This is the song that I connect with the breakup of my first love. It takes you back to how you felt and makes me realise how much I cared. It is a ballad that I can listen to over and over again. This song had the ability to consume my life for the couple of months after, it's kind of a relief. I'd say definitely The Rolling Stones best and most heartfelt song.

Amazing how Mick Jagger manages to sound irreplaceable in one of the greatest heartbreak songs ever. If you listen to this straight after Gimme Shelter or Satisfaction, you are left stunned by the range Keith Richards possesses

It just grabs you in! I was amazed at how unusual and sympathetic this song was. Something different is projected in each of their songs. I'm baffled with every song I hear from them.

No way! Start me up in seventh place? This one should be in first or second place, it's all, the lyrics, the music, jagger, but above all, the mood it get's you into

"Don't make a grown man cry! ". This song is my favorite song of all time, VERY well produced, the lyrics tie together well.

It's not their only good song dude, The Rolling Stones have got many awesome songs, including this one!

This song is great, but they had better, in my opinion. It wouldn't be on my top 10.

Definitely in my Top 10 songs of all time. A great example of how all of their songs are different and unique. Sympathy for the Devil, Angie, and Gimme Shelter are some of my other favorites

Even better now that it's in the soundtrack to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - it fits the character of Gideon Graves perfectly.

One of my favorites, along with Paint it Black and Satisfaction.

A great song the best of the Stones.

Catchy and funky, still holds up. Lots of the older albums have too much nostalgia powering their popularity, but this one I've been listening to over and over. This song is the best on the album - I can't get the hook out of my mind. Then the sax solos come in and it ends even better than it started.

This song is proof that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards can write for any audience. This tune embodied the popular disco of the late 70s and, combined with the classic rock and roll, became one of their most catchiest, riffest, bluesiest and most danceable song all in one. Amazing

In the minority here, but this has always been my favorite Stones song. Maybe just because I grew up in the disco era? I just dig the funk.

Best one on the album, along with when the whip comes down and shattered in my opinion. Also one of my favorites from the band in general.

Wow this song is this low! That's crazy it's a fantastic song and anyone who's listened to rock before should know that this is the best.

Seriously underrated song... This one should be much higher on the list! Great vocals and solo...

Great Stones sing a long song that always find stuck in your head for days on end.

It's more than a song, It's an anthem!

Maybe their only song where the lyrics actually matter (Gimme shelter is my number two and the few lyrics I know I feel really good I have wrong) and they are beautiful. Put simply, I'm done playing games, done dancing around the truth. I love you, if you feel the same way then that's great but if not I'll walk right out that door. Complex concept in the simplest of lyrics. Only WIllie Nelson can write lyrics that acomplish that as well as this song

I'm a yuge classic/prog rock fan. Yes, Dire Straits, Led Zeppelin - that's my jam and normally I can't stand the Stones.

But this song is them at their best. It belongs up there with Gimme Shelter and Can't Always Get What You Want.

Loved me some Stones for many many moons but always come back to this one, can groove, can mellow, can rock to this and always replay it at least three times back to back! Lyrics intonation and down and out movement gets me every time. ta muchly

I'd be lying if I said this wasn't my favorite Rolling Stones song. It's just so perfect, that the only description I can give to do it justice is to go and listen to it yourself.

This song makes me want to pick up my guitar and strum my beating heart out of my chest. It's not a hard rock song, but this really makes me feel a certain kind of special.

How is this only #13? This should be third! Are any restaurants called Paint it Black or Sympathy for the Devil?

This song should be way higher on the list. One of my personal favorites.

A certain restaurant is named after this song... Take 3 Wild Guesses.

This is my favourite The Rolling Stones song...the saxophone solo is one of the best solos in the world...and then the guitar is also amazing...you just go into a daze listening to this song...

Such an underrated riff. I also really love the drum beat. And you can't talk about this song without mentioning the five minutes of instrumentals.

This song, a top 5 Stones song in my humble opinion, was the beginning of the end for Mick Taylor. The trouble was, he was too good - technically at least - compared with Keith. Still, a fantastic jam to end the track.

