All-time best lyricist

[soggybomb]

The antithesis to All-time worst lyricist (wanted to be positive ) My vote is for John Lennon.

[Danzilla]

Too many great ones out there to say just one is the all-time best. Jon Anderson (when he's not singing about South American bird-gods), Pete Townsend, Neal Morse, Todd Agnew, Aaron Tate, Rich Mullins, Dan Haseltine, Randall Goodgame, Andrew Peterson... just a start. Jeff Beck is so lyrical, he doesn't even need to use words!

[A String]

Bob Dylan.

[Rampdog]

This guy ain't too shabby...well...maybe he's shabby but he has a way with words...

http://www.tomwaitslibrary.com/

[The Big G]

yes a way with words is what Dylan has, he aint got much ability for harmonica playing and his guitar work is poor to say the least (still was ok live when i last saw him, his band were so tight, they had to be !!!), but so many good ones, my personal favs are Kevin Mcdermott & Paul Weller but cant disregard Lennon and McCartney they have written some special lyrics in their time.

G

 

G

[S. Yeti Bigfoot, Esq.]

Ray Stevens.

[Goalie Blues]

Robert Plant is a definite candidate.

 

What about Barry Manilow?

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Just Kidding

[Dr. Ellwood]

Ray Stevens.

 

[miroslav]

Maybe not the "all-time best"...but Bernie Taupin comes to mind...Neil Young...Jim Croce...Gordon Lightfoot...Jimmy Webb...Neil Diamond...Harry Chapin....Don McLean....oh my...this could be a loooooooong list! :grin:

[blueross]

What about Barry Manilow?

 

Well he does write the songs that the whole world sings...

 

I'm rather partial to Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows. But I totally agree with miroslav's list.

[jbote]

Ray Davies, Difford & Tilbrook, Elvis Costello, Roger Miller...the list goes on and on!

[Greg B.]

I would agree about Lennon & McCartney. Chris Cornell has had some really good moments also-especially on the "Temple Of The Dog" record.

[JayViddler]

Bob Dylan.

 

[revolead]

Bob Dylan.

 

While I agree his lyrics are generally very poetic (we actually studied them in creative writing class in college), I am not so sure I ever liked his songs. I always liked everyone's covers of his stuff better.

 

One of my all-time favorite songs, even musically, is the Metallica cover of "Turn the Page" by Bob Seger. I always thought the lyrics were very good:

 

On a long and lonesome highway, east of Omaha

You can listen to the engines

moanin' Out its one note song

You can think about the woman or the girl

You knew the night before

 

But your thoughts will soon be wandering

The way they always do

When you're ridin' sixteen hours

And there's nothin' much to do

And you don't feel much like riding

You just wish the trip was through

 

Chorus:

Here I am, On the road again

There I am, Up on the stage

There I go, Playin' star again

There I go, Turn the page

 

So you walk into this restaurant

Strung out from the road

And you feel the eyes upon you

As you're shaking off the cold

You pretend it doesn't bother you

But you just want to explode

 

Yeah, most times you can't hear 'em talk

But other times you can

All the same old clichés:

"Is it woman? Is it man?"

And you always seem outnumbered

You don't dare make a stand

Make your stand

 

Chorus:

Here I am, On the road again

There I am, Up on the stage

Here I go, Playn' star again

There I go, Turn the page

 

Whoa-oh

Out there in the spotlight, you're a million miles away

Every ounce of energy, you try and give away

As the sweat pours out your body, like the music that you play

 

Later in the evenin' as you lie awake in bed

With the echoes of the amplifiers ringin' in your head

You smoke the day's last cigarette

Rememberin' what she said

What she said

 

(Yeah, what she said.)

 

Yeah

Here I am, on the road again

There I am, up on the stage

Here I go, playn' star again

There I go, turn the page

And there I go, turn that page

There I go, yeah

Here I go, yeah(3x)

There I go, there I go

(And I'm gone)

 

[Dr. Ellwood]

Michigan is proud to claim him! what a great writer! and performer he is!! Thanks for a excellent example!!

[Greg B.]

Neil Young

 

[revolead]

Coheed and Cambria is a very cool modern prog rock band that I believe has single-handedly saved my generation from complete rock deafness. Anyway, sometimes their lyrics are nonsensical or overboard, but this song "Mother Superior" is a beautiful description and story of a young man convinced suicide is the way out. It is an inner dialogue of what he feels and captures the reality of what a man could be feeling in such circumstances.

