Literally the Best 1 Through 10 Songs

There are so many top ten lists out there for songs covering every topic and theme. So I thought I would go literal and make a list of what I thought were the top 10 songs with one of the numbers between 1 and 10 in the title. As is my usual M.O. (musical operation), many of the songs I have chosen may not necessarily be the most popular or obvious choice but are still just as good if not better in quality and appeal than those you can hear on the radio every day without any extra effort or the satisfaction of discovery. I hope you enjoy these and are inspired by this list to search out music that the radio stations and music companies don't always offer willingly to the listening public.



10. Ten Men Working - Neil Young

Neil Young appropriately fronts a ten piece band to celebrate the working men (and women) who get the jobs done every day that we take for granted. This is not the usual topic in rock and roll, but It's nice to hear a working class rally cry and tribute to the people who practice a strong work ethic day in and day out. This Neil Young tune makes you want to get down and get to work and get the job done.

9. Driving on 9 - The Breeders

This catchy little tune bounces in at number 9 sounding like a Sunday morning drive celebratory ditty, but if you listen carefully, the driver/narrator of this song has weightier issues on her mind than just missing her exit on the freeway.

8. Eight Days a Week - The Beatles

There aren't many "number 8" songs out there, and since the Beatles had their share of top 10 hits, I think it would be a crime not to include them even on this literal top ten list just for the sake of picking another song that is not as well known. This is why the Beatles work their way onto the list at number 8.

7. Seven Nations Army- The White Stripes

The White Stripes march in at number 7 on this list with this rocking number which creeps up on you and resonates in your bones. It's a song about gossip, but gets its title from what lead singer Jack White mistakenly thought the Salvation Army was called as a kid.


6. 25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago

This guitar and horn jam about the song writing process clocks in on this list at number 6 (even though it could have fallen at number 4 as well due to its numeric title) was written at 3:34 a.m. or 3:35 a.m. (25 or 26 minutes to 4:00 a.m.) in the Hollywood hills looking out over the city of Hollywood. If done right, like it is here, a horn section can really make a rock song come alive.

5. Five to 1 - The Doors

The Doors roll the dice but don't beat the odds and come in at number 5 on this list (instead of number 1) with this dark, strutting chant of love, lust, life, and death.

4. Friend is a Four Letter Word - Cake

This song about the pain of a break up comes in at number 4. Having teenage daughters, this song takes on a deeper meaning for mean, as I see them go through too much drama with their friends on a regular basis. No single, healthy, person in their teens should have enough drama to make them want to become a hermit and swear off friendships for good.

3. Three Marlenas - The Wallflowers

This ambiguous, yet wonderful song rides in at number 3. It may mean different things to different people with its vivid imagery, but it seems to be about the numerous, competing personas in us all pursuing conflicting dreams or futures.

2. Two Out of Three Ain't Bad - Meat Loaf

This melancholy song about the realization that a relationship has run its course and has no more room for growth could have landed in one of two sequential spots on this list, but it comes in alone at number 2.


1. One Tree Hill - U2

I could have just as easily picked One by U2 for this position on the list, but even though that is a great song also, I decided to pick the less popular but equally deserving choice out of the hopes of bringing this song memorialized at number 1 on this list to the attention of people that may not have heard it before. This song was written as a touching tribute to lead singer Bono's friend and assistant who was killed in a 1985 motorcycle crash. One Tree Hill is is a tourist attraction in New Zealand where Bono's friend and assistant had taken him on Bono's first night in New Zealand.


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Sources:

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3574

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1197

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=7879

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=916