Greatest Punk Songs of All Time

The Top Ten
1 Anarchy in the U.K. - Sex Pistols

I have been thinking for several minutes, how ever I think that this song must be at the top of the chart. Longview it's a great song and I love it, and blitzkrieg bop it better than it also, but it's not my ramones favourite song. This is my point, this song shows what punk is about, the voice of Johnny, the guitar of Steve, the personality of Sid and the drums of Paul. I think this is a powerful song, it's amazing, It's what punk is about: rebellion, a distorted sound and the idea of anarchysm. That's all.

I don't know how people think when they vote here, but I think this list is wrong because people forget about the early punk rock bands. If bands like Green Day and Rise Against counts as punk rock bands I think the top 10 should be:

1. Anarchy In The U. K - Sex Pistols
2. Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols
3. White Riot - The Clash
4. Holiday In Cambodia - Dead Kennedys
5. American Idiot - Green Day
6. Complete Control - The Clash
7. The Kids Aren't Alright - The Offspring
8. God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols
9. Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
10. London Calling - The Clash

This song (along with God Save the Queen) galvanized a Revolution. It provoked thought and poked life into the simple minded. Was the first political punk song and when punk was first acknowledged as a threat. Powerful song, excellent music, and caused way more anarchy than even self professed anarcho punk bands could ever claim.

'Anarchy In The UK' is Officially the first punk song ever. EVER. The Sex Pistols created punk from the poverty of were they lived in a poor part of London, if they didn't exist, all the other songs in this list would never have existed. That's a fact. And that why this song should be #1.

2 Blitzkrieg Bop - Ramones

Hey-ho, I agree with this at No.2, but the majority of this chart places too much on U.S. commercial pop punk. Some of it is good, but a lot isn't and if you're going to pick that genre, where are The Queers (absolutely superb), Screeching Weasel, Teenage Bottlerocket and Riverdales? The greatest oversight, however, is the absence of punk greats such as The Undertones and Buzzcocks. Avril Lavigne before "Teenage kicks" and "Love You More"? Come on...

My top 5:
1. Basket Case - Green Day
2. Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
3. Longview - Green Day
4. Anarchy In The U.K. - Sex Pistols
5. American Idiot - Green Day
Then some songs from the clash (London Calling, Complete Control... )
5.

This is the catchiest and most well written Punk song of all time. London Calling is the only punk song on par with it too. Ramones really knew how to rock the punk scene and this is their crown achievement.

It hurts me when bands like Green ay have three songs on the top 10 punk songs. Sure they are good but punk? come on. These are the same people who call 5 Seconds of Summer punk. Ramones, Clash, Bad Religion, Rancid this is where punk is at.

3 London Calling - The Clash

Don't know how Green Day made it on this list but The Clash or The Ramones were infinitely better than Green Day. To be honest I thinks its disrespectful to include Green Day in the same sentence as these 2 great bands. I shall say nothing further on the matter and please excuse me while I take a shower to wash of the dirtiness of mentioning them in the same sentence.

First, I don't know how Yellowcard or Good Charlette made it on the list. OLD Green Day and Blink are amazing, but there is no way they could ever compete with London Calling. This is often put in the top twenty greatest songs of all time, it started riots in London and was banned on many radio station. That is Punk!

Ahh...The Clash! I've never thought of The Ramones as a punk band, so to have them as a choice for number 1 punk song feels wrong. But The Clash are the second punk band I ever listened to, after Sex Pistols. So, I'll vote for Sex Pistols as my number 2 choice, and The Clash NUMBER ONE!

I listened to London Calling and I listened to Longview. And honestly don't you guys lie to yourself when you say London Calling is more punk rock than Longview? Or the same thing with Basket Case and American Idiot.

4 Longview - Green Day

Many guys keep saying that Green Day are sellouts so they aren't punk. But nobody ever said that you mustn't be succesful to be a punk rock band. And yes, the 2012 trilogy is more pop punk, warning is no punk but American idiot and 21st Century Breakdown is the mix between punk rock and alternative rock. And just because songs don't sound like the Ramones, it doesn't mean that these songs aren't punk. I hope you can understand me and anyway I really like the Ramones, the clash, sex pistols and so on...

