Top 10 Best Songs by Elbow

The title track of their breakthrough album. A tribute to their deceased friend Bryan Glancy. It's a sad but loving waltz. The brass gives it a New Orleans funeral procession feel. Guy Garvey sings full of woe. A beautiful, personal tribute to friendship.

A love letter to the city of New York. Inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon. The song is bursting with energy and optimism. "The way the day begins." The production is rich and detailed. It captures the feeling of waking up in a metropolis full of possibilities. Grand and sweeping.

A melancholic song about lost friends and nights of drinking. The beat is quiet and the trumpets are soft. "Another sunrise with my sad captains." It's about the moment the party is over and reality sets in. One of their most atmospheric and touching songs.

An early masterpiece showing their rock side. The guitar riff is obstinate and self-willed. It's a critique of world leaders and power. The lyrics are sharp and cynical. The chorus is powerful. It shows that Elbow also has sharp edges and doesn't just make lovely songs.

A bewitchingly beautiful love song. It describes the morning after a night when you fell in love. "Everything has changed." The music twinkles like a disco ball in the sunlight. The strings and piano lift you up. It's pure happiness and wonder, captured in music. Romance at its best.

Inspired by a little girl on the beach. The string section in this song is overwhelming beautiful and cinematic. It's about innocence and seeing the beauty of the world through children's eyes. "It's all gonna be magnificent." A song that offers comfort and hope in uncertain times.

A song about memories triggered by a smell or a place. It contains a sample of "Summertime." The mood is oppressive and nostalgic. The rhythms are complex and interesting. It shows the creativity and musicality of the band. A modern classic.

The stomping hit that plays in every pub. The riff is heavy, bluesy and dirty. It's about drinking to forget your troubles. "I've been working on a cocktail called grounds for divorce." The "Woah-oh" in the chorus is made for stadiums. It's tough, cynical and irresistibly catchy. Elbow with muscles.

The song with the famous whistle. An ode to the street kids on the corner. Instead of condemning them, Garvey looks at their youth with nostalgia. "Build a rocket boys!" It's tender, observant and beautifully constructed. The piano and whistle create a mood of melancholy and understanding. A jewel of humanity.

The ultimate anthem of euphoria. "It's looking like a beautiful day." The strings are majestic and the choir at the end is gigantic. It's about waking up and knowing everything is okay because you're in love. The song builds to a climax that lets the sun shine no matter where you are. It's grand, warm and embraces the whole world. The undisputed number one.