The greatest Pop song yet written and recorded.

Just listened to God Only Knows by the Beach Boys and can confirm that it is not the best pop song. Top of my head, these are better. 
Dancing In the Street by Martha and the Vandellas
Be My Baby by The Ronettes
California Dreamin'
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
Let it snow by Ella F.
Dancing Queen by Abba

PS, it all depends on taste.

Hey Jude is the best pop song! I remember it well from its initial release in the Fall of '69. It has real ear worm catchiness!

Exactly -- we all have our favorites.

It’s not as though "God Only Knows" is the only well-crafted Pop song -- there are many in the top tier. It all comes down to what moves us, particularly.

Simply consider the many gems in Stevie Wonder’s catalogue, for example. His composing is as harmonically/melodically sophisticated as anyone’s. This may or may not matter, depending upon whether his music appeals to you. Songs like  "All Is Fair In Love" and "Visions" would certainly rank very highly on any list I’d compile, though.

What is the time span we’re considering? Think of all the Standards, some going back to the Twenties -- the Pop music of that era. These tunes from the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s are still being both sung and utilized for instrumental Jazz improvisation.

@rpeluso: Oh yeah, if you remove the "Paul and" the sentence would read "agree with me". So even with "Paul" in the sentence, "me" is correct. Smarty-pants. 😉

Another Top 10 song for me is "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted". Like "God Only Knows", it’s chord structure/modulation/inversion just kills me. The bass part---played by my favorite bassist, James Jamerson---raises the hair on the back of my neck.

As for Beatles covers of Motown songs, give the original recording of "Money (That’s What I Want)"---written by Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, sung by Barrett Strong---a listen. Good as The Beatles version is---and it’s good---the original is even better (a very visceral feeling of tension-and-release is created by The Funk Brothers), with a very wicked little guitar solo (incredible tone, too).

John Lennon’s vocal on "Twist And Shout" is one of his best. I don't remember whether or not The Beatles did the song when I saw them live in '65. But I vividly remember looking up at Lennon on stage, standing on the floor of The Cow Palace in S. San Francisco about ten yards away from him. He had an electric piano next to him, which he played on only one song. He smiled a lot that night, appearing to be having a great time. Amazing to think he was murdered only fifteen years later.

Instead of saying greatest song ever written, maybe what song would I not want to live without? Done by the then other then, Stevie Ray, Tin Pan Alley. As per stuartk, many eligible as per personal preference.