Whether short or long, songs undeniably have the power to touch our souls. They evoke deep emotions, inspiring or saddening us, and serve as a source of motivation in ways few other things can. This emotional impact is why songwriting is considered a true art form. Have you ever thought about what it takes to write a song? As you might imagine, it demands years of experience, passion, hard work, creativity, and a lot of fine-tuning. That’s why creating longer songs is an impressive achievement in itself.
Ever wondered, “What is the longest song in the world?” It goes beyond the typical eight-minute tracks you’re used to. In fact, the longest songs extend for hours. While writing a three-minute song can be difficult, composing one that lasts an hour seems almost unimaginable. Yet, thanks to talented musicians, such songs exist. We’ve put together a list of some of the longest songs ever created, along with insights into the artists behind them and the meaning of the lyrics.
Whether you’re looking to create the longest Spotify playlist or seeking extended tracks to help you sleep, here are some of the longest songs ever recorded for you to explore.
10. Garden of Dreams
Song Length: 59:25
Artist: The Flower Kings
The Flower Kings make the list of longest songs with their piece “Garden of Dreams.” This composition is divided into 18 sections that flow together into a single, cohesive work. “Garden of Dreams” explores a wide range of emotions throughout its parts, earning praise as a masterwork for its emotional depth. Interestingly, had Roine Stolt not brought together musicians to perform his song “The Flower King,” the band may never have come together, and “Garden of Dreams” might not have existed.
The lyrics of “Garden of Dreams” address life’s struggles, promoting peace and love over war and nuclear weapons, while expressing a longing to return to the “Garden of Dreams” and envision a joyful life there. This can be interpreted as a reference to humanity’s banishment from the Garden of Eden following Adam and Eve’s original sin, presenting a choice between following God (which symbolizes kindness and love) or the Devil (against whom the song warns the listener).
9. Light of Day, Day of Darkness
Song Length: 60:06
Artist: Green Carnation
Green Carnation, a Norwegian progressive metal band, created “Light of Day, Day of Darkness,” which was released by Prophecy Productions in November 2001. Terje Vik Schel, also known as Tchort, is a founding member of the band and played a significant role in this composition. He was responsible for writing, arranging, and composing the song, which has a duration of over an hour. The deeply emotional context of the piece relates to Tchort’s late daughter and includes the voice of his son, Damien Aleksander, in the final moments.
“Light of Day, Day of Darkness” is notable within the metal genre for its use of instruments that are not typically found in metal music. Despite this, it maintains strong metal characteristics, incorporating elements of death metal and growls.
8. The Devil Glitch
Song Length: 69:00
Artist: Christ Butler
“The Devil Glitch” earns its place among the longest songs due to its previous title as the longest pop song, a distinction it held until it was surpassed by Giancarlo Ferrari’s “Apparente Liberta.” Despite losing this title, Chris Butler’s song remains significant with a runtime of one hour and nine minutes. Released in 2000, it belongs to the progressive pop and art pop genres.
The theme of “The Devil Glitch” revolves around the concept of fixing things, with the singer suggesting, “sometimes you can fix something by…” followed by a range of actions that include both whimsical and sincere advice, as well as destructive suggestions. The advice often contradicts itself, reflecting multiple perspectives. The song earned the nickname “The Devil Glitch” because of its repetitive nature, which some listeners believe may have a cursing effect, although Butler himself has not confirmed this interpretation.
7. Apparente Liberta
Song Length: 76:44
Artist: Giancarlo Ferrari
“Apparente Liberta” is not only one of the longest songs but, as of 2022, it also holds the record for the longest pop song ever recorded. Composed by Ferrari in 2005 and released as a physical CD in 2008, the song features lyrics that can be challenging to understand, possibly due to vocal distortion—an artistic choice that may stem from the artist’s experience as a victim of a roadside accident in 1998. Ferrari was a prominent figure and a founding member of Some Sad Clowns, a goth band that was active from 1992 to 1996.
The song “Apparente Liberta” reflects on history, examining how individual narratives influence historical understanding. It addresses themes such as pollution, racism, the working class, slavery, politics, and mass media. Musically, it combines elements of synthpop with repetitive art pop sounds, utilizing sequencers and trackers in its composition.
6. The Whirlwind
Song Length: 77:54
Artist: Transatlantic
“The Whirlwind” by Transatlantic is another lengthy song that has been divided into sections to fit within an album. Released on October 23, 2009, the band’s third album, “The Whirlwind,” is a single continuous composition. It consists of twelve parts, beginning with “Overture/Whirlwind” and ending with “Dancing with Glory/Whirlwind (reprise).” Transatlantic released the album in three formats: standard, deluxe, and a double-disc special edition. The deluxe version featured a 105-minute documentary about the making of the song.
