# Bands that have the best lyrics? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963 "2009-08-10T19:30:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/21 "2009-08-11T05:25:51Z")
Not a band, either, but Elvis Costello has excellent lyrics most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/22 "2009-08-11T08:32:21Z")
Fish-era Marillion. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/23 "2009-08-11T08:40:45Z")
I think that the current rock band with the best lyrics is _The Decemberists._ _The Tain_ should be proof of this alone but pretty much every one of their songs is rich with historical references, eccentric and obscure vocabulary, poetic turns of phrase, and all-around elegant rhymes that also often have a sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/24 "2009-08-11T09:06:59Z")
Radiohead’s lyrics tend to linger with me. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/25 "2009-08-11T13:20:37Z")
The Kinks. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/26 "2009-08-11T13:22:39Z")
Crass Dead Kennedys They Might Be Giants The Arrogant Worms ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/27 "2009-08-11T13:48:46Z")
Most of the songs I remember for the lyrics are more lighthearted stuff you see from folks like TMBG, Dan Bern, Jill Sobule, Joss Whedon, and the kind of stuff you hear on Dr Demento. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/28 "2009-08-11T13:59:16Z")
Steely Dan and Elton John (via Bernie Taupin) have gotta get a mention in here. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/29 "2009-08-11T13:59:42Z")
Pearl Jam Belle & Sebastian ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/30 "2009-08-11T14:33:42Z")
Rock: The Smiths and Morrissey Counting Crows Radiohead U2 Nine Inch Nails Hip Hop / Rap: Beastie Boys KRS-One Jay Z Fabolous Kanye West Drake ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/31 "2009-08-11T15:08:53Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > Fish-era Marillion. Absolutely. I will add Queen Don McClean Warren Zevon Paul Simon ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/32 "2009-08-11T15:27:59Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > Tom Waits has quite a way with words, though I was bummed to learn he didn’t come up with one of my favorite lines – “champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends” (he was quoting the painter Francis Bacon, IIRC). The PAINTER [Francis Bacon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon)? :dubious: > [@](#): > > Tod Ashley (aka, Tod A.) of Cop Shoot Cop and Firewater is another great lyricist. The raucousness of his music belies the sharp wit and sensitivity of his words. Heh, if you’re going to bring up Cop Shoot Cop I feel the need to mention Jim Thirwell of Foetus. ‘Baptised in the Hudson river, Hepatitus saves us all.’ ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/33 "2009-08-11T15:29:23Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Rock: > The Smiths and Morrissey > Counting Crows > Radiohead > U2 > Nine Inch Nails Heh, I agree with you on all of these except Nine Inch Nails which all sound like they were written by a 15 year old Goth. I like NIN better than any of the other bands but the lyrics are pretty stupid overall. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/34 "2009-08-11T15:29:42Z")
I think Blue Oyster Cult has some interesting songs (lyrics-wise). ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@Black\_Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/35 "2009-08-11T16:31:01Z")
Clutch. Pure brilliance. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/36 "2009-08-11T18:02:02Z")
Surprised we’ve gotten this far without someone mentioning **The Cure**. _Disintegration_ (btw, the best album ever) has some of the best lyrics I’ve ever read. I’ve often wanted to start a thread on my favorite Mike Patton (Faith No More, Tomahawk, peeping Tom, etc) lyrics. He’s a master-class vocalist and a very clever lyricist. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/37 "2009-08-11T19:15:51Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Natalie Merchant and Phil Ochs are great at making a social cause listenable. So is Billy Bragg. Well, a socialist cause 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crown_Prince_of_Irony)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/38 "2009-08-11T19:32:50Z")
Greg Cartwright ( **Reigning Sound** , **Compulsive Gamblers** , **The Oblivians** ) is a master of the breakup song. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/39 "2009-08-11T19:35:45Z")
I like the oblique lyrics of early **R.E.M.** ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/40 "2009-08-11T21:31:28Z")
**The Kinks**. Ray Davies isn’t a great poet (in the sense that his lyrics aren’t particularly poetic), but he’s a wonderful versifier. His songs are well-crafted, interesting, and substantial. A couple of random examples: [She Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina](http://www.kindakinks.net/discography/showsong.php?song=348), [Celluloid Heroes](http://www.kindakinks.net/discography/showsong.php?song=50) **They Might Be Giants**. Yeah, their lyrics can be silly, geeky, or stream-of-consciousness, but they’re clever, interesting, and at least as substantial as much of what passes for pop music. Examples: [Turn Around](http://tmbw.net/wiki/Lyrics:Turn_Around), “Road Movie To Berlin” [QUOTE=] We were once so close to heaven Peter came out and gave us medals Declaring us the nicest of the damned. [/QUOTE] **Daniel Amos**. The most creative band, both musically and lyrically, to come out of the Christian music industry. Songwriter Terry Taylor is one of the greatest songwriters of the rock era. Some of his songs, like [The Organ Bar](http://www.danielamos.com/da/songsoftheheart/theorganbar.html), I still don’t have entirely figured out, even though I find them both fascinating and moving. **Something Fierce**. This Minneapolis-area band had its career cut short in the early nineties when singer/songwriter Jeff Carpenter was involved in a serious car accident, but not before recording some of the cleverest, funniest, hookiest, funnest power pop I’ve ever heard. For example, there’s “Watergate,” which uses the downfall of Nixon as an extended metaphor for a relationship gone sour: > [@](#): > > All of your minions will soon be my witnesses. > They will discover what being scared shitless is. > I will be merciless, I will be mean, > They’ll spill their guts and then they’ll spill the beans > Kind of like Haldeman, Mitchell and Dean > > And now this is how you’ll be remembered, > This is your Watergate > You will resign in disgrace > Our love will now be dismembered > This is your Watergate > This is the egg on your face [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963.md?page=3)