top ten lyricists of all time? by that rnr in all forms

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....and i'm ready for the corny non answers

― douglas eklund (skolle), Monday, 16 January 2006 03:02 (twenty years ago)

The last post on this topic was like four years ago...

1 Bob Dylan
2 Patti Smith
3 Joni Mitchell
4 John Lennon
5 Leonard Cohen
6 David Berman
7 Dan Bejar
8 Elvis Costello
9 Lou Reed
10 Now commence with the shredding!

― douglas eklund (skolle), Monday, 16 January 2006 03:22 (twenty years ago)

Chuck Berry
Caetano Veloso
George Clinton
Lieber & Stoller
Sly Stone
Marc Bolan
Erykah Badu
Peter Tosh
Hank Williams
Hayes & Porter

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Monday, 16 January 2006 03:38 (twenty years ago)

Lou Reed
Paul Simon
Nas
Sufjan Stevens
Jimi Hendrix
John Lennon
Bjork
Joni Mitchell
Ryan Adams
Stuart Murdoch

― Tynan DeLong (TynanTynan!), Monday, 16 January 2006 03:52 (twenty years ago)

1. Townes Van Zandt
2. Chuck D
3. Billy Bragg
4. Ma Rainey
5. Tom Waits
6. John Darnielle
7. Stephin Merritt
8. Willie Nelson
9. Q-Tip
10. Son House

― silence dogood (catcher), Monday, 16 January 2006 04:05 (twenty years ago)

1. Bryan Ferry
2. Chuck Berry
3. Van Morrison
4. Larry Hart
5. Bo Diddley

― Burr (Burr), Monday, 16 January 2006 04:50 (twenty years ago)

In no particular order

1 Joni
2 Scott Miller (Game Theory/Loud Family)
3 Laura Veirs
4 Patti Smith
5 Blixa Bargeld
6 Mark Eitzel
7 Laurie Anderson
8 Kate Bush
9 Costello
10 David Thomas (Ubu)

David Berman is an astonishing poet, not much of a fan of his music.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Monday, 16 January 2006 04:55 (twenty years ago)

John Darnielle, Craig Finn, and David Berman.

― WillS, Monday, 16 January 2006 06:00 (twenty years ago)

stock,aitken,waterman.
paul stanley
prince
vince clarke
tim finn
neil finn
robert smith
boy george
george muchael
paul mccartney

― retrogurl, Monday, 16 January 2006 06:27 (twenty years ago)

in no particular order...

1 mark e smith
2 dylan
3 joni
4 foetus
5 beefheart
6 jon langford (mekons)
7 jad fair
8 alan bishop (alvarius b, sun city girls)
9 boredoms
10 michael hurley

For some added shred factor, I think some of these answers are pretty dubious. I mean, I like Edward Ka-Spel (to use a personal example), but he ain't top ten of all time. Neither is Chuck Berry, unless you wanna quibble about the semantics of "good lyrics". If you wanna go that minimal route, all top ten spots are obviously The Ramones.

― sleeve (sleeve), Monday, 16 January 2006 06:39 (twenty years ago)

Oh god, I totally forgot Mark E. Smith. Add him to the pile, perhaps in substitute for Laura Veirs for the longevity factor.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Monday, 16 January 2006 06:40 (twenty years ago)

sleeve, I'd argue the point with you, but your ten list says it all.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Monday, 16 January 2006 06:46 (twenty years ago)

OK, I grant that "Maybelline" is as good as anything I put up there. I was just picking on poor Chuck as an example, when I really should have been dissing Paul Stanley. And I totally second Marc Bolan.

― sleeve (sleeve), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:06 (twenty years ago)

Wow there are some stretches in this thread. I would add Stephen Merritt(already mentioned), Jeff Tweedy, John Darnielle(already mentioned) and Paul Westerberg for contention.

― Stephen C (ihope), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:06 (twenty years ago)

Bruce Springsteen, Phil Lynott?