 

Here, sleep, at the bottom of hell

Your time has come to pick the road

You'll walk in this tale

Turned, as a coward you've learned

Through sickness, in health, is only one

Now go and bite your tounge

 

You'll just say the worst to me

With a hope they'll understand

No, they know you're just a boy

So grow up and be a man

Little baby, kicking, you scream, whine

Victims pay the price eventually

The cost, let's see your life

 

You've got nothing to prove, stay afraid

Young brother, you've got nothing to prove

 

Your answer is in there, just stare down the barrel

Your sincerest apologies, wont write you out of this one

Tonight, you'll find the right in the pull of the trigger, now bite

Oh young fools, don't cry...anymore

 

A fear sleeps, inside your stomach, it swells

A torn boy, alone, in need of fix

And the pinch that kills the itch

For too long, this little baby's cried on

For tomorrow, we'll sing the words and song

Of a time we're glad is long gone

 

You'll just say the worst to me

With a hope they'll understand

No, they know you're just a boy

So grow up and be a man

Little baby, kicking, you scream, whine

Victims pay the price eventually

The cost, let's see your life

 

You've got nothing to prove, stay afraid

Young brother, you've got nothing to prove

 

Your answer is in there, just stare down the barrel

Your sincerest apologies, wont write you out of this one

Tonight, you'll find the right in the pull of the trigger, now bite

Oh young fools, don't cry

 

Mother superior, come catch the rabbit he runs, my how've you been?

You frightened of leaving this truly gone fishing amalgam

Go fetch your gun

 

Your answer is in there, just stare down the barrel

Your sincerest apologies, wont write you out of this one

Tonight, you'll find the right in the pull of the trigger, now bite

Oh young fools, don't cry

Not anymore...

 

Don't cry, boy, not anymore

Don't cry, boy, not anymore

Don't cry, boy.

When your sick to the stomach, just pull out the knife.

 

Don't cry boy, not anymore

Don't cry boy, not anymore

Don't cry,boy.

When your sick to the stomach, just pull out the knife.

 

Anyway, I encourage all of you to check out this band. They remind me of a cross between Led Zeppelin and Dream Theater, and if you share my concern for the lack of musical talent in this decade, these guys will give you hope.

[otherstar]

I second Tom Waits, add John Prine, Kris Kristofferson (Me and Bobby McGee), Robert Hunter, Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle, John Fogarty, etc.

[The Big G]

Ray Davies, Difford & Tilbrook, Elvis Costello, Roger Miller...the list goes on and on!

 

Ray Davies great shout.....

 

G

[Greg B.]

Bruce Springsteen

 

[Kramer Ferrington III.]

Yeah, I'd definitely agree about Ray Davies.

 

Not too sure about Dylan though. I mean, his most famous songs tend to be flow of consciousness stuff, which sounds great but it doesn't LEAVE you with much, does it? Something like

 

"The man in the coon-skin cap

In the big pen

Wants eleven dollar bills

You only got ten"

 

is clever, and memorable... but that sort of situation doesn't really come up very much in my daily life.

 

On the other hand, his "story" songs such as "Tangled Up In Blue" or "Isis" (weak story finish and all) *do* keep you hanging on to hear what happened next.

 

Dylan's great, but if you take away all the lyrically obscure 60s stuff, a big chunk of his catalogue goes out the window.

 

I'm going to be different and nominate Mark Knopfler, just for the hell of it. His songs are full of observations of real life people doing real life things. I think Billy Joel's done some pretty good stuff too.

 

Oh, and I definitely think good old Woody Guthrie deserves a mention too.

[S. Yeti Bigfoot, Esq.]

Alfred M. Yankovic.

[A String]

Roger Waters "Pink Floyd" stuff is some of my favourite lyrics.

[Zephyr]

Roger Waters "Pink Floyd" stuff is some of my favourite lyrics.

 

Agreed, some of Pink Floyd's songs have deep lyrics, especially "Wish You Were Here."

[Kramer Ferrington III.]

Alfred M. Yankovic.

 

I thought you liked the guy that wrote The Monster Mash?

[MILLO]

Alfred M. Yankovic.

+1

Genius!

[S. Yeti Bigfoot, Esq.]

Alfred M. Yankovic.

 

I thought you liked the guy that wrote The Monster Mash?

 

Oh, yeah...I forgot about him!

 

 

Bobby Pickett.

[otherstar]

For humor, how about Tom Lehrer?

 

BE PREPARED

Be prepared! That's the Boy Scouts' marching song,

Be prepared! As through life you march along.

Be prepared to hold your liquor pretty well.

Don't write naughty words on walls if you can't spell.

 

Be prepared! To hide that pack of cigarettes.

Don't make book if you cannot cover bets.

Keep those reefers hidden where you're sure that they will not be found,

And be careful not to smoke them when the scoutmaster's around,**

For he only will insist that they be shared, be prepared!

 

Be prepared! That's the Boy Scouts' solemn creed,

Be prepared! And be clean in word and deed.

Don't solicit for your sister, that's not nice,

Unless you get a good percentage of her price.

 

Be prepared! And be careful not to do

Your good deeds when there's no one watching you.