In “The Whirlwind,” Transatlantic explores relatable themes, focusing on the sudden and unpredictable tragedies that people face, regardless of their nature or timing. While the song doesn’t point to any specific event, it can be seen as a reflection of historical hardships like slavery, war, and other forms of human suffering.
The song also resonates with listeners dealing with personal challenges, such as financial struggles, relationship issues, and family problems. It ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that these trials lead to growth and completion, and that one day we will look back and appreciate the difficult experiences that once brought us pain.
5. Opus Clavicesmbalisticum
Song Length: 4:00:00
Artist: Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji
Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji completed his composition “Opus Clavicembalisticum” on June 25, 1930. Neither Sorabji nor the world anticipated that it would become one of the longest musical works ever composed, as well as the longest piano piece. The intricate techniques and immense mental stamina needed to perform it are still considered remarkable today. Depending on the tempo, performances can last up to four and a half hours.
After finishing the piece, Sorabji wrote to a friend, sharing both his exhaustion and satisfaction. He described the final sections as containing harmonies as sharp as nitric acid and slow but unstoppable counterpoints that resembled divine retribution.
4. The Rise and Fall of Bossanova Section IV
Song Length: 13:00:00
Artist: PC III
Spotify users have created playlists featuring some of the longest tracks, but the longest individual song on the platform is “The Rise and Fall of Bossanova section IV,” which lasts around four hours. However, the song was split into sections to form an album. The entire composition, “The Rise and Fall of Bossanova,” spans 13 hours and held the title of the world’s longest song until it was surpassed in 2021.
Michael J. Bostwick composed the piece for his music project, The Pipe Choir Three (PC III), and it was officially released on November 1, 2016, under the Creative Commons label Pipe Choir. It held the record for four years until “Symphony of the Crown” claimed the title. YouTuber Elise Ecklund, known for her music content, listened to the entire 13-hour track, describing it as sleep-inducing, a sentiment echoed by others who found the song to be soothing and relaxing.
3. The Ring Cycle
Song Length: 15:00:00
Artist: Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner’s monumental German music drama, “The Ring Cycle,” also known as “Der Ring des Nibelungen” or simply “The Ring,” took the composer 26 years to complete, from 1848 to 1874. This grand work is divided into four parts: “The Rhinegold,” “The Valkyrie,” “Siegfried,” and “Twilight of the Gods.” Although Wagner originally intended for the entire cycle to be performed consecutively, it is often staged in individual segments.
As one of the longest musical compositions, “The Ring Cycle” is notable for its extended runtime. A full performance takes place over four days, with a total length of about 15 hours. The story draws on Germanic legends, Norse mythology, and the medieval poem “The Nibelungenlied.” Wagner skillfully uses recurring themes, or leitmotifs, to emphasize his mastery of musical storytelling throughout the epic.
2. Symphony of the Crown
Song Length: 48:39:35
Artist: Earthena
Earthena’s “Symphony of the Crown” now holds the title of the world’s longest song, with a staggering runtime of 48 hours, 39 minutes, and 35 seconds. While works like “Organ ASLSP” continue to unfold, “Symphony of the Crown” has been officially recognized as the longest song by the Guinness Book of World Records. On Spotify, the song is divided into sections, with the final part lasting 39 minutes and 35 seconds.
Released on October 1, 2021, the creation of “Symphony of the Crown” took over a year to complete. Earthena debuted the song in King City, Ontario, Canada. The piece features an extended sequence of synth beats and a consistent rhythm throughout. You can listen to this record-breaking composition on Earthena’s Spotify profile.
1. As Slow As Possible
Song Length: 2001–2640
Artist: Cage
“Organ2 / (As SLow aS Possible)” stands out as one of the most unique entries among the longest songs ever. Similar to Greta Van Fleet’s “Lover, Leaver (Taker, Believer),” this piece is not just a song but a performance. Amazingly, the organ performance of this work has been ongoing since 2001 and is expected to continue until 2640. The composition was created by John Cage, an American composer, music theorist, artist, and philosopher. Originally written for piano as “ASLSP” in 1985, the duration of the piece can range from 20 to 70 minutes, depending on the pianist.
The organ playing this piece is housed in St. Burchardi Church in Halberstadt, where the most recent note change occurred on February 2, 2022. The performance is set to end in 2640. Apart from the ongoing organ rendition, there have been other notable performances. On February 5, 2009, Diane Luchese performed the piece for 14 hours and 56 minutes, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., marking the longest single performance of the composition to date.