― Anthony Lombardi (CCPO), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:07 (twenty years ago)

Scarface
John Fogerty
John Darnielle
Paul Westerberg
Jarvis Cocker
Jay-Z
Morrissey
Otis Redding
Leonard Cohen
Notorious BIG

― Sym Sym (sym), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:08 (twenty years ago)

dear everyone
stop sucking up to darnielle
he ain't here no more

that "straight toxic" guy
is not really mr. goat
(I have this ON VINYL)

plus, momus told us
that his lyrics are bad now
come on, learn the truth

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:10 (twenty years ago)

haha momus is wrong

― Sym Sym (sym), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:15 (twenty years ago)

shockingly

― Sym Sym (sym), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:17 (twenty years ago)

Ha. Darnielle is still lurking out there somewhere ;)

― Stephen C (ihope), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:21 (twenty years ago)

Alphabetically:
Bid
Nick Blinko
Marion Coutts
Bob Dylan
Brian Eno
Graham Lewis
Yasuko Onuki
Rakim
Smokey Robinson
Mark E. Smith

― Douglas (Douglas), Monday, 16 January 2006 08:33 (twenty years ago)

nivea
notorious p.i.g.
tupac
project pat
maceo
little wayne
t.i.
big kuntry
yes devin
yello
ac/dc

― navy, Monday, 16 January 2006 12:25 (twenty years ago)

yello

Surely we don't mean "Bananas to the Beat" Yello, "Oh Yeah" Yello, "Vicious Games" Yello?

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Monday, 16 January 2006 15:35 (twenty years ago)

Willie Nelson
Chuck Berry
AC/DC
Avril Lavigne
Randy Bachman
Mystikal
Ray Davies
Teddy Pendergrass
Carole King
Rowdy Roddy Piper

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 16 January 2006 15:42 (twenty years ago)

Joni Mitchell
Mark E Smith
Morrissey
Ray Davies
Bryan Ferry
Ron Mael
Bob Dylan
Curtis Mayfield
Chuck D
Sam Dees

― wtin, Monday, 16 January 2006 15:49 (twenty years ago)

pls exchange RRP for Busta Rhymes on my list, thanks.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 16 January 2006 15:50 (twenty years ago)

Smokey Robinson
Holland-Dozier-Holland, lyricist thereof
Neil Tennant
Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson
Sheffield Dave
Mike Skinner
Red Simpson
Kate Bush
whoever wrote the Shangri-La's lyrics (Shadow Morton?)
Mark E Smith

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 16 January 2006 15:51 (twenty years ago)

Bob Dylan
Leonard Cohen
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Chuck D
Mark E. Smith
Shaun Ryder
Benny/Bjorn
Green Gartside
Kate Bush
Jarvis Cocker

― Sinister Oink Kingpin (noodle vague), Monday, 16 January 2006 16:35 (twenty years ago)

I don't know poetry from pottery and I don't know shit about what really makes "good" lyrics. But I know what sounds good to me. Based solely on their best two-dozen or so songs (ie. ignoring an additional 200+ crap ones they may also have written), in rough chronological order:

Chuck Berry
Leiber/Stoller
Smokey Robinson
Bob Dylan
Captain Beefheart
Sly Stone
Joni Mitchell
Steven Tyler
Rich Stim
Ice Cube

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 16 January 2006 16:36 (twenty years ago)

I think Ian Crause and Alasdair MacLean deserve at least a passing mention here, being two of my absolute favorite songwriters ever. Alasdair MacLean writes lyrics which stand up incredibly well outside of the context of the music, which is a very difficult thing to do, I imagine, and Ian Crause had such a perfect grasp of how to write words which work perfectly WITHIN the context of the music... I just think they both ought to get some points, especially with every so many mentions of Bob Dylan. I mean, I love him but many of his lyrics, maybe even most of his lyrics, are so hokey they virtually beggar description.

― owen moorhead (i heart daniel miller), Monday, 16 January 2006 19:11 (twenty years ago)

Bob Dylan
Mark E Smith
Ice Cube
Neil Tennant
Donald Fagan
Johnny Lydon/Rotten
Keith Morris (early on)
Morrissey
Stevie Malkmus
Jay-Z

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 January 2006 19:26 (twenty years ago)

in no particular order, and pulled out of my ass in 5 minutes.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 January 2006 19:28 (twenty years ago)

whoever wrote the Shangri-La's lyrics (Shadow Morton?)

good call. i've been thinking lately that "train from kansas city" has some of the best narrative lyrics of the pop era.