Longview by Green Day I do not believe this is even close to the top punk song in the world, for a start they are fairly pop and rock the top punk songs should defiantly be a old school original punk classic which inspired songs like this. Classics like sex pistols, rancid and cockney rejects about true punk rebellion, being a individual not just following trends which is what I think when I hear someone saying that they're a punk by listening to Green Day!

I absolutely LOVE punk rock and stuff! I am 13 and I would much rather listen to rock and stuff not that auto tune crap! Like Green Day, Blink-182, pierce the veil, we came as romans, papa roach, and TONS of other bands and Longview is one of my most favorite songs of all time!

I must say that there's a lot of songs that ar nominated here that don't really belong, but this one absolutely does. The bass line is just amazing, nothing to argue about, the lyrics great and so are the drums and the guitar. And the way Billie sings it fits so well.

5 God Save the Queen - Sex Pistols

There is a bunch of songs here that have ansolutley nothing to do with Punk, if you think Blink 182 is a great punk band then I'd hate to break your capitalist heart. Punk isn't a style but it is the realizatoon of the problem in the political system. A real punk band is put there for the music and the revolition, not the fame. I hardly see Pop punk, a genre made with the fusion of soft pointless songs and an actual music movement as part of this list. Stop callinv yourself punk if you like songs like Still Standing.

God save the Queen is a brilliant song that is what punk rock is all about. Comparing the monarchy of England to a fascist regime couldn't be more true. Johnny Rotten and Steve Jones are amazing muscians but underrated for their music talent. God save the Queen!

It's a damn shame all these green day fangirls can't tell the difference between punk rock and POP-punk. Blink-182 writes about their girlfriends. The Pistols wrote about Anarchy.

Great pure punk song... When I think about it... It's really hard to list all the great punk songs in order, there's so many... But I don't think I agree with this list

6 Basket Case - Green Day

This is one of the best songs ever. It remains one of my favourites, even in view of more popular Green Day songs. May this be a long standing top ten punk song.

Best song I have ever heard! Come guys it is the best album and the best song! This deserves to be number 1. Can never get it out of my head!

Love classic Green Day. This is my favorite song. All of you who say Blink and Green Day shouldn't be on this list are wrong!

Perfect vocals, crazy video, amazing riffs, fun lyrics, lightening fast drums...what more could you ask for?

7 Holiday in Cambodia - Dead Kennedys

This has to be the ultimate punk record. It is Punk music, in everyway possible. Group artists with real punk attitude. Lyrics which capture the punk spirit. Music with the same intensity and menace that goes with the Lyrics.

Even the super punk groups the likes of Sex Pistols, the clash, the undertones, the buzzcocks pale into insignificance when measured against this track. Only Stiff Little Fingers come close.

I'm not even sure how the Dead Kennedys in general, and this song in particular, didn't make the top 5. There are great punk bands, and then there are legends. The DKs, the Clash, the Ramones...these are punk bands with songs that remain amongst the greatest punk has to offer even after decades of new acts. Nothing against acts like Green Day and their ilk, but they have yet to reach the standard set by the original punks (including the NY Dolls and the Stooges and so forth as well.)

Lyrically, this song is awesome. Musically, this song is awesome. If any boring by Green Day is higher then the gods that are the Dead Kennedys, I wonder what the fate of humanity could possibly be: a pretty terrible one.

Classic album fresh fruit, fab song holiday in Cambodia. Don't agree with silly comments on here. Punk was all about making money. At the end of the Pistols us tour Mr Rotten said had the feeling you have all been conned! ;

8 Welcome to Paradise - Green Day

I listen to this song almost every day, just because I love it so much! For me, this is the Green Day song that best represents punk rock. GO Green Day!

There is no amount of GD hate rated that one man can drink to make them hate this songs. It's simply too catchy and yes I admit GD became more pop-punk and alt-rock after the 90s but that stuff is good anyways but Dookie was the most punkish you can get

Awesome song! I got the see them live in Houston

9 American Idiot - Green Day

Awesome music and lyrics. Never get tired of listening to this song. Even better live, a true test of its impact and its meaning. Just a great song.

One of the greatest songs of all time! Every time it comes on, you can only do 1 thing and that is get out the air guitar and have a rave!

