Top 10 Pink Floyd Songs

As one of The Wall’s many tracks revolving around a disaffected musician named Pink, “Hey You” follows the character’s efforts to be reconnected to society. Unfortunately, the wall of the album’s title prevents his success. Comprising vocals by both Gilmour and Waters, the four-and-a-half minute track is one of the album’s highlights and captures Pink’s struggle with its poignant and desperate atmosphere.

It was thanks in large part to this top twenty single that The Dark Side of the Moon topped the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart in the early 1970s. Distinguishing itself with a jangly intro made up of the sounds of coins, cash registers and more, “Money” also featured Gilmour’s memorable guitar soloing and a bluesy sax section. The radio favorite helped its parent album become one of history’s highest-grossing records.

This 17-minute-long tune had Pink Floyd blending prog rock, blues rock and hard rock and experimenting with guitar chords. Both Waters and Gilmour take turns singing lyrics that liken the cutthroat business world to the lives lived by dogs. In this way, it fits right in with its parent album’s theme of critiquing society and politics. Richard Wright’s keyboard playing also helped to enhance the song’s mood.

Credited to all of Pink Floyd’s members, this avant-garde piece from their sixth effort helped transition the band from psychedelic to progressive rockers. Thanks to its length, musical effects and high concentration of instrumental passages, “Echoes” is the ideal showcase for the band’s many talents and musical evolution. So it’s no wonder it’s Meddle’s standout track.

Since the last two songs off The Dark Side of the Moon bleed into each other and are often played one after the other on the radio, we’ve decided to bundle them together for this entry. Inspired by the downward mental spiral of ex-singer Syd Barrett, “Brain Damage” displays Pink Floyd’s softer side, while “Eclipse” brings volume levels up a notch with its memorable melody.

With a lengthy opening section featuring the all-too-familiar sound of instruments used to keep time, this single off The Dark of the Moon is one of the best examples of Wright and Gilmour’s harmonized vocals. It quickly became a radio staple and helped Floyd sell over 50 million units of their eighth record. Aside from its many appearances in pop culture, “Time” is also frequently covered by other artists.

Pink Floyd paid homage to their former band mate Syd Barrett with this track found on Wish You Were Here. Despite being split into two parts on the album, the tune doesn’t lose any of its strength or appeal as it gave each member a chance to shine, whether it was Gilmour’s moving lyrics and guitar-playing, Rick Wright’s keyboards, Waters’ bass skills or Nick Mason’s efforts on the skins.

This Waters-penned track is the second of three songs titled “Another Brick in the Wall.” Taken off the band’s eleventh studio record, “Part 2” combined disco elements with progressive rock so well that it earned the band their only U.S. and UK chart-topper. The Grammy-nominated protest song also made waves for its lyrical themes, guitar work, bass line and use of a school choir.

It was with this prog rock and hard number that Pink Floyd ensured fans weren’t “comfortably numb” to their music. They may’ve been known for introspective lyrics, studio experimentation, and effects-heavy, extravagant shows, but their sound wouldn’t be the same without Gilmour. His evocative, blues-inspired guitar on the two solos of The Wall’s third single, especially the final one, helped solidify the band’s popularity and success.

"Learning to Fly," A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
"Keep Talking," The Division Bell (1994)
"The Trial," The Wall (1979)
"Run Like Hell," The Wall (1979)
"Mother,” The Wall (1979)

As the product of a Gilmour and Waters writing collaboration, the title cut to Pink Floyd’s ninth album made us wish we there in the studio when they recorded it. Thanks to its dark lyrics, Gilmour’s guitar and vocal work and beautiful acoustic and progressive rock elements, the song captured the band’s sound to a tee. “Wish You Were Here” is also considered one of their finest tracks and has been covered multiple times.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Pink Floyd song? With new videos published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com for more entertaining top 10s.