[2025] Classic Western songs about the moon: recommended popular tracks
The moon we see when we look up at the sky is both familiar and endlessly mysterious—a presence that never ceases to fascinate us.
Shaped by the influence of sunlight into forms like the full moon and new moon, the “moon” enchants and bewilders those who behold it.
It’s only natural that artists with keen sensitivity would choose it as a theme for their songs.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of classic Western songs themed around that captivating moon.
From tracks that sing directly about the moon to songs that use the moon or moonlight as a metaphor, enjoy a diverse lineup of pieces spanning eras and genres.
- [Moon Songs Special] Famous songs about the moon. Songs you’ll want to listen to under a full moon or in the moonlight.
- [Night Songs] Classic masterpieces themed around the night. J-POP you’ll want to listen to at nighttime.
- Masterpieces that sing of the stars. Star songs that resonate in the heart, best heard beneath the night sky.
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- Songs of the constellations: classic and popular tracks you’ll want to listen to while gazing at the night sky
[2025] Classic Western songs about the moon: Recommended popular tracks (51–60)
An Ending (Ascent)Brian Eno
Brian Eno, the British musician who produced many masterpieces that have gone down in music history as a pioneering figure of so-called ambient music.
The somewhat mysterious music Eno creates feels as if it contains a truly cosmic world, and the piece introduced here, “An Ending (Ascent),” is a quintessential masterpiece themed around the moon and outer space.
The album that includes this track, Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks, was released in 1983 and was created as the soundtrack to the feature-length documentary For All Mankind, which depicts the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing.
In 2019, an extended remastered edition of the album was released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s moon landing.
Why not listen to the track on its own or the album as a whole and imagine the distant world of the moon? As an aside, “An Ending (Ascent)” was also used in the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics—a testament to its musical significance.
Sisters of the MoonFleetwood Mac
A song with a captivating, mysterious, and dramatic atmosphere, released by Fleetwood Mac in October 1979.
Included on the album Tusk, the track reached No.
86 on the U.
S.
Billboard Hot 100.
Stevie Nicks’s powerful vocals and the dark, moody rock sound leave a strong impression.
The lyrics, depicting an encounter with a mysterious woman known as a sister of the moon, spark the listener’s imagination.
It conveys a yearning for deep spiritual connection and true understanding beyond surface-level relationships—perfect for listening while gazing up at the night sky.
Recommended for those drawn to a mystical vibe.
Man on the moonR.E.M.
This song, included on their eighth album, “Automatic for the People,” released in 1992, is a folk-style track shaped by gently sung vocals and guitar.
It is also known for reaching number 30 on the Billboard chart.
Fly Me to the MoonFrank Sinatra
As songs themed around the moon go, this is surely one of the most famous in the world.
Known in Japan by the title “Take Me to the Moon,” “Fly Me to the Moon” was written and composed in 1954 by American songwriter Bart Howard.
Interestingly, its original title was “In Other Words,” and it was set in 3/4 time—quite different from the version widely known today.
A later version retitled “Fly Me to the Moon” was released, and it went on to become a classic standard, endlessly covered by many artists and etched into music history.
It was also used as the ending theme for the TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which is likely where many people first encountered the song.
This time, we’re highlighting the rendition recorded by the legendary jazz singer Frank Sinatra, which became a major hit in 1964.
Considering the historical context—NASA’s Apollo program was underway in the 1960s, making the moon feel like a “distant yet close” presence—the song’s success could be seen as almost inevitable.
[2025] Classic Western songs about the moon: Recommended popular tracks (61–70)
Blue MoonMarcels
A song that brightens anyone who listens to it.
Released in 1961, this track features delightful vocal work by an American R&B (doo-wop) group.
With this song, they impressively reached number one on the U.
S.
charts.
Give it a listen and you’ll see why.
Half MoonBlind Pilot
This is a song released in September 2011 by the American indie folk band Blind Pilot.
Its acoustic tones and simple arrangement are appealing, and the clear, airy vocals resonate pleasantly.
The lyrics, themed around self-exploration and the pursuit of change, emphasize the importance of an inner journey and personal growth.
Singing of liberation from past pain and a longing for new experiences, the track was also used in the series finale of the popular drama One Tree Hill, resonating with many listeners.
It’s a gentle, soothing song that you’ll want to listen to on a quiet night while gazing at the moon.
EclipsePink Floyd
Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon is celebrated as a legendary album worldwide.
The track that closes it is Eclipse.
To understand how this song relates to the “moon,” you need to know the album’s original title: The Dark Side of the Moon—literally, “the far side of the moon.” This phrase is actually a common idiom: because the side in shadow can’t be seen from Earth, it’s often used to mean “the unknown.” And at the end of Eclipse, the lyrics say, “There is no dark side of the moon really.
Matter of fact, it’s all dark.” The album ends on that line.
What it means is up to you to interpret.