The Definitive Answer: Ranking Pink Floyd's 5 Longest Songs And The 25-Minute Masterpiece That Tops Them All
For decades, the question of the longest Pink Floyd song has been a subject of intense debate among fans, often pitting the orchestral grandeur of one epic track against the psychedelic soundscapes of another. As of late 2025, the definitive answer depends on a crucial distinction: whether you count a multi-part composition as a single piece. The official studio album running times for the band's sprawling progressive rock odysseys—including "Atom Heart Mother Suite" and "Echoes"—have always been close, but a recent continuous mix of a legendary track has finally settled the score, crowning a 25-minute masterpiece as the undisputed champion.
The band, founded by Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, built their legacy on these sprawling compositions, using the extended format to explore complex themes of madness, greed, and the human condition. This deep dive not only reveals the longest track but also explores the history, inspiration, and lyrical genius behind the top contenders, providing the ultimate guide to the band's most ambitious musical journeys.
The Undisputed Champion: Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I–IX)
The title of the longest Pink Floyd song, when viewed as a single, intended composition, belongs to "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." While originally split into two separate tracks (Parts I–V and Parts VI–IX) to bookend the 1975 album Wish You Were Here, the entire composition runs for approximately 25 minutes and 4 seconds in its continuous form.
This combined length makes it the longest single piece of music released on a Pink Floyd studio album, surpassing its closest rivals by over a minute. The song is not just a collection of parts; it is a seamless, nine-part suite, often performed in its entirety during live shows, solidifying its status as one continuous work.
The Heartbreaking Inspiration: A Tribute to Syd Barrett
The emotional weight and extended length of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" are directly tied to its muse: founding member Syd Barrett.
Barrett, the band’s original creative force, had departed the group in 1968 due to rapidly deteriorating mental health, exacerbated by heavy drug use.
The song is a poignant tribute and a lament for his lost brilliance, capturing the band’s feelings of guilt, loss, and deep sadness over their friend’s fate.
A legendary, bittersweet moment occurred during the recording sessions for Wish You Were Here. An overweight man with shaven eyebrows and a shaved head wandered into the studio. The band members, including David Gilmour and Roger Waters, initially did not recognize him. It was Syd Barrett.
The irony was profound: the man they were writing a tribute to was standing right there, unrecognizable to his former bandmates. This encounter cemented the song's tragic meaning for the band and its fans.
The Historical Contenders: The Closest Studio Album Tracks
Before the combined length of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" was fully embraced, the debate for the longest track was a tight race between two other monumental pieces. These tracks represent the band's experimental early 70s period, where they pushed the boundaries of progressive rock and album-side-spanning compositions.
1. Atom Heart Mother Suite (23:44)
The title track from the 1970 album Atom Heart Mother is a six-part instrumental suite that officially clocks in at 23 minutes and 44 seconds.
This piece is notable for its use of an entire orchestra and choir, arranged by Ron Geesin, giving it a unique, classical-rock fusion sound.
It occupies the entire first side of the original vinyl LP, a bold statement that defined the band's move into truly epic-scale composition. Despite its complexity and length, the band members, particularly Roger Waters, have historically expressed mixed feelings about the final result, often finding it difficult to reproduce live.
2. Echoes (23:32)
"Echoes," the closing track from the 1971 album Meddle, is a fan favorite and arguably the most cohesive of Pink Floyd's long-form pieces. Its running time is approximately 23 minutes and 32 seconds.
The song is a true collaboration, with all four members—Gilmour, Waters, Wright, and Mason—contributing heavily to its composition. It’s famed for its sonic experimentation, including the iconic "ping" sound created by Gilmour's guitar and the eerie, underwater-like middle section.
The track famously occupied the entire second side of the Meddle LP and is considered a pivotal moment in the band's career, bridging their early psychedelic work with the polished progressive sound of The Dark Side of the Moon.
The Top 5 Longest Pink Floyd Songs (Studio Album Versions)
Pink Floyd's discography is filled with extended tracks that define the progressive rock genre. Beyond the top three, several other songs cross the ten-minute mark, showcasing the band’s preference for musical storytelling over radio-friendly singles. This list focuses on the longest official studio album versions.
- Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I–IX): ~25:00 (Continuous Version from Wish You Were Here, 1975)
- Atom Heart Mother Suite: 23:44 (Atom Heart Mother, 1970)
- Echoes: 23:32 (Meddle, 1971)
- Dogs: 17:05 (Animals, 1977)
- Pigs (Three Different Ones): 11:26 (Animals, 1977)
The Epic Scale of the Animals Album
The 1977 album Animals, a concept album based loosely on George Orwell's Animal Farm, features three massive, politically charged tracks that take up the majority of the album's runtime. "Dogs," the longest track at 17 minutes and 5 seconds, is a powerful critique of cutthroat capitalism and social conformity, primarily written by David Gilmour and Roger Waters.
The other major tracks, "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" and "Sheep," are also lengthy, clocking in at 11:26 and 10:21, respectively, demonstrating the band's continued commitment to the epic song structure well into their commercial peak.
Beyond the Studio: The Longest Live and Unreleased Tracks
While the studio versions set the official records, Pink Floyd's live performances often stretched their compositions to even greater lengths, giving fans a truly immersive experience.
- "Interstellar Overdrive": Early live versions of this psychedelic track from the 1967 album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn often extended past 20 minutes, showcasing the band's early improvisational style.
- "The Embryo": This track, originally an unreleased song from 1970, was a staple of their live shows in the early 70s and could easily stretch to 25 minutes or more through extended jams and improvisations.
- "Saucerful of Secrets": The title track from their second album was another vehicle for lengthy, abstract live performances, sometimes reaching 20 minutes as a showcase for experimental sound.
In conclusion, while "Atom Heart Mother Suite" and "Echoes" are incredibly close, the official, continuous version of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (Parts I–IX) stands as the longest single composition in Pink Floyd's studio discography. Its 25-minute runtime is a monument to the band's ambition and a timeless, emotional tribute to their fallen comrade, Syd Barrett.
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