― danielle the animal steel (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 16 January 2006 19:31 (twenty years ago)

In no particular order (and possibly subject to change once I've thought about this more):

Shane McGowan
Stuart Murdoch
Kirsty McColl
Jarvis Cocker
Dolly Parton
Neil Tennant
Willie Nelson
Leonard Cohen
Bjorn & Benny from Abba
Billy Bragg

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 16 January 2006 19:33 (twenty years ago)

MES
David Berman (I love him to the max!)
Billy Mackenzie
Edwyn Collins, duh
Murray Attaway
Johnny Mercer
Dolly Parton seconded
Ted Leo (if I meant Joe Jackson, I woulda mentioned him)
Britt Daniel
Green Gartside

even I understand that Nicky Wire cannot ever be mentioned seriously on a thread such as this :(

― Morley Timmons (Donna Brown), Monday, 16 January 2006 20:00 (twenty years ago)

1. Bob Dylan.
2. Jeff Mangum
3. Shane Macgowan
4. Hank Williams
5. Jack White
6. Buddy Holly
7. Nick Drake
8. Dave Berman
9. Joni Mitchell
10. Michael Stipe (for "Find the River," at least)

― PB, Monday, 16 January 2006 20:14 (twenty years ago)

A strictly British list:

Morrissey
Bryan Ferry
Ray Davies
Andy Partridge
Chris Difford
Elvis Costello
Dan Treacy
Nigel Blackwell
Robyn Hitchcock
and... Momus?

― zeus (zeus), Monday, 16 January 2006 20:27 (twenty years ago)

shit...scratch keith morris off my list and put merle haggard! i'm an idiot!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 January 2006 20:30 (twenty years ago)

D. Boon and Mike Watt are both pretty solid and might make my top ten. Also, I think Will Sheff, Okkervil River man, really deserves it for the Black Sheep Boy saga (including Appendix).

― regular roundups (Dave M), Monday, 16 January 2006 20:31 (twenty years ago)

1. Bryan Ferry (ROXY MUSIC)
2. Paul Westerberg
3. Paul Westerberg (THE REPLACEMENTS)
4. BRYAN FERRY
5. Paul Westerberg
6. Bryan Ferry
7. Johnette Napolitano (CONCRETE BLONDE)
8. Randy Newman
9. Kate Bush
10. Michael Brown (THE LEFT BANKE)

― Louis Balfour (Louis Balfour), Monday, 16 January 2006 20:31 (twenty years ago)

wow through this whole thread not one mention of Brian Wilson or Neil Young

― J. Lamphere (WatchMeJumpStart), Monday, 16 January 2006 20:34 (twenty years ago)

BID & RAKIM & NICK BLINKO & SMOKEY!!!! DOUGLAS WOLK I MARRY YOOOO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 16 January 2006 21:07 (twenty years ago)

This thread contains more laffs per screen inch than 90% of ILM.

― The Milkmaid (of human kindness) (The Milkmaid), Monday, 16 January 2006 21:11 (twenty years ago)

Oh, yeah, shit, I forgot Edwyn Collins.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 16 January 2006 21:20 (twenty years ago)

what, no votes yet for Bailey/Currie/Leeway!!!????

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 16 January 2006 21:24 (twenty years ago)

Bailey yes but only for one song.

and Milkmaid OTMFM

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Monday, 16 January 2006 21:25 (twenty years ago)

I would also like to throw in an honorary mention for Martin Carr. And to ask the roffling people which particular suggestions they are roffling at, and to make their own wondrous suggestions known.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 16 January 2006 22:11 (twenty years ago)

And to ask the roffling people which particular suggestions they are roffling at

ryan adams, for one.

― danielle the animal steel (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 16 January 2006 22:12 (twenty years ago)

but most of 'em aren't too rofflable to me... i can at least understand why someone would put them on a list.

