Top Lyricists of all time

[JM4CY]

Not voices, but the lyrics and who wrote them.

Go!

 

[JM4CY]

The guys from Mumford and Sons.

 

[JP4CY]

Prince, Dolly Parton, and the BeeGees come to mind. (Besides the obvious Dylan, Beatles)

 

[Cyclonepride]

Obvious one: Like a Rolling Stone has some of the most scathing lyrics I've ever heard. Wish I had written it for one of my ex's lol.

Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone

Dylan’s 1965 single “Like a Rolling Stone” is widely considered one of the greatest songs ever recorded. In 2004 the critics at Rolling Stone magazine (whose name was partly Dylan-

genius.com

 

[Stewo]

Maynard James Keenan

 

[JP4CY]

Maynard James Keenan

Under rated good call out.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Maynard
Layne/Jerry
Gordon Lightfoot

 

[Cyclonepride]

Second one that comes to mind is Savatage "When the crowds are gone". For an older procrastinator, this one hits home.

Savatage – When the Crowds Are Gone

I don't know where the years have gone / Memories can only last so long / Like faded photographs, forgotten songs / And the things I never knew / When the skin is thin, the heart

genius.com

"I never wanted to know
Never wanted to see
I wasted my time till time wasted me
Never wanted to go
Always wanted to stay
Cause the person I am are the parts that I play
So I play and I plan
And hope and I scheme
To the lure of a night
Filled with unfinished dreams
And I'm holding on tight
To a world gone astray
As they charge me for years
I can no longer pay"

 

[Cyclonepride]

Another great one

Aerosmith – Dream On

Off of their first LP, this is one of Aerosmith’s biggest early hits, along with “Walk This Way” and “Sweet Emotion.” Frontman Steven Tyler began writing the song on his father’s

genius.com

Every time that I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
It went by like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way?
Everybody's got their dues in life to pay, yeah

 

[JP4CY]

Maynard
Layne/Jerry
Gordon Lightfoot

I posted in another thread that Layne and Jerry's harmonies together might be my favorite. They complimented each other perfectly.

 

[GMackey32]

Love him or hate him, Kanye had some brilliant lyrics his first few albums

 

[TrailCy]

BJ Barham from American Aquarium

 

[madguy30]

Obvious one: Like a Rolling Stone has some of the most scathing lyrics I've ever heard. Wish I had written it for one of my ex's lol.

Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone

Dylan’s 1965 single “Like a Rolling Stone” is widely considered one of the greatest songs ever recorded. In 2004 the critics at Rolling Stone magazine (whose name was partly Dylan-

genius.com

Idiot Wind, Desolation Row and It's All Right Ma are right up there.

Dylan, Prine, Nick Drake come to mind to start.

 

[NorthCyd]

Kendrick Lamar

 

[cyclones500]

Off top of head, some favorites:

Chuck Berry
Bob Dylan
John Lennon
Neil Young
Lou Reed
Nick Lowe
Elvis Costello
Paul Westerberg

 

[Gunnerclone]

Billy Corgan is another whose lyrics I like. Very personal but done in a way that listeners can relate to in ways that aren’t relevant to why Billy wrote the lyrics.

For example “Disarm” can be a million different situations for a million different people. It can be a love song, it can be a hate song, it could be about a pet, a grandma, or a girlfriend, etc. i think those lyrics really take people to a certain event or person in their life while Corgan’s lyrics are most likely about a very specific situation in his life (many different interpretations but I think it’s about addiction).

 

[Al_4_State]

BJ Barham from American Aquarium

I love BJ/AA. Great call!

 

[carvers4math]

Joni Mitchell

 

[Gonzo]

Morrissey
Paul Westerberg (The Replacements)
Stephen Malkmus (Pavement)

 

[Drew0311]

Neil Diamond and Barry Gibb wrote several other hits for others.