10 Best Rock Songs With The Word ‘Green’ In The Title

Feature Photo: Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com

Creating a list of the 10 Best Rock Songs with the Word ‘Green’ in the Title proved to be more challenging than our previous compilation, which focused on rock songs with the word “Red” in the title. There are significantly fewer songs that incorporate the word “Green.” Nonetheless, there were enough to make narrowing down the list to just ten quite difficult. While the word “green” is often associated with nature, Shakespeare famously associated it with envy and jealousy. So, here we go…

# 10 – Green-Eyed Lady – Sugarloaf

We kick off our list of the 10 Best Rock Songs with the Word ‘Green’ in the Title with the iconic “Green-Eyed Lady.” This was probably the first song that came to your mind as well, wasn’t it? “Green-Eyed Lady,” known for its memorable opening bass line, was recently featured on our list showcasing the most distinctive bass intro lines.

This hit single by the American Sugarloaf, was composed by Jerry Corbetta, J.C. Phillips, and David Riordan. It was released on the band’s debut album and marked their first single. It climbed to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. Beyond the United States, the song found its audience, reaching fifty-three on Australia’s Go-Set chart and securing the top position on Canada’s RPM Top Singles. In year-end charts, “Green-Eyed Lady” was thirteenth in Canada and thirtieth on the U.S. Billboard chart for 1970, solidifying its influence in popular culture.

# 9 – The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) – Fleetwood Mac

Continuing with our 10 Best Rock Songs With The Word ‘Green’ In The Title list we take a listen to the great song entitled The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown). “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown),” was composed by Peter Green and recorded when he was in Fleetwood Mac. It was released as a single in the UK in May 1970. It hit number No. 10 on the British charts. This track was Green’s final contribution to Fleetwood Mac before his departure from the group. It was eventually released on the residues of the band’s Then Play On album in 2013. This is a very cool tune.

# 8 – Green Thoughts – The Smithereens

Whenever we get a chance to spread a little love to one of our favorite bands, the Smithereens, we are going to do it. The song “Green Thoughts” was released on the album also entitled Green Thoughts. The album was released in 1989. This was the album that spawned the big hit Only A Memory. The song “Green Thoughts” was said to be written about thoughts of jealousy.

Read More: The Top 10 Smithereens Songs

# 7 – Big Green Country – Neil Young & Pearl Jam

You get two for the price of one with “Big Green Country.” Neil Young penned this track for his Mirror Ball album, released in 1995. Interestingly, for those who might not be familiar with the album, Neil Young collaborated with Pearl Jam, sans Eddie Vedder, as his backing band. This collaboration resulted in a unique sound distinct from Neil Young’s previous work. It’s an exceptionally cool record. Eddie Vedder did make a contribution as a backup vocalist on the song “Peace and Love.” Brendan O’Brien was the producer of the album.

Read More: Top 10 Neil Young Songs

# 6 – Green Grass – Tom Waits

What’s a list of concept songs without a Tom Waits song? We always try to include Tom Waits. We’re big Tom Waits fans here at the site, so we’re a bit biased. Have you ever heard this one before? It’s not one of his most popular ones. Nonetheless, it’s brilliant and really, really haunting. It should have been on our haunting songs list. The song was released on Tom Waits Real Gone album. The album was released in 2011.

# 5 – Green Is the Colour – Pink Floyd

At the halfway point on our 10 Best Rock Songs With The Word ‘Green’ In The Title list is a real lost gem by Pink Floyd entitled Green Is The Colour. You might have never heard of this one unless you’re a big-time Pink Floyd fan. And that’s a shame because it’s a beautiful acoustic ballad by the band. The song was issued on the soundtrack album More, which was released in 1969. The song was composed by Roger Waters. David Gilmour sang lead vocals on the track.

Read More: Top 25 Pink Floyd Songs

# 4 – Green Tambourine – The Lemon Pipers

Don’t you just love this song? The fun part about composing lists like these is the rediscovery of gems like this one. It was also a joy to find the video of the band performing the song from 1968. Make sure to check this out. The Lemon Pipers only released two albums. However, their debut, also called Green Tambourine, scored the group a number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968 with the title track. That’s all you need to be remembered forever.

# 3 – Green Onions

Booker T. & The MG’s was the backing band on many legendary Stax Records. However, they were also a group that released albums in their name, led by organ player Booker T. Jones. The group also consisted of Steve Cropper on guitar, Al Jackson on drums, and Lewie Steinberg on bass. Green Onions was the band’s most popular original song. It is one of the most famous rock and soul instrumentals ever. It has been placed in countless movies, TV shows, and commercials. It was initially released in 1962.

# 2 – Green Grass and High Tides – The Outlaws

“Green Grass and High Tides” by The Outlaws was the band’s Freebird. This was a song that was heavily loved by fans of Southern Rock in the 1970s. At almost ten minutes long, this song put you in a trance in your bedroom or basement, hanging with your friends and doing what all 1970s rock and roll kids did. The song was released on the band’s debut album called Outlaws. The album was released in 1975. Those were the good old days.

Read More: Top 10 Outlaws Songs

# 1 – Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival

We close out our 10 Best Rock Songs With The Word ‘Green’ In The Title list with the legendary song Green River by Creedence Clearwater Revival. There was no wasy we could leave this one off the list, as it was probably one of the first songs that everyone thought of when they saw the title of this article. John Fogerty wrote many classic rock songs at the end of the 1960s and early 1970s. Creedence was a special band that helped define the protest culture of the Vietnam War.

“Green River” was released as a single in July 1969; it preceded the album of the same name, which came out in August of the same year. The song quickly climbed the charts, reaching its peak at number two for one week. Green River, the band’s third studio album, was launched on August 3, 1969, by Fantasy Records, featuring the combined talents of John Fogerty on lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, piano, keyboards, and harmonica, Tom Fogerty on rhythm guitar, Stu Cook handling the bass guitar, and Doug Clifford on drums.

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One Response

Baybluesman April 7, 2024

Although I pretty much enjoy everything CCR, with the exception of non-John Fogerty tunes on “Mardi Gras”, “Green Grass And High Tides” (especially the 20-1/2 minute live version from “Bring It Back Alive”) has a special place in my musical life experiences.
So many countless evenings at college, playing Risk or Backgammon, with friends with a sound-activated light box, popping brews and doing (as the author stated) “what all 1970s kids did”…..
All capped off by about ten of us traveling around 2 hours or so to see the Outlaws perform it Live in 1976.
The triple guitar attack was amazing, rivaling Skynyrd’s classic live “Free Bird”.

Those were the good old day, indeed – and wouldn’t trade them for any amount.