H
Henri Devill
New member
Toker41 said:
LOL..
Its just sprinkling for the mayqueen..either way its pisser
I dont think that song has more than two lines together that make any sense
Don
LOL..
Its just sprinkling for the mayqueen..either way its pisser
I dont think that song has more than two lines together that make any sense
Don
jimistone
long standing member
some of my favs haven't been mentioned yet:
hank williams (wrote timeless songs that are still being recorded today)
merle haggard (how could he not be mentioned in a list of great songwriters?)
steve tyler (if for no other reason than "dream on"...but he penned alot of others too.)
jim croce ("time in a bottle" is excellent...along with "don't mess around with jim" and "bad bad leroy brown")
shel silverson (wrote "on the cover of the rolling stone" and numerous other Dr Hook songs)
david alan coe (absolutely the most underrated songwriter that has ever been. he wrote "would you lay with me in a field of stone" "take this job and shove it" "divers do it deeper" and a whole lot more.
one of my favorite lines of david alan coes is:
"she was like the paper bag that once had held the wine, thrown without caution to the wind. I left her like the empty bottle lying on the ground, swearing i would pick her up again"
hank williams (wrote timeless songs that are still being recorded today)
merle haggard (how could he not be mentioned in a list of great songwriters?)
steve tyler (if for no other reason than "dream on"...but he penned alot of others too.)
jim croce ("time in a bottle" is excellent...along with "don't mess around with jim" and "bad bad leroy brown")
shel silverson (wrote "on the cover of the rolling stone" and numerous other Dr Hook songs)
david alan coe (absolutely the most underrated songwriter that has ever been. he wrote "would you lay with me in a field of stone" "take this job and shove it" "divers do it deeper" and a whole lot more.
one of my favorite lines of david alan coes is:
"she was like the paper bag that once had held the wine, thrown without caution to the wind. I left her like the empty bottle lying on the ground, swearing i would pick her up again"
S
small
New member
not yet mentioned
Love all the classics Dylan, Lennon & McCartney,Lou Reed, Billy Joel etc.
Also love:
Bryan Ferry-the original "new romantic" who did it better than any of those '80's MTV bands. A disticnt persona & my first choice for sex music.
Frank Black-Teenager of the Year is full of amazing lyrics that never even remotely hint at the possibility of cliche. Not to mention all those great fearless Pixies lyrics.
Joe Strummer-Literate, political, articulate & at the same time raw, indicting & incendiary.
Myself-because I'm fricking sweet. (tee hee)
Just a partial list but there isn't space or time for everyone I'd like to include.
Love on
-small
Love all the classics Dylan, Lennon & McCartney,Lou Reed, Billy Joel etc.
Also love:
Bryan Ferry-the original "new romantic" who did it better than any of those '80's MTV bands. A disticnt persona & my first choice for sex music.
Frank Black-Teenager of the Year is full of amazing lyrics that never even remotely hint at the possibility of cliche. Not to mention all those great fearless Pixies lyrics.
Joe Strummer-Literate, political, articulate & at the same time raw, indicting & incendiary.
Myself-because I'm fricking sweet. (tee hee)
Just a partial list but there isn't space or time for everyone I'd like to include.
Love on
-small
kjam22
Member
Bob Dylan...... and really..... 2nd isn't even very close.
Roktuk
God Bless The Apocalypse
Overlooked lyrical genius....Les Claypool!!!
Tommy The Cat Lyrics
" well I remember as it were a meal ago"
Said Tommy the Cat as he reeled back to clear whatever foreign matter
may have nestled its way into his mighty throat.
Many a fat alley rat had met its demise while staring point blank down
the cavernous barrel of this awesome prowling machine.
Truly a wonder of nature this urban predator.
Tommy the cat had many a story to tell,
But it was a rare occasion such as this that he did.
She came slidin' down the alleyway like butter drippin' off a hot biscuit.
The aroma, the mean scent, was enough to arouse suspicion in even the
oldest of Tigers that hung around the hot spot in those days.
The sight was beyond belief.
Many a head snapped for double - even triple - takes as this vivacious
feline made her her way into the delta of the alleyway where the most
virile of the young tabbys were known to hang out.
They hung in droves. Such a multitude of masculinity could only be
found in one place...
And that was O'malley's Alley.
The air was thick with cat calls (no pun intended),
But not even a muscle in her neck did twitch as she sauntered up into
the heart of the alleyway.
She knew what she wanted.
She was lookin' for that stud bull, she was looking for that he cat.
And that was me.
Tommy the Cat is my name and I say unto thee...
Say baby do you wanna lay down with me
Say baby do you wanna lay down by my side
Ah baby do you wanna lay down with me
Say baby?...Say baby?