― danielle the animal steel (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 16 January 2006 22:14 (twenty years ago)

I want to do a second list

Gilberto Gil
Jimmy Webb
Flavor Flav
Matraca Berg
Curtis Mayfield
Aimee Mann
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
Flavio Cianciarulo
MC Lyte
Ruben Albarrán

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Monday, 16 January 2006 22:21 (twenty years ago)

In no particular order:

Bob Dylan
Paul Simon
Peter Gabriel
Damon Albarn
Bruce Springsteen
Chuck D
Leonard Cohen
Ray Davies
Jarvis Cocker
Woody Guthrie

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 16 January 2006 22:30 (twenty years ago)

HDH and/or shadow morton would be on mine, and to that i'd add dylan, newman, fagen/becker, malkmus, kristofferson, oscar brown jr or mose allison or jon hendricks or someone like that, donny hathaway wrote some pretty major songs, pete townshend for the cute character-driven mini-operas... um um um lux interior for those first few cramps records, chilton...

― danielle the animal steel (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 16 January 2006 22:31 (twenty years ago)

malkmus is now bounced from my list in favor of Bon Scott...

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 January 2006 22:41 (twenty years ago)

also, GEIR IN LIKING PUBLIC ENEMY SHOCKAH!!!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 January 2006 22:49 (twenty years ago)

also, geir reminded me of ray davies...okay doing mine over...

Bob Dylan
Mark E Smith
Ice Cube
Neil Tennant
Donald Fagan
Johnny Lydon/Rotten
Merle Haggard
Morrissey
Bon Scott
Ray Davies

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 January 2006 22:50 (twenty years ago)

guys: fagen

― danielle the animal steel (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 16 January 2006 23:14 (twenty years ago)

malkmus is now bounced from my list in favor of Bon Scott...

axl rose almost made it to mine -- he wins for craft, loses for message.

― danielle the animal steel (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 16 January 2006 23:19 (twenty years ago)

also, i'm pretty surprised no one's said howard devoto.

― danielle the animal steel (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 16 January 2006 23:20 (twenty years ago)

I also really like the lyrics of a Scottish folk dude called John Coletta (formerly of Glasgow pub rock band extraordinaire, the Humpff Family). But I bet no-one else does.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 16 January 2006 23:28 (twenty years ago)

guys: fagen
oops my bad...

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 16 January 2006 23:29 (twenty years ago)

1-9: Yasuko
10: Neil Diamond

― shieldforyoureyes, Monday, 16 January 2006 23:36 (twenty years ago)

No Bruce, I'm daft...here's a redo:

1. Bob Dylan.
2. Jeff Mangum
3. Shane Macgowan
4. Bruce Springsteen
5. Hank Williams
6. Jack White
7. Buddy Holly
8. Nick Drake
9. Dave Berman
10. Michael Stipe (for "Find the River," at least)

Many white men.

― PB, Monday, 16 January 2006 23:45 (twenty years ago)

Chuck Berry
Lou Reed
Tom Verlaine
Dylan
Joanna Newsom
Michael Hurley
Richard Hell

― outdoor_miner (outdoor_miner), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 00:00 (twenty years ago)

surprised r. kelly's name hasn't shown up yet.

also, geir: woody guthrie over darnielle?? come now...

― my name is john. i reside in chicago. (frankE), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 00:03 (twenty years ago)

michael hurley OTM.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 00:06 (twenty years ago)

I've never understood exactly what if any lyrics Brian Wilson wrote, everything pre-Pet Sounds and then it was just Van Dyke Parks? I'm sure there's a thread around somewhere, but I am lazy

― douglas eklund (skolle), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 00:27 (twenty years ago)

tony asher was the lyricist for pet sounds.

― danielle the animal steel (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 00:32 (twenty years ago)

Mark E. Smith
Ian Crause
Colin Newman
William Bennett
Jhon Balance
Lou Reed
Douglas Pearce
Ben Wallers
Jeffrey Lee Pierce
Billy Childish

This would be different (not altogether though) to top ten vocalists of all time.

― Sasha (sgh), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 01:11 (twenty years ago)

also, GEIR IN LIKING PUBLIC ENEMY SHOCKAH!!!

I have never denied the lyrical qualities of some rap. Another rap act with excellent lyrics was Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy

I am not a big fan of the "I'm a mothafuckin' nigga wit' a gun an' som' crack, an' yo kids betta become like me" lyrics of the gangsta rap genre though.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 02:10 (twenty years ago)

Are you kidding me about Brian Wilson? Also someone said Avril?

