Greatest Lyricist Ever

[Poco Innocente]

Adam Duritz (Counting Crows)
Damon Gough (Badly Drawn Boy)
Nick Drake

And I would agree that James have written some excellent lyrics, but they are too dour without the sort of humour/wit that Morrissey exudes in his lyrics.

 

[...Four Letter Word]

Tim Booth's a fine lyricist. As was Noel at the very beginning. I'd plump for Cole Porter and Stuart Murdoch.

 

[speedfreaks ball]

Paul Heaton -paul Heaton- Paul Heaton

 

[speedfreaks ball]

oh and ivor biggun of course

 

[Uncleskinny]

I just thought that some of the songs of Difford & Tilbrook (Squeeze) are excellent. Not ambiguous, not take-what-you-want, but story-telling lyrics.

Peter

 

[Albion]

Ray Davies

 

[Lost]

Marc Bolan

 

[Danny]

No one's mentioned Ian Dury yet!

 

[wutheringheights]

Ian Curtis, Black Francis, Nigel Blackwell(HMHB), Nick Drake, John Lydon(Pistols era), Benny & Bjorn(ABBA), Kate Bush, Pete Townshend, Syd Barrett.
It's hard to narrow it down any further since there are so many different styles involved.

 

[spazrock]

Eddie Vedder!!!! He writes amazing lyrics!!!

 

[duchess_of_fork]

bobby d
patti smith
richard hell

 

[petshopmode]

Bernard Sumner from New Order.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Bruce Springsteen

Ray Davies from the Kinks.

Carol King

Paul Simon

 

[Dave]

Sometimes song lyrics that work really well in a song read as sort of silly or incomplete without the music, but I'd still have to say that KC and the Sunshine Band write some very good lyrics.

I'm your boogie man
that's what I am
I'm here to do
whatever I can

The writer says so much in such a short few words. He establishes his identity and his dedication to the situation...

Wait, I just wrote a new song. That's mine!

 

[Kuiper]

Sometimes song lyrics that work really well in a song read as sort of silly or incomplete without the music...

Spot on! I have nothing to add to that, though I have thought and felt that quite a bit.

 

[Starlight]

Eddie Vedder!!!! He writes amazing lyrics!!!

I agree wholeheartedly, Eddie's lyrics are bone chilling, but bone chillingly beautiful.

Pearl Jam are without a shadow of a doubt the greatest artists America has ever produced.

 

[bikubesong]

I think... Morrissey?

 

[Sergeant Pepper]

Kjell Höglund's great!

 

[AHappyRocket]

Hats off to the guy who mentioned the Trashcan Sinatras! My favourite ever band apart from, well....you know.....

Anyway, Billy Bragg, Ian Dury, Paul Simon, Ray Davies, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed.

Goes without saying that Dylan's out on his own though....

 

[baron]

Tom Waits.

I agree 100%.

 

[Life_Is_A_Pigsty]

Apart from Morrissey of course:

1. Bob Dylan
2. Leonard Cohen
3. Roger Waters
4. Joni Mitchell
5. Joe Strummer
6. Elvis Costello
7. Mark E Smith
8. Ian Curtis
9. Conor Oberst
10. Ray Davies