Seems to me that although rock fans may outnumber folkies, I'd still expect more interesting answers about rock songs from folkies. It would also be interesting to ask a classical crowd, a jazz crowd--probably the least interesting group to ask would be rock fans. For my money, anyway.

The question asks best rock song, and why, which isn't too confusing really. But it's hard--I'm thinking maybe Peggy Sue, because it directly exemplifies the bottled energy thing at the heart of rock, and Buddy Holly projects the self-conscious and vaguely confused psychology I chose to associate with it. He's not exactly ironic, but seems uncertain whether to laugh at himself for his own strongly felt emotions--he had a mature sort of immaturity. Maybe the Everly Brothers--but I can't pick the song.

   Also the Velvet Underground's Sweet Jane, for similar rumbly reasons, the energy and psychology. David Bowie's Young Americans. Jethro Tull's Sweet Dream--but Ian Anderson was always a little too much of a grown-up to expose the mixed-up emotions I'm looking for. Elvis--the song didn't always matter so much, he'd make a nothing song into something. Led Zepplin is hard to pick a song--like Picasso it's more just their whole approach and the whole pile of their stuff. Bob Dylan has good rock tunes, but not the kind of first-person identification with a brave-faced but-vulnerable song that I suppose would be quality I'm looking for. Rock is for young hard-felt emotions, for Romeo and Juliet, and their punky friends. The Beatles Don't Let Me Down has a lot going for it, but is a little too relaxed on the surface. Same with the Everly Brother's Til I Kissed Ya.

    Lots of people do good boisterous rock tunes, and I like those public-spirited community servive announcements--Let's all Dance like Crazy things--but why pick one over another? Who cares who wrote one? I suppose I'm thinking the great ones got a little more interesting, first-personal in feeling, if not necesarily exactly first-person. I think the great tunes are the ones where the public thumpiness got invested with a little wary or anxious undertow, a heightened drama. After that, lots of interesting things developed, but in other directions, away from rock, into rock-pop, other rockified things. I guess that's what I think.