There’s something magical about a great closing track — that final curtain call that leaves you in awe, reflection, or joy. These songs don’t just end an album; they complete it. Here are ten of the finest farewells ever pressed to vinyl, wrapped in sound and soul, from artists who knew exactly how to leave the stage.
“A Day in the Life” – The Beatles (‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’)
The final note rings for over 40 seconds, a full-orchestra crescendo that feels like the sound of the universe expanding. John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s haunting masterpiece closes one of the most influential albums ever made — timeless, surreal, and endlessly replayable.
“All Apologies” – Nirvana (‘In Utero’)
Kurt Cobain’s voice floats between ache and acceptance, a lullaby for everything he ever questioned. The cello swells, the drums fade, and the album ends with one word echoing in the air: “All in all is all we are.”
“Champagne Supernova” – Oasis (‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’)
Sweeping guitars, cryptic lyrics, and a dreamlike wall of sound give this closer the feeling of drifting toward the horizon. It’s Liam Gallagher at his most anthemic, Noel at his most cinematic, and Britpop at its highest altitude.
“Desolation Row” – Bob Dylan (‘Highway 61 Revisited’)
An eleven-minute fever dream of characters, poetry, and wisdom that turns chaos into rhythm. Dylan’s surreal storytelling paints every verse like a scene in an endless film that you never want to end.
“Eclipse” – Pink Floyd (‘The Dark Side of the Moon’)
A perfect finale to one of rock’s most unified visions. “All that you touch, all that you see…” whispers over heartbeat drums — a reminder that everything connects in the vastness of sound and space.
“God Only Knows” – The Beach Boys (‘Pet Sounds’)
Brian Wilson’s masterpiece closes with layered harmonies that shimmer like sunlight through stained glass. It’s a love song that transcends romance — the sound of vulnerability turned divine.
“Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” – Marvin Gaye (‘What’s Going On’)
The bassline grooves deep, the vocals plead softly, and the song loops back into the album’s opening track like a circle of reflection. Marvin’s closing message remains one of soulful truth and unity.
“The Last Goodbye” – Jeff Buckley (‘Grace’)
Angelic vocals and sweeping emotion flow through this tender farewell. Buckley delivers each lyric like a whispered confession to eternity, his voice lingering long after the music fades.
“Street Spirit (Fade Out)” – Radiohead (‘The Bends’)
A hypnotic, melancholic closer carried by delicate arpeggios and Thom Yorke’s ghostly tone. The song floats in slow motion — an exhale that turns into a prayer.
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – The Rolling Stones (‘Let It Bleed’)
A choir opens the song in gospel splendor before Mick Jagger strolls in with the ultimate philosophical singalong. It’s the sound of acceptance, satisfaction, and the perfect fade into rock ‘n’ roll history.