― Stephen C (ihope), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 02:14 (twenty years ago)

with many thanks for those upthread who reminded me of at least some of these:

viv stanshall
steve winwood
lou reed
bob dylan
astronautalis
chuck d
polly jean harvey
blixa bargeld
art lyzak
brian wilson

on preview: I also said Brian Wilson, and I don't even like the Beach Boys or Brian Wilson. Or the Beatles.

But, if Brian Wilson is banned, I'll take the trio Hill/Jean/Michel from Fugees: The Score. Yeah, I know it says all time, but that one album is good enough for All Time.

― J Arthur Rank (Quin Tillian), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 02:23 (twenty years ago)

Smokey Robinson
Dolly Parton
Townes Van Zandt
Willie Nelson
Jay Z
Rakim
Nas
Scott Walker
Ice Cube
Bjorn and Benny

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 03:28 (twenty years ago)

Aimee Mann is spot-on, at least for Lost in Space. She's tried a bit too hard elsewhere, methinks. "Video" off The Forgotten Arm is the most egregious example that springs to mind. Aleo, yes, A+ to Shane MacGowan in his heyday.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 04:08 (twenty years ago)

del tha funkee homosapien
syd barrett
john lennon
chuck berry
brian eno
madlib
mark e. smith
morrissey
joni mitchell
david berman

― prince rupert, Tuesday, 17 January 2006 05:22 (twenty years ago)

Oooh, not a single vote for Nick Cave? Seems a bit harsh... especially given some of those mentioned.

― charlie (Holey), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 11:48 (twenty years ago)

Ray Davies
Lou Reed
Mark E. Smith
Captain Beefheart
Kevin Coyne
Syd Barrett
Arthur Lee

...errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, must be more

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 12:00 (twenty years ago)

Some more:

Randy Newman
Harry Nilsson
Lee Hazlewood
Hank Williams
Chuck Berry
Eddie Cochran
George Clinton

And in the pretentious corner:

Robin Williamson
Van Dyke Parks

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 12:04 (twenty years ago)

And Richard Thompson!!

― charlie (Holey), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 12:13 (twenty years ago)

Oh yeah, forgot him!

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 12:42 (twenty years ago)

Wow, I am surprised that no one has mentioned Will Oldham.

― Daron Gardner (Daron Gardner), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 14:49 (twenty years ago)

Or Peter Hammill. He's the greatest rock lyricist ever, apart from Beefheart and Dylan. Zappa was good too and David Thomas. Kate Bush must be in there esp for Washing Machine and Leonard Cohen and Vivian Stanshall hold an equal footing. Linton Kwesi Johnson is the untold for dub poetry and Hendrix's lyrics are eternally underrated. Buffy St Marie had great lyrical ideas as well, not to mention Jim Morrisson and Lou Reed, although Morrison was an awful poet....

― Growfins, Tuesday, 17 January 2006 16:50 (twenty years ago)

I only have six-

Peter Gabriel
Will Oldham (there you go!)
Chrissie Hynde, or is it Ray Davies
Arthur Russell
Joni Mitchell
Neil Young (maybe)

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 20:06 (twenty years ago)

Only my mention of Jeff Mangum? I forgot the intense dislike of NMH on here...

― PB, Tuesday, 17 January 2006 23:54 (twenty years ago)

Van Dyke Parks is good but no way one of the top 10 of all time. Jeff Mangum is great and so its NMH but he just doesnt have enough lyrics to make top 10 either...

― Stephen C (ihope), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 00:12 (twenty years ago)

In No Particular Order, Some I Believe You're Overlooking

Cole Porter
Roy Orbison
Bernie Taupin
Burt Bacharach
Merle Haggard
Kris Kristofferson
Hogey Carmichael

― Matt Prater, Wednesday, 18 January 2006 06:19 (twenty years ago)

Arthur Russell is lots of things but a lyricist he is not.

― Jacob (Jacob), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 06:28 (twenty years ago)

Big Daddy Kane
August Darnell
Craig Finn
Bob Dylan
Poly Styrene
Posdnuos
John Prine
Louis Jordan
Chuck Berry
George Clinton

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 07:02 (twenty years ago)

i was hoping louis jordan would be on yours. he was a contender for mine.

i'd also like to nominate vi subversa.

― danielle the animal steel (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 07:13 (twenty years ago)

Peter Perrett!!!!!!!!!!

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:29 (twenty years ago)

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