More here http://www.lyricsdepot.com/primus/
Tommy The Cat Lyrics
" well I remember as it were a meal ago"
Said Tommy the Cat as he reeled back to clear whatever foreign matter
may have nestled its way into his mighty throat.
Many a fat alley rat had met its demise while staring point blank down
the cavernous barrel of this awesome prowling machine.
Truly a wonder of nature this urban predator.
Tommy the cat had many a story to tell,
But it was a rare occasion such as this that he did.
She came slidin' down the alleyway like butter drippin' off a hot biscuit.
The aroma, the mean scent, was enough to arouse suspicion in even the
oldest of Tigers that hung around the hot spot in those days.
The sight was beyond belief.
Many a head snapped for double - even triple - takes as this vivacious
feline made her her way into the delta of the alleyway where the most
virile of the young tabbys were known to hang out.
They hung in droves. Such a multitude of masculinity could only be
found in one place...
And that was O'malley's Alley.
The air was thick with cat calls (no pun intended),
But not even a muscle in her neck did twitch as she sauntered up into
the heart of the alleyway.
She knew what she wanted.
She was lookin' for that stud bull, she was looking for that he cat.
And that was me.
Tommy the Cat is my name and I say unto thee...
Say baby do you wanna lay down with me
Say baby do you wanna lay down by my side
Ah baby do you wanna lay down with me
Say baby?...Say baby?
More here http://www.lyricsdepot.com/primus/
M
mrx
New member
Don't think I saw Robert Hunter mentioned. Wrote most of the Grateful Dead's lyrics (other than the 'traditional' pieces like 'I Know You Rider', etc.)
I read the lyrics to 'Jack Straw' and think that could have easily been Taupin.
Also Michael Stipe and Neil Young for being masters of creating frameworks for the listener to fill in the details. Stipe, especially, for his technique of using the 'sound' of words to get the feeling across. He has said that specific lyrics don't even matter in many cases - "Gardening At Night" has never been recorded the same way twice, yet the song remains the same...
Also, you have to admire Gord Downie from the Tragically Hip - anyone who can write a lyric such as "Shakespeare, you're a drunken savage..." and sing it in a pop song is a talent in my book.
I read the lyrics to 'Jack Straw' and think that could have easily been Taupin.
Also Michael Stipe and Neil Young for being masters of creating frameworks for the listener to fill in the details. Stipe, especially, for his technique of using the 'sound' of words to get the feeling across. He has said that specific lyrics don't even matter in many cases - "Gardening At Night" has never been recorded the same way twice, yet the song remains the same...
Also, you have to admire Gord Downie from the Tragically Hip - anyone who can write a lyric such as "Shakespeare, you're a drunken savage..." and sing it in a pop song is a talent in my book.
lesterpaul
New member
a few off th top of my head
right off th top ....
robert earl keen
willie nelson
darius rucker
edwin mccain
jimmy buffet.
.........i know they maybe not the best but alot of the best have already had their props in here ...i like vivid imagery Keen makes me feel like i'm in a border town ,buffet makes me want to be at th beach and willie ...well willie just makes u wish u were willie he's done it all
....oooh ooh BILLY GIBBONS dude that was a close one
right off th top ....
robert earl keen
willie nelson
darius rucker
edwin mccain
jimmy buffet.
.........i know they maybe not the best but alot of the best have already had their props in here ...i like vivid imagery Keen makes me feel like i'm in a border town ,buffet makes me want to be at th beach and willie ...well willie just makes u wish u were willie he's done it all
....oooh ooh BILLY GIBBONS dude that was a close one
O
outtanowhere
New member
David Byrne of the talking heads. why?? his humor. I like the theme band that is saying something bigger than the one song .....Make sense? or should I stop making sense?
Pat Mcdonald of timbuk3......the song national holiday has such great imagary of the fourth of july in a small town....Whenever i am buzzed from beer and my children are around his song Daddy's down in the mine...comes to mind. Mudflap girl.
Willie nelson.....of course......no reason needed he just kicks ass
I once heard a good pop song means nothing but something to everyone and under this definition Kurt Cobain
And of course Me. My Lyrics kick ass
Pat Mcdonald of timbuk3......the song national holiday has such great imagary of the fourth of july in a small town....Whenever i am buzzed from beer and my children are around his song Daddy's down in the mine...comes to mind. Mudflap girl.
Willie nelson.....of course......no reason needed he just kicks ass
I once heard a good pop song means nothing but something to everyone and under this definition Kurt Cobain
And of course Me. My Lyrics kick ass
P
Projected
New member
didn't check the replys maybe some1 mentioned those already...
