Pink Floyd Songs Ranked

Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished for their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics, and elaborate live shows, and became a leading brand of the progressive rock genre. Pink Floyd was founded by students Syd Barrett (guitar, lead vocals), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass guitar, vocals), and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals). Under Barrett’s leadership, they released two charting singles and a successful debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined in December 1967; Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health. Waters became the primary lyricist and thematic leader, devising the concepts behind the band’s peak of critical and commercial success with the albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and The Wall (1979). The Waters-written musical film based on The Wall album, Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982), won two BAFTA Awards. Here are all of Pink Floyd’s songs ranked.

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20. One of These Days (Meddle, 1971)

“It definitely takes more than one listen, but once you listen again and again and so on… you just might understand the musical brilliance of it. That’s what makes them such a great progressive rock band”

19. Run Like Hell (The Wall, 1979)

“Catchy, kickass, and just plain fun to listen to. The guitar rocks, the beat rocks, and especially the vocals coming Waters. I always liked his voice. It is rather unique.”

18. Welcome to the Machine (Delicate Sound of Thunder, 1988)

“It has amazing sound effects. This song is so underrated. The lyrics are amazing and the sound is awesome. When I first heard it, I was amazed. I was impressed. The sound effects mixed with the acoustic guitar are mind blowing. It’s a shame that people don’t full appreciate the quality of the song.”

17. Mother (The Wall, 1979)

“Not only is this song just so perfect, but I also had an overprotective mom. Makes me smile reading the lyrics. Make anyone listen to the solo and ask them to guess which band made it, they’ll say Pink Floyd.”

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16. The Trial (The Wall, 1979)

“Blends genres excellently, has a fantastic melody and has a completely unique sound. I really wish it were longer. I absolutely love this song! The way it ends the wall album, with Pink’s mother, old teacher and old girlfriend visits him! It makes your remember the greatest album off all time”

15. Have a Cigar (Wish You Were Here, 1975)

“A song of sleaze and suspicion, it paints a very strong image in my mind of Roger, David, Syd, etc, all staring at a salesperson with distrust, fearful of the capitalization of the music industry. It’s a warning to all, and I love it.”

14. Pigs (Three Different Ones) (Animals, 1977)

“This song is just great and the bass line is amazing. Two bass solos, funky riffs and fills, and that progression in the end. What else can you put in a bass line, Mr. David Gilmour? Just amazing!”

13. The Great Gig in the Sky (The Dark Side of the Moon, 1973)

“I love the song! The most amazing thing is the psychedelic effect that the masterpiece has on you. I wish the band were more recognized for the beauty of what they’ve done. They deserve more credit and more recognition and they are underrated. The Great Gig In The Sky is so beautiful. The piano, the beats, the vocals. Its such a great pleasure to listen to the song.”

12. Brain Damage (Works 1983)

“First time I listened to this song was with headphones on full volume, in the dark. A song has never hit home harder. This truly is an amazing song. It’s depressing but beautiful.”

11. Us and Them (The Dark Side of the Moon, 1973)

“The best song on The Dark Side of The Moon, bar none! The compilation/fusion by Rick Wright of jazz and rock is sublime, and the organ sound is the best I have ever heard. These lyrics are the hardest hitting, most emotional and most meaningful on the album, and in general. Of course, not much needs to be said about the combination of Sax and Hammond! Most “fans” like “Money”, but true fans love “Us And Them”.”

10. High Hopes (The Division Bell, 1994)

“David Gilmour’s best lyrics and most face-ripping solo. Beautifully melancholic, chilled out, and flowing, yet still has intensity and a subtle drive to it. The only reason they quit after this song is cause they knew they couldn’t come up with anything better, and it’s the perfect end to the Pink Floyd story with the lyrics documenting their journey, as well as other peoples through life”

9. Hey You (The Wall, 1979)

“When I first heard this song, I couldn’t stand it. It was my least favorite classic rock song. I would always hear it on the radio and never bothered to listen to the song all the way through. I didn’t really have an appreciation for slower songs, but then I started getting into Pink Floyd and noticed this one was considered to be one of their best songs, so I gave it another try and realized it’s actually not that bad. It’s amazing in fact! It’s now one of my favorite songs. Never be too quick to judge a song.”

8. Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2 (The Wall, 1979)

“I mean it is one of their most popular songs, but there is better songs they have made. Lot’s of songs from dark side of the moon, wish you were here, animals, meddle, the wall, etc. Their most popular, but not the best they have made.”

7. Money (The Dark Side of the Moon, 1973)

“This is the best song that Pink Floyd did as a band as a whole, with each member contributing so much instrumentally. With a groovy, iconic bass line, a steady drum beat to go with it, some really cool keyboard sounds, and a brilliant saxophone/guitar solo in the middle, it’s such a complete song.”

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6. Dogs (Animals, 1977)

“A timeless masterpiece, unprecedented musical work, unprecedented lyrics and a strong message that lingers in you long after those 17 minutes of absolute heaven fade out with one of the most powerful finales of all time. Dogs is the best piece of music I have ever listened to and everyone owes it to themselves to listen to this progressive-rock masterpiece. It is literally the perfect song.”

5. Echoes (Echoes, 2001)

“Pink Floyd is the best band in the world, no doubt! It is extremely difficult though to call the very best song by Floyd. I myself am somewhere in between Echoes and Comfortably Numb. Both songs are incredibly powerful and absolutely breathtaking! Comfortably Numb is probably the obvious choice for a lot of people because Echoes can be hard to accept as it is not all harmony, but that is exactly what makes it so fantastic. It is a song that consists of all of the most powerful aspects of music and that makes it a complete masterpiece!”

4. Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 1-5 (Wish You Were Here, 1975)

“This is the song that got me into Pink Floyd. Of course, everyone knows Money and another brick in the wall… But this is the song that made me wanna listen to every single Floyd album within a single weekend. I remember I listened to this song for the first time on the way home from the last day of high school. Everything about this song blew my mind. I remember hearing the saxophone solo and just wanting to sit down in the shade of that warm summer day and just let this song continuously blow my mind.”

3. Wish You Were Here (Wish You Were Here, 1975)

“The joy, peace, and flat out amazingness from an Pink Floyd is almost to great to comprehend. But Wish You Were Here is the very best and no song compares to it rock greatness, ever time I listen to this song I think nothing put pure emotions coming from the always great David Glimour voices. I want this song to play at my funeral. Greatest Pink Floyd song greatest song ever by the best band ever. Thank you and always keep calm and care on.”

2. Time (The Dark Side of the Moon, 1973)

“That song is probably the Pink Floyd masterpiece, or at least their defining piece of work, not only for its beautiful and poetic lyrics and astonishing instrumental, but because it is the song where the definitive sounding atmosphere of the group’s music lays on, and you can clearly see the role of the four members in a form that no other song or album could do, except for maybe, Wish You Were Here or Meddle.”

1. Comfortably Numb (The Wall, 1988)

“The thing about Pink Floyd: not all songs are that good, but when they do a really great song like comfortably numb, no other band can match the combination of lyrics, instrumentation, harmonies, musical talent in every band member. Pink Floyd at its best, not even the Beatles can match it…the crescendo of this song, the only other song that (maybe) is at the same level may be Stairway…”