Well I already wrote about searching for the greatest song ever and how much of an unsuccessful endeavor it was. If I was looking at my own life though and choosing a song that I felt was the greatest song of all time I would have a terrifically hard time because there are so many magnificent songs. There are a few songs which come to mind immediately though.
"Oxygen" by Willy Mason. Lyrically this song is almost flawless ('I wanna be cool than TV, to all the children who don't know what they're going to be'). The music is pleasant if not enthralling. Oh, and he was around 18 when he wrote a song more intelligent than most musicians entire catalogs.
"Sonora's Death Row" by Robert Earl Keen. The single best story ever told in song form (unfortunately he didn't write it). The original though is feeble in comparison. This song made me love, love, love country music and also made me realize you can tell an entire story in just three minutes (and it can be better than many books).
Unfortunately, these songs have been my staple answer for this question for years. I don't really throw them into the CD player anymore though so it's hard to really stand strong by these two. There is one new song though that I'd have to say I can listen to over and over again and it doesn't tire me out at all;
"Water" by Aesop Rock. I love the lyrics, and ever since it was pointed out to me that it was the first song that got me into Aesop, I have been listening to it over and over and just adoring the classical background, the genius lyrics, and the overall insanity of the fact that this guy even exists.