My top 10 Green Day songs
10,long view
9, american idiot
8, F.O.D
7, 21 guns
6, hitching a ride
5,oh love
4,king for a day
3,nice guys finish last
2,brain stew
...ANDD NUMBER 1
1 tie between basket case or holiday

Hey what the heck! American idiot is the best punk rock song by green day! What's longview? Never even heard about it!

10 I Wanna Be Sedated - The Ramones

Easily my favorite punk song of all time. No list is complete without it!

I don't know who votes here but this song should be at least #3!

I'm not a huge punk fan but this song is simply amazing.

The Contenders
11 Story of My Life - Social Distortion

One of the greatest songs written. Backed up by great music.

Should be 1st not 20

12 Last Caress - The Misfits

It's actually a punk song, and a great one at that. Oh, and Green Day isn't punk, its pop rock and sucks.

Brilliant song, but I personally prefer it by Metallica.

13 Institutionalized - Suicidal Tendencies

The best punk song from the best punk soundtrack to the best punk movie ever. Enough said. "Let's get sushi and not pay."

All I wanted was a Pepsi!

14 Sheena is a Punk Rocker - The Ramones

One of the Ramones greatest songs. My name is Shawn so I sing, "Shawnie is a punk rocker now! " Seriously great punk though...

Way better than Bop

15 Kick Out the Jams - Mc5

Well, I'm startin' to sweat, you know my shirt's all wet, what a feeling,
With the sound that abounds and resounds and rebounds off the ceiling…"
Pure poetry.

16 Survive - Rise Against

One of my favourite songs of all time! Easily worthy to be on this list.

Better than the other! Too much listening the classic punk one!

One of the best hardcore punk songs ever, easily sublime!

17 Holidays In the Sun - Sex Pistols

One of my personal favorite Pistols songs. The beginning play-in with the boots marching and Steve Jones' fiery guitar gives me goosebumps.

18 Complete Control - The Clash

THE best punk song of all time. Period. No room for debate and there is no need to even think about this one.

The best punk song. Although it will never get the recognition it deserves, the clash made a masterpiece when writing this song

Just listened to this for the first time based on the comments. Agree. Pure awesome.

All The Small Things? THIS is the best punk song ever written.

19 Brain Stew - Green Day

This songs is way more punk than Boulevard of Broken Dreams or 21 Guns.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams and 21 Guns is mainly alternative rock

20 Judy Is a Punk - The Ramones
21 California Uber Alles - Dead Kennedys

To bad these pop-punk fangirls don't know anything about real punk. This song is far better than anything Green Day or Blink-182 ever did. The Dead Kennedys unapologetically told it like it is on issues that matter. Blink whines about how much they miss their girlfriends.

Shame this is not on top tens, it really is the best of all this songs, you could listen to this all day and don't get tired of it.

I am governor Jerry Brown... My aura smiles and never frowns!
One of my favorites from the Dead Kennedys.

There's always room for Jello in the top 10. This song should be there! Show some respect.

22 Rise Above - Black Flag

This song lasted for so long and is still riot worthy!

Black flag for the win!

By the way, I don't think sellouts like Green Day should be in this list

Shocked it's not in the top 10. Probably because hardcore punk frightens Blink 182 fans.

23 I Wanna Be Your Dog - The Stooges

I think the Stooges where the first band to play music that we would recognise as punk now in the late 60's. The first punk ad to be him Morrison of the doors, what a guy, recognized by Iggy as a massive influence!

1969, brill, anyone who hasn't heard this album have a listen. Fairplay to everyone who put Green Day up. Punk was about being yourself and having fun!

If you listen to no fun by the stooges I think you quickly realise how poor the Pistols version is.

Iggy Pop's masterpiece from 1969 (! ), being way ahead of its time. He was one of the pioneers when it comes to punk music.

24 All the Small Things - Blink 182

A song of defining punk act in modern era... Its an all around punk song with its music up-beat, vocals, guitar-riffs and the facts goes-on and on... Simply the best.

Possibly the best song ever made. NO other punk song can match this songs beat, vocals, or just plain awesomeness. My favorite song since like forever.

It is meant about the punk lifestyle and they carried on so well with the video..
This makes sense of the real punk song and the lyrics is meaningful too..
It's the best punk song ever

Cool song, I love blink 182
Best band ever of all time. The lyric means everything to me. I miss the old days when I can see blink on T.V.

25 So What - Anti-Nowhere League
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