great lyricists

One of rock's all-time greatest vocalists Ian Gillan is also a lyricist of great talent.

 

Mary Chapin Carpenter

 

My top bunch..mostly already mentioned..

Mark E Smith
Lou Reed
Ron Mael
John Lennon
David J

 

No love for Nick Cave? I suggest a listen to 'Murder Ballads' just for a start.

 

Some great lyrics in the old American Jazz/Pop tradition. Irving Mills' "Mood Indigo" and other "Song" versions of Ellington's great songs are great. Lots of thought to making the diction work from word-to-word in those. "I'm Beginning To See The Light" - great stuff.

My favorite lyricist is Canadian Bruce Cockburn. The guys in Barenaked Ladies have their moments also. Their lyrics are sometimes too clever for their own good though.

 

Boy George is a great lyricist.

I think Jim Carroll is the greatest of all time.

 

Bon Scott
Phil Mogg
Phil Lynott
Dave Wyndorf in his prime

 

I have to get into his lyrics more. I recently bought two of his lps and I did so because I knew he was a great writer. I shared my writing with this other artist and she said that my writing style and lyrics reminded her of Jim Carroll. I will take that as a supreme compliment even though I know I don't approach his level.

 

Jonathan Richman -for his humor and poetic observation

 

For rock, I love Paul Westerberg, with the caveat that I haven't listened to anything current by him, I'm pretty much referring to Replacements songs.

 

Ray Davies
E. Costello
Lou Reed

 

There is Smokey Robinson, and then there is everybody else...

 

I also have to go with Neil Peart

 

Oh my. He's hard to argue with. Other than Mercer, he'd be my second choice for sure. Nobody painted a picture like him. A real craftsman.

Ed

 

64 posts and not a mention of..........never mind, i'd better not start trouble.

 

Butch Hancock.....
Dwight Yoakam...
Previously mentioned-Dave Alvin-John Prine-Guy Clark..My Faves

 

That guy sucks.

 

Arthur Lee
Grace Slick
Stephen Stills

and I thought Frank Zappa would have had a mention by now (maybe I missed it!)

 

Keith Reid, Dylan, Ian Hunter

 

I have been impressed with some of Ben Gibbard's lyrics (from Death Cab for Cutie).

 

Bob Dylan
Ian Anderson
Peter Hammill
Roger Waters
Neil Young
Tom Waits
Leonard Cohen
Pete Sinfield

 

Lyle Lovett

 

No one's mentioned Ian Curtis of Joy Division or even Jim Morrison of The Doors yet? Their lyrics still send chills down my spine! Both shared some of the same books, authors, and literary influences.

 

Patti Smith
Ian Mcullough of Echo and The Bunneymen
Colin Meloy of The Decemberists