If you're looking for adventure of a new and different kind,

And you come across a Girl Scout who is similarly inclined,

Don't be nervous, don't be flustered, don't be scared. Be prepared!

 

or THE MASOCHISM TANGO

I ache for the touch of your lips, dear,

But much more for the touch of your whips, dear.

You can raise welts

Like nobody else,

As we dance to the Masochism Tango.

 

Let our love be a flame, not an ember,

Say it's me that you want to dismember.

Blacken my eye,

Set fire to my tie,

As we dance to the Masochism Tango.

 

At your command

Before you here I stand,

My heart is in my hand...

Yeech!

It's here that I must be.

 

My heart entreats,

Just hear those savage beats,

And go put on your cleats

And come and trample me.

 

Your heart is hard as stone or mahogany,

That's why I'm in such exquisite agony.

My soul is on fire,

It's aflame with desire,

Which is why I perspire when we tango.

 

You caught my nose

In your left castanet, love,

I can feel the pain yet, love,

Ev'ry time I hear drums.

 

And I envy the rose

That you held in your teeth, love,

With the thorns underneath, love,

Sticking into your gums.

 

Your eyes cast a spell that bewitches.

The last time I needed twenty stitches

To sew up the gash

That you made with your lash,

As we danced to the Masochism Tango.

 

Bash in my brain,

And make me scream with pain,

Then kick me once again,

And say we'll never part.

 

I know too well

I'm underneath your spell,

So, darling, if you smell

Something burning, it's my heart... [hiccup]

'Scuse me!

 

Take your cigarette from its holder,

And burn your initials in my shoulder.

Fracture my spine,

And swear that you're mine,

As we dance to the Masochism Tango.

 

 

[smirk]

He tends to get more attention just for being a freak but Maynard from Tool comes up with some good stuff like this one from the last album, one of the best Tool songs ever to me.

 

 

Angels on the sideline,

Puzzled and amused.

Why did Father give these humans free will?

Now they're all confused.

 

Don't these talking monkeys know that

Eden has enough to go around?

Plenty in this holy garden, silly monkeys,

where there's one you're bound to divide it

 

Right in two

 

Angels on the sideline,

Baffled and confused.

Father blessed them all with reason.

And this is what they choose.

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey

Over pieces of the ground.

 

Silly monkeys give them thumbs,

They forge a blade,

And where there's one they're

bound to divide it,

 

Right in two.

Right in two.

 

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey

Over pieces of the ground.

Silly monkeys give them thumbs, they make a club

And beat their brother down.

 

How they survive so misguided is a mystery.

Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability

to lift an eye to heaven conscious of his fleeting time here.

 

cut it, divide it all right in two (x4)

 

 

They fight, till they die

Over earth, over sky

They fight

Over lies, over blood, over air

And light, over love, over son

Over blood

They fight, till they die, over what? for our lies!

 

Angels on the sideline again

Benched along with patience and reason

Angels on the sideline again

Wondering when this tug of war will end

 

cut it, divide it all right in two (x3)

Right in two

 

 

[smirk]

Sorry to double post but I have to also mention Robert Hunter, Jerry Garcias long time song writing partner. This tune was written with Bob Weir but it's one of my favorite Dead tunes.

 

Jack Straw

We can share the women

We can share the wine

We can share what we got of yours

'Cause we done shared all of mine

 

Keep a rolling

Just a mile to go

Keep on rolling, my old buddy

You're moving much too slow

 

I just jumped the watchman

Right outside the fence

Took his ring, four bucks in change

Now ain't that heaven sent?

 

Hurts my ears to listen, Shannon

Burns my eyes to see

Cut down a man in cold blood, Shannon

Might as well be me

 

We used to play for silver

Now we play for life

One's for sport and one's for blood

At the point of a knife

Now the die is shaken

Now the die must fall

There ain't a winner in this game

Who don't go home with all

Not with all...

 

Leaving Texas

Fourth day of July

Sun so hot, clouds so low

The eagles filled the sky

 

Catch the Detroit Lightning

Out of Santa Fe

Great Northern out of Cheyenne

From sea to shining sea

 

Gotta get to Tulsa

First train we can ride

Got to settle one old score

And one small point of pride...

 

Ain't no place a man can hide, Shannon

Keep him from the sun

Ain't no bed will give us rest, man,

You keep us on the run

 

Jack Straw from Wichita

Cut his buddy down

Dug for him a shallow grave

And layed his body down

 

Half a mile from Tucson

By the morning light

One man gone and another to go

My old buddy you're moving much too slow

 

We can share the women

we can share the wine...

 

So the story goes on and the song ends on the IV so it doesn't feel over, always thought that was a cool touch.

Also, here is the link to the annotated Dead lyrics, very interesting site that covers all the bases, lots of cool info here and lots more of Robert Hunters poetry.

 

http://arts.ucsc.edu/Gdead/AGDL/