16 Classic Rock Anthems That Are More Relevant Than Ever

There is something magical about songs that have lyrics which not only bring to mind a very specific era in history (for example the 1960s) but have themes which apply to our current experiences. The timeless quality of these songs make them enduringly popular, not just because they still sound incredible, but because they transcend time. "The music that has really survived through this time has proven so far to be the best music ever made," guitarist Jeff Fielder told American Songwriter. "And I say that knowing that I may make me sound like a grumpy old man. But the music that was once considered mainstream was made by true artists and was put out into the world by people who appreciated these artists." Here are 16 classic rock anthems that could have been written in the modern era, and will still be relevant decades from now.

Considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time, Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven (1971) has one of the most recognizable riffs in music history. Rolling Stone magazine placed it at number 31 for their "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.

John Lennon's Imagine still has a strong hold on popular culture for good reason—the 1971 song is still incredibly relevant. It was the best-selling song of his solo career, and wife Yoko Ono later received co-writing credits.

One of the most enduring classic rock songs, Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) by Queen peaked in the charts again after being featured in Wayne's World (1992). It's also the name of the Freddie Mercury biographical film (2018).

The lyrics of Journey's Don't Stop Believin' (1981) are both timeless and relevant today. It is now an 18-times platinum-certified single, making it the most successful song ever.

Aerosmith's Dream On (1973) has lyrics that feel contemporary. "People ask me all the time what Dream On is all about," Steven Tyler said in biography Walk This Way. "It's simple. It's about dreaming until your dreams come true. It's about the hunger and desire and ambition to be somebody that Aerosmith felt in those days."

Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run (1975) has themes that still make sense in today's world. "The songs were written immediately after the Vietnam War and you forget, everybody felt like that then," Springsteen told Rolling Stone. "It didn't matter how old you were, everybody experienced a radical change in the image they had of their country and of themselves."

Bob Dylan's The Times They Are a-Changin' (1964) could be applied to any era. "This was definitely a song with a purpose," he told the LA Times in 1985. "I knew exactly what I wanted to write and for whom… I wanted to write a big song, some kind of theme song, ya know, with short concise verses that piled up on each other in a hypnotic way…"

Creedence Clearwater Revival's Fortunate Son (1969) is considered an iconic anti-war track. Although the song was symbolic of the Vietnam war, the lyrics apply in modern times.

One of the most enduring American classics, Don McLean's American Pie (1971) is timeless. "Best thing I ever did," McLean told Forbes. "It's nice to have the best thing you ever did become one of the most famous songs there ever was. It means I don't have to work anymore. That's something I say on-stage once in a while."

The Who's Baba O'Riley (1971) is a rock classic from the album Who's Next. "I was delighted with it," Pete Townshend told Guitar Player. "It felt like the Who's first proper album. It felt uncomplicated and simple and I just didn't care that the story had been lost. I was just relieved to have made anything."

Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here (1975) is a classic song about alienation and betrayal that is still relevant. The themes of greed and ambition endure.

The Rolling Stones' Paint It Black (1966) is a timeless song about grief and bereavement. "Our songs were taking on some kind of edge in the lyrics…" Jagger said. "Cynical, nasty, skeptical, rude… The lyrics and the mood of the songs fitted with the kids' disenchantment with the grown-up world of America, and for a while we seemed to be the only provider, the soundtrack for the rumbling of rebellion, touching on those social nerves."

Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water (1972) has one of the most iconic guitar riffs in music history. According to Ritchie Blackmore, the track is inspired by a timeless piece of music. "It's an interpretation of inversion. You turn it back, and play it back and forth, it's actually Beethoven's fifth." 

Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) (1979) is another song perfectly relevant to the disillusion youth feels. The track is considered by many to be the ultimate protest song. 

Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird (1973) is a song about freedom and love that endures today. "Every night that we play it, people just — you look at people and [they're] so overwhelmed with it, it's beautiful. It's just a beautiful song. And I never get tired of playing it," Rickey Medlocke told Ultimate Classic Rock.

A timeless song about loss of innocence, Bob Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone (1965) will always be relevant. The song is Dylan's most commercially successful hit.