Check out the alternate version of the song.

The original has a great start, but it sort of descends into a musical rut; mainly why I like the alternate version better. Short and sweet.

Some many great songs to choose from but Honky Tonk Women delivers throughout from every angle.

Great song and the beginning of their new sound where Keith uses open G tuning on the guitar.

I think this song is most bluesy in all song of The Rolling Stones.
I love it.

Very hard to narrow down a top 10 but this is number 1 on my list.

Make You imagine he singing and when the cymbal sounds rainbows appears bahind Jagger
Also remember You a happy and sanguinest girl that drives you mad.

Metallica-Unforgiven and Rolling Stones She's a rainbow. These are the best Songs in the World

This song has calm music, makes you happy when you're listening it.

I love the piano so much, ahhh! Paint it Black is still my number one but this is great too!

Great song surprised it's so low on the list. Seen it performed live by a tribute band which was amazing, can only imagine how good it would be by the the stones. X

Not my favourite Stones song, but it really is awesome. This tune should at least be top 20!

You've got it all in this track: sex, drugs and rock n' roll. It's got the humor of the Stones. It's got the attitude of the Stones. It perfectly captures the Stones ability to groove and jam like no other. Altogether tasty.

One of the most underrated songs ever, I love every part of it, one of my all time favorite songs.

Ridiculously underrated! It's easily my favorite Stones tune. Those horns are heaven!

This is hands down my favorite Stones song. It's soooo catchy, I love the way the saxophone plays off of the guitar. The perfect opening song to an album.

Recorded proof that the stones could take on the beatles, beach boys or the kinks and be just as good as them, criminally underrated song from their catalog, it has such an amazing vibe.

I'm not a Stones fan by any means. But this song is incredible. It deserves to be higher than #22.

Got to be in the top 10

This is a great song from exile on main street. Perhaps the best song ever recorded by The Rolling Stones was removed from the same album by Phil Spector the producer. He knew it was perhaps their best and put in the "B" side of Tumbling Dice. Search for "Plundered my Soul" and prepair to be BLOWEN AWAY. This is their best ever. The guitar work is pure Stones. Trust me, if you have never heard this song then you have never heard the stones at their best. P.S. Phil Spector also took off "don't let me down" from the let it be album. And sold it as a "B" side.

To the comment regarding Plundered MY soul. You're very wrong about it.
1. Phil Spector had NOTHING to do with this album. Period.
2. Plundered my soul was just a basic track with keiths guitar, bill's bass, nicky hopkins on piano and Charlie drumming, until 2010. The vocals and lead guitar was recorded by Jagger and Taylor then, for the re-release of exile in 2012.

Best stones track ever! Rock/gospel groove with lyrics that Mick never sings the same way twice..

My favourite stones song! Perhaps even one of my favourite songs ever, every time I hear this I start singing along. Love it

While this isn't one of my favorite Stones songs, I still gotta acknowledge that it's one of their greatest. It should be way higher than 24th.

My absolute favourite. Right, its maybe not their best song but should be higher than 22. The tune just makes me want to dance every time and it has a great message... pure banger

Shocked but not flabbergasted. In my opinion Street Fighting Man is second to Sympathy for the Devil on Beggars.

It's an Amazing Rolling Stones Song it deserves top 10!
Just listen to it and you will see what I mean. The song is Pure gold

Best song according to me... So different from the other tracks... Jagger faithful should have ended up 2gether... Don't know why they were embarrassed of this song... I think this song is one of the best rolling stones ever..

What! Has nobody heard this beautiful song? Mick Jagger's pensive vocals, Keith Richards' one-of-a-kind guitar tune makes this song one of the top ten songs by The Rolling Stones.

ATGB is such a beautiful, sad and timeless song. My Number 1. Should be much higher although you can't always get what you want (great song too) Also, I can't argue with the top 3.

Favourite Stones song for sure! First original collaboration by Richards and Jagger (that and Satisfaction)!

Number #23?! Are you kidding me?

Damn... This one's good...