10 Best Rock Songs With The Word "Go" In The Title

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The word “go” has turned up in rock, pop, soul, and blues titles for decades, usually carrying some idea of movement, departure, freedom, or knowing when it is time to leave. These ten choices move from Them and The Cars through Motown, Prince, Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, and The Moody Blues.

# 10 – Baby Please Don’t Go – Them

“Baby Please Don’t Go” is a blues standard strongly associated with Big Joe Williams’ 1935 recording, and Them turned it into a hard-driving rock single in 1964. Led by Van Morrison, Them’s version reached No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart in 1965. Session guitarist Jimmy Page has long been associated with the recording, although accounts differ over exactly what he played.

Read More: Our 10 Favorite Van Morrison Songs

# 9 – Let’s Go – The Cars

The Cars released “Let’s Go” in 1979 as the lead single from Candy-O. Written by Ric Ocasek and sung by bassist Benjamin Orr, the song reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the band’s first U.S. Top 20 single. Its clipped new-wave rhythm and repeated invitation to go make it a natural fit for this list.

# 8 – Where Did Our Love Go – The Supremes

The Supremes released “Where Did Our Love Go” in 1964, and it became their first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, holding the top spot for two weeks. Written and produced by Holland–Dozier–Holland, the single started a run of five consecutive No. 1 hits for the group. Diana Ross’ restrained lead vocal gives the breakup lyric much of its effect.

Read More: Top 10 Supremes Songs

# 7 – Going to a Go-Go – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles released “Going to a Go-Go” in late 1965 as the title track from their album of the same name. Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, Bobby Rogers, and Marv Tarplin wrote the song, with Robinson and Moore producing it at Hitsville U.S.A. The single reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the R&B chart.

# 6 – Let’s Go Crazy – Prince

Prince released “Let’s Go Crazy” in 1984 from Purple Rain, where it opens both the album and the film. Written and produced by Prince, the single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the R&B and dance charts. The spoken opening gives way to a song about refusing to let life’s pressures beat you down.

Read More: Top 25 Prince Songs

# 5 – Letting Go – Paul McCartney & Wings

This one was always one of my favorites by McCartney. Wings released “Letting Go” in 1975 from Venus and Mars, with Paul McCartney producing the recording. The single reached No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 41 in the UK, but the song’s heavy guitar sound and soulful vocal have always made it stand out far beyond those chart numbers.

# 4 – The Show Must Go On – Leo Sayer / Three Dog Night

Leo Sayer and David Courtney wrote “The Show Must Go On,” which Sayer first recorded for his 1973 debut album Silverbird. Sayer’s version reached No. 2 in the UK, while Three Dog Night recorded the song in 1974 with Chuck Negron singing lead and took it to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The circus imagery works as a metaphor for someone trapped inside a life that has become its own performance.

# 3 – Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac

Lindsey Buckingham wrote “Go Your Own Way” during the breakup of his relationship with Stevie Nicks, and Fleetwood Mac released it in December 1976 as the first single from Rumours. The song reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977, becoming the band’s first U.S. Top 10 hit. Buckingham’s anger and frustration are built directly into both the lyric and the arrangement.

# 2 – As Tears Go By – The Rolling Stones

Marianne Faithfull first recorded “As Tears Go By” in 1964 before The Rolling Stones released their own version in 1965. Written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Andrew Loog Oldham, the song was an early example of Jagger and Richards moving beyond the blues and R&B material that dominated the band’s first records. The Stones’ version reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

# 1 – Go Now – The Moody Blues

Larry Banks and Milton Bennett wrote “Go Now,” which Bessie Banks first recorded in 1964. The Moody Blues recorded their version later that year with Denny Laine on lead vocal and guitar, and it became the band’s first major hit, reaching No. 1 in the UK and No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The record belongs to the group’s early R&B-oriented period, years before the progressive sound most listeners associate with The Moody Blues.