Axl Rose
lyrics are - straight out, strong, making his point and getting his message through very well, talk about life - things that i and many more ppl can relate to.... just listen to Guns n' Roses - Coma or Don't Damn Me.... actually almost every song of his... very good songwriter!
don't beat me up with a stick for this:
Eminem
lyrics are - straight out, again - talk about life about real things, says everything on his mind, gets his message through... just listen to Till I Collapse, White America, Sing for the Moment.
I like many more lyricists.... another ones i want to mention, surely most of you don't know'em - Dead Prez
they do rap, very strong lyrics... just listen to Propoganda, here's a part i particualry liked:
I belive man made god out of ignorrance and fear
'cause if god made man why the hell would he put us here?
I thought he was suposed to be the all lovin'
the same god who let hitler put the jews in the oven
very strong lyrics.
Axl Rose
lyrics are - straight out, strong, making his point and getting his message through very well, talk about life - things that i and many more ppl can relate to.... just listen to Guns n' Roses - Coma or Don't Damn Me.... actually almost every song of his... very good songwriter!
don't beat me up with a stick for this:
Eminem
lyrics are - straight out, again - talk about life about real things, says everything on his mind, gets his message through... just listen to Till I Collapse, White America, Sing for the Moment.
I like many more lyricists.... another ones i want to mention, surely most of you don't know'em - Dead Prez
they do rap, very strong lyrics... just listen to Propoganda, here's a part i particualry liked:
I belive man made god out of ignorrance and fear
'cause if god made man why the hell would he put us here?
I thought he was suposed to be the all lovin'
the same god who let hitler put the jews in the oven
very strong lyrics.
T
Toker41
Better Than You
Man, I was gonna say Axl, but given his recent comeback mess, I figured it might spark a war.
P
Projected
New member
the new GnR sux major ass!
but the old stuff.... masterpiece! almost every song is great, Rocket Queen, Nightrain, Estranged, Yesterdays.... very good lyrics! Axl is great.... btw the new songs have some good lyrics too.... but they still suck... but the band the other guys made -Duff, Slash and Matt together with Scott Weiland - Velvet Revolver... they rock! did you hear their new song Slither? damn it's hot! on the 28th they are going to the studio with producer Ezrin (forgot his first name, produced KISS, Jane's Addiction, Pink Floyd) to record a studio version of that song, and an album planned for early 2004.
but Axl's lyrics rock!
but the old stuff.... masterpiece! almost every song is great, Rocket Queen, Nightrain, Estranged, Yesterdays.... very good lyrics! Axl is great.... btw the new songs have some good lyrics too.... but they still suck... but the band the other guys made -Duff, Slash and Matt together with Scott Weiland - Velvet Revolver... they rock! did you hear their new song Slither? damn it's hot! on the 28th they are going to the studio with producer Ezrin (forgot his first name, produced KISS, Jane's Addiction, Pink Floyd) to record a studio version of that song, and an album planned for early 2004.
but Axl's lyrics rock!
dachay2tnr
One Hit Wonder
"Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved"
"'Toss me a cigarette, I think there's one in my raincoat.'
'We smoked the last one an hour ago.'
So I looked at scenery, she read her magazine..."
Nuff said.
BTW, I'm a little surprised no one mentioned Billy Joel. But I have to agree with all the mentions of Fagan, Dylan, and Lennon.
No one was saved"
"'Toss me a cigarette, I think there's one in my raincoat.'
'We smoked the last one an hour ago.'
So I looked at scenery, she read her magazine..."
Nuff said.
BTW, I'm a little surprised no one mentioned Billy Joel. But I have to agree with all the mentions of Fagan, Dylan, and Lennon.
T
Toker41
Better Than You
That's because Billy Joel hasen't written anything good since he started dating Christy Brinkly. He went from the "piano man" to an uptown fag! Now he is banging Elton. (However, I am a big Elton fan, but since he doesn't write lyrics to often I didn 't list him).
dachay2tnr
One Hit Wonder
That actually might be true. But he did write some good stuff in his early years.Toker41 said:
T
Toker41
Better Than You
Some great stuff, really.
cardiff jon
Member
Actually someone did mention Billy Joel, a couple of pages back. It leapt out at me because he wrote that horrendous song about life, the universe and everything which ends with the line "JFK, blown away, what more do I have to say?" Maybe we could start a new thread called 'Pretentious, moi?' for that particular brand of lyricist who dress the most vacuous thoughts in the garb of something earth-shatteringly important. Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet was a master of this (along with almost everyone else in the New Romantic movement). Jim Steinman, of course. Anything by Jon Bon Jovi, many things by Bono, Springsteen at his worst (but not at his best). Robert Plant would have to be in there as well, as soon as he stopped talking about juice running down his leg and started on about stairways to heaven.
For an antidote, how about Shane McGowan of the Pogues? There's a truly unique writer, poetic yet down-to-earth, and a political polemicist to rank alongside Woody Guthrie and Dylan at his best.
For an antidote, how about Shane McGowan of the Pogues? There's a truly unique writer, poetic yet down-to-earth, and a political polemicist to rank alongside Woody Guthrie and Dylan at his best.
S
suproboy
New member
Favorite lyricists
Some notable omissions from the pantheon to date:
* Cole Porter...arguably the greatest lyric writer ever. I'm not makin' that
argument, but what a great songwriter
* Johnny Mercer.."Autumn Leaves"? c'mon...
* Hoagy Carmichael...Stardust, Lazybones, Rockin' Chair
* Kurt Weil...Cause I like HAMBURGER RAW
* Joao Gilberto...sad, restrained, sublime
* Serge Gainsbourgh, if for nothing else, wrote probably the best song ever about
anal sex
* Caetano Veloso: poet, humanist, shit disturber, decent picker
* Charlie Patton...what the fuck you lookin' at? I'll cut your motherfuckin' heart
out, motherfucker...
*Charles Trenet..La Mer
Bon Jovi and Billy Joel narrowly missed my list of tip-top lyricists. There are any number of songwriters who I listen to consistently who will probably will not have statues errected in their honor:
Steve Earle, Richard Thompson, Eddie Blazonczyk, Iris Dement, Jane Siberry, Richard Buckner, Greg Brown, Billy Joe Shaver, Dan Penn, Slim Gaillard, ...coud go on & on
Some notable omissions from the pantheon to date:
* Cole Porter...arguably the greatest lyric writer ever. I'm not makin' that
argument, but what a great songwriter
* Johnny Mercer.."Autumn Leaves"? c'mon...
* Hoagy Carmichael...Stardust, Lazybones, Rockin' Chair
* Kurt Weil...Cause I like HAMBURGER RAW
* Joao Gilberto...sad, restrained, sublime
* Serge Gainsbourgh, if for nothing else, wrote probably the best song ever about
anal sex
* Caetano Veloso: poet, humanist, shit disturber, decent picker
* Charlie Patton...what the fuck you lookin' at? I'll cut your motherfuckin' heart
out, motherfucker...
*Charles Trenet..La Mer
Bon Jovi and Billy Joel narrowly missed my list of tip-top lyricists. There are any number of songwriters who I listen to consistently who will probably will not have statues errected in their honor:
Steve Earle, Richard Thompson, Eddie Blazonczyk, Iris Dement, Jane Siberry, Richard Buckner, Greg Brown, Billy Joe Shaver, Dan Penn, Slim Gaillard, ...coud go on & on
S
suproboy
New member
Whoops...I meant to name Bertolt Brecht, not Kurt Weill. Either way; they were like schnitzel & noodles, red beans & rice, cornbread & molasses, know what I mean?
M
maryslittlesecret
New member
I can't believe that Adam Duritz only got one nod out of this entire thread -- easily one of my faves (along with Tool). The beginning of his best song (IMO) was already posted, but let's continue...
... And in between the moon and you
the angels get a better view
of the crumbling difference between wrong and right.
I walk in the air, between the rain
through myself and back again
Where? I don't know
Maria says she's dying
through the door I hear her crying
Why? I don't know.
Also recently discovered Patty Griffin (sp?). Some moving stuff there as well...
Mama says god tends to every little skinny sheep
So count your ribs and say your prayers and get to sleep
Nothing is louder to god's ears than a poor mans sorrow
Daddy is poor today and he will be poor tomorrow
... And in between the moon and you
the angels get a better view
of the crumbling difference between wrong and right.
I walk in the air, between the rain
through myself and back again
Where? I don't know
Maria says she's dying
through the door I hear her crying
Why? I don't know.
Also recently discovered Patty Griffin (sp?). Some moving stuff there as well...
Mama says god tends to every little skinny sheep
So count your ribs and say your prayers and get to sleep
Nothing is louder to god's ears than a poor mans sorrow
Daddy is poor today and he will be poor tomorrow
O
ONEsnowRIDER
New member
Wastin' away again in Margaritaville
Searching for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
But I know it's my own damn fault
Yes and some people claim that there's a woman to blame
And I know it's my own damn fault
This song goes good with a generous helping of Mr. Greyhound
Searching for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
But I know it's my own damn fault
Yes and some people claim that there's a woman to blame
And I know it's my own damn fault
This song goes good with a generous helping of Mr. Greyhound