And the Nobel Prize of Literature goes to... Best lyricist in music C/D S/D etc

Idk I suppose I don't move in circles that would consider Morrissey up for this stuff?

I always think of Karl Hyde as a great lyricist (more for Underworld than his solo lyrics).

The more I hear George Brassens the more I feel he's the only lyricist whose writings really do work on the page as pure poetry... Dylan, Joni, Cohen always read stilted to me. J0hn & hip-hop require the spoken word. Maybe I just share his fascination with finding the comic in the tragic and vice versa. First three tracks from Pierre De Gaillande's translation album provide a clear overview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeulvmmE9fI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTntoFE2BsE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4DzGXr4x4

Georges :(

(How many artists can be so directly translated and presented without flourishes, yet remain so poignant? Notwithstanding the mixing issue on track 3, the producers seem to have made a conscious choice to be as dull as possible, and let the songs speak for themselves.)

Graham Fucking Smith

I'll see your Brassens and raise you Brel.

Mark E Smith,
Mark Eitzel,
Nick Cave when he's not self consciously trying to be funny.
Guy Kyser though I think you need to see them written possibly undecipherable otherwise.