# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/41 "2009-08-11T23:08:48Z")
My favorite acts tend to be singer-songwriter solo types who are known for their lyrics. Since people aren’t restricting themselves to bands, I will mention Robbie Fulks, Hank Williams, and Nick Lowe. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/42 "2009-08-11T23:26:13Z")
Figured I’d get beaten to **The Smiths** , but I’m surprised I’m the first to bring up **The Replacements**. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/43 "2009-08-12T03:55:27Z")
I thought someone would have mentioned the **Doors** by now, so I will. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/44 "2009-08-12T17:10:53Z")
Assemblage 23. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/45 "2009-08-12T18:00:04Z")
\*\*Jeff Tweedy \*\*of \*\*Wilco \*\*writes amazing lyrics. Especially from the “Summerteeth” album forward. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/46 "2009-08-12T19:12:00Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > The PAINTER [Francis Bacon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon)? :dubious: Yes, the [painter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon_(painter)) Francis Bacon. While