Highlights

  • The length of songs on the Billboard Top 100 has decreased by about 20 seconds in the past five years, with the average now standing at around 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
  • There have been notable fluctuations in song lengths over the years, with a time when 3-minute-and-30-second songs were the norm due to vinyl record restrictions, and longer songs like "November Rain" and "Free Bird" becoming novelties.
  • Some of the longest songs to ever top the charts include "I Would Do Anything For Love" by Meatloaf (12 minutes), "We Are The World" by USA for Africa (6:22 minutes), and "Hey Jude" by The Beatles (7 minutes and 11 seconds). Taylor Swift recently set a new record with a 10-minute song called "All Too Well."

According to a piece published in 2019 in Digital Music News, the average length of a song on the Billboard Top 100 has decreased by about 20 seconds in the past five years. Rappers are shortening their songs more and more these days, and the average stood, in 2019, at around 3 minutes and 30 seconds. But song lengths have been fluctuating for years now, and though we may not give a second thought to something as seemingly mundane as a song's runtime, there are definite, observable trends in the music world that have been documented over the past several decades.

There was a time when a 3-minute-and-30-second song was the norm, and this was for a specific reason: it was dictated by the amount of music a vinyl record could hold. When groups started to no longer be bound by those restrictions, 7-minute singles began to hit the airwaves and achieve notoriety. Now, a long runtime can even be seen as a novelty in a song; think Guns 'N Roses' "November Rain" or Lynard Skynard's "Free Bird." We promise you'll recognize at least a few from this list, so here are all the longest songs to ever reach #1 on the charts.

Related: Taylor Swift And These Celebrities Wrote These Hit Songs In Under 30 Minutes

7 'I Would Do Anything For Love' (But I Won't Do That) - Meatloaf

Meatloaf
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1993 was Meatloaf's year for a run at the throne of the longest song to ever top the charts. While the radio version of "I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)," ran for just over 5 minutes and 16 seconds, as noted by Billboard itself, the original version on the album ran for no less than 12 minutes. The length of the song was barely its most interesting feature, though; people were more consumed with the question the song title begs: what is that one thing he won't do for love?

6 'We Are The World' - USA For Africa

USA for Africa
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One of the longest songs to ever top the charts isn't even by one artist; it's by many. 1985's "We Are the World" was a charity song to raise money for victims of the Ethiopian famine, led by pop legend Michael Jackson. Other than MJ, the song featured 46 singers, including stars like Willie Nelson, Cyndi Lauper, Tina Turner, and Stevie Wonder. Given just how many icons were involved, it makes sense that this song's run time is a whopping 6:22 minutes.

5 'Rapture' - Blondie

Debbie Harry
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Blondie's "Rapture" is now remembered for the iconic music video, but it's clinched its spot in history for other reasons. Back when it was released in 1980, it was the longest song to ever hit #1 at its time. With a runtime of 6 minutes and 31 seconds, much more typical of a chart-topping song at the time - but still an impressive feat.

4 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone' - The Temptations

Otis Williams
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Detroit spawned the five-part vocal group The Temptations in the 1960s, and the group became pioneers of Motown with 38 records in the pop top 40. In 1972, The Temptations released a 6 minute, 54 second edit of their song “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” down from its original 12 minutes in the original version. It cinched the #1 spot, and it was massive commercial successes. In fact, it was records like this that got The Temptations inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

3 'Hey Jude' - The Beatles

The Beatles
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At 7 minutes and 11 seconds, "Hey Jude" by The Beatles was the longest single to top the charts when it came out in 1968. It would go on to remain the record holder for quite some time.

RELATED: Surprising Facts Behind Some Of The Beatles' Most Famous Lyrics

Paul McCartney was the one gunning for the song to be long, while Beatles producer George Martin insisted this could work against them, as radio DJs wouldn't play it if it was too long. Paul McCartney's cocky (but not incorrect) response? "They will if it's us."

2 'American Pie' - Don McLean

Don McLean
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Until recently, Don McLean held a pretty impressive record: for almost 50 years, "American Pie" was the longest song to ever hit #1. Per Billboard, the song runs 8 minutes and 42 seconds, almost three times the norm for songs at that time, which was right around three minutes. When the song was released as a single on vinyl in 1971, it had to be split into two parts, taking up both sides of the record and preventing Don McLean from including a B-side on the record, as was common for singles at the time.

1 'All Too Well (10 Minute Version)' - Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift
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Back in 2021, Taylor Swift made history when the 10 minute version of "All Too Well." Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" debuted at #1 on the charts last week, instantly making it the longest song to ever hit the top spot, clocking in at 10:13. Setting records is, in the words of another song on her most recent album, "nothing new" for Taylor. She holds many other world records, including Most Album of the Year Awards Won at the Grammys by a Vocalist and Most Weeks at #1 on Billboard's Artist 100 Chart.

As for the previous record holder she unseated, sure enough, Don McLean has been asked about his feelings regarding the situation. However, his answer proved he's a chill guy: "Let’s face it, nobody ever wants to lose that #1 spot, but if I had to lose it to somebody, I sure am glad it was another great singer/songwriter such as Taylor." Taylor has had nothing but good kind words for her predecessor, herself. As Don revealed in an Instagram post, she sent him both flowers and a sweet note thanking him for his impact on her life. "Sending love one writer of LONG songs to another," she signed off.