Interesting thought. Most played song ever over the longest period of time? Easy. Bob Wills - San Antonio Rose   Not the vocal version which came later, but the instrumental from 1938.

We had a small but loved collection of 78s in our home when I was growing up. For Me San Antonio Rose was the centerpiece of that collection. I can't give an exact date, but I was 10 in 1947. I am guessing at least a year or two before that.

A short while after graduating from college I moved up to a Bob Wills lp which contained a version that I still have, one that you can actually hear the music clearly above the surface noise, unlike the grooves of that old 78 worn from an uncountable number of plays, many with badly worn steel needles.

In the early 90s I got a Columbia CD which featured many of my old favorites, including SAR. Unfortunately I loaned it out but never got it back and could never find another copy.

I DO have a digital copy now. I am listening to that as I type.   "Ah, that San Antonio Rose, Yes!" I never tire hearing Bob's asides.