10 Best Songs With The Word 'Whole' In The Title

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Whether it’s a song about giving your “whole” heart, a “whole” lot of trouble, or a “whole” world in one person’s hands, these tracks show just how much power a single word can carry when paired with the right melody and voice. We picked ten pretty interesting ones for this list.

# 10 – Whole Wide World – The Rolling Stones

We open up this fun list featuring songs with the word “whole” in the title with one of the greatest bands of all time. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones. If you haven’t heard Hackney Diamonds, which the Stones released in 2023, then you’re missing out on a really great rock and roll record. It’s amazing that these guys are still putting out such killer music this late in their career. “Whole Wide World” is one of my favorite songs on the album.

# 9 – Whole Life – Paul McCartney

I guess, while on the topic of rock stars who are around 80 or above, here is one from the most famous rock star of all time. I would bet my Sonny and Cher 8-track tape that most people have never heard this song. Paul McCartney and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics co-wrote and recorded “Whole Life” in 1995, but that version stayed in the vaults until a rough mix appeared on McCartney’s Flaming Pie Archive Collection in 2020.

McCartney and Stewart returned to “Whole Life” in 2003 and re-recorded it at Abbey Road with McCartney’s touring band for Nelson Mandela’s 46664 campaign. That version was later released on the One Year On 46664 EP in 2005.

# 8 – Whole Lotta Trouble – Stevie Nicks

“Whole Lotta Trouble” stands as one of Stevie Nicks’ sharpest declarations of defiance. Written by Nicks and Mike Campbell and produced by Rupert Hine, the song appeared on her 1989 album The Other Side of the Mirror. Its driving rock arrangement gives Nicks plenty of room to deliver the song with the mix of vulnerability and toughness that has always made her such a distinctive singer. “Whole Lotta Trouble” later earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.

# 7 – Whole Lot of Leavin’ – Bon Jovi

“Whole Lot of Leavin'” by Bon Jovi captures the restless spirit of a life spent in motion, reflecting on love, distance, and emotional disconnection. Written by Jon Bon Jovi and John Shanks and produced by Shanks, the song appeared on the band’s 2007 album Lost Highway and was released as a European single in 2008. The track’s country-rock flavor fits the direction of Lost Highway, while Jon Bon Jovi’s vocal gives the song a weary sense of life on the road.

# 6 – Whole Lotta Rosie – AC/DC

Well, we couldn’t leave this one out. “Whole Lotta Rosie” stands as one of AC/DC’s most enduring and explosive tracks, closing out the 1977 album Let There Be Rock with an unforgettable burst of raw energy. Recorded at Albert Studios in Sydney and produced by Harry Vanda and George Young, the song features Bon Scott on vocals, Angus and Malcolm Young on guitars, Mark Evans on bass, and Phil Rudd on drums.

Bon Scott’s lyrics were inspired by a real-life encounter with a woman named Rosie. Fueled by Angus Young’s searing riffs and the band’s relentless rhythm section, “Whole Lotta Rosie” became a fan favorite and a staple of AC/DC’s live shows, where the giant inflatable Rosie became part of the spectacle.

# 5 – I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better – The Byrds

“I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” by The Byrds is one of the definitive tracks of the 1960s folk-rock explosion. Written and sung by Gene Clark, the song appeared on the band’s 1965 debut album Mr. Tambourine Man. Recorded at Columbia Studios in Hollywood and produced by Terry Melcher, it features Roger McGuinn on twelve-string guitar, David Crosby on rhythm guitar, Chris Hillman on bass, Michael Clarke on drums, and Clark on lead vocals. Originally released as the B-side of “All I Really Want to Do,” it became one of The Byrds’ most beloved recordings in its own right.

# 4 – Whole Lotta Zep – Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar’s tribute to Led Zeppelin is a whole lotta fun and a perfect fit for this list. “Whole Lotta Zep” appeared on the 2002 Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas album Not 4 Sale. The track works as a hard-rocking Zeppelin medley built around “Whole Lotta Love,” “Black Dog,” and “Kashmir.” Hagar is joined by Vic Johnson on guitar, Mona Gnader on bass, David Lauser on drums, and Jesse Harms on keyboards.

# 3 – (He’s Got) The Whole World in His Hands – Dion

When you’re picking a song as famous as this one, which hundreds of artists have covered, the challenge becomes the choice of which artist’s version to represent it. We went with Dion’s version, which sounds nothing like almost anyone else’s recording of this famous spiritual. You might not even think it is the same song. Dion recorded “(He’s Got) The Whole World in His Hands” for Born to Be with You, the dark and unusual Phil Spector-produced album released in 1975.

Dion’s stirring vocal performance and Spector’s dense production give the song a profound emotional weight. The album was largely overlooked when it first appeared, but its reputation grew enormously over the years, and this track remains one of its most distinctive moments.

Read More: Top 10 Dion And The Belmonts Songs

# 2 – Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On – Jerry Lee Lewis

“Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” became the song that launched Jerry Lee Lewis into rock and roll history. Lewis recorded it at Sun Studio in Memphis in February 1957, with Roland Janes on guitar and J.M. Van Eaton on drums, while Jack Clement supervised the recording. Earlier versions of the song had already been recorded, but Lewis transformed it through his explosive piano playing, vocals, and stage-tested arrangement. Released by Sun in 1957, it reached number three on Billboard’s pop chart and number one on both its R&B and country charts.

Read More: Top 10 Jerry Lee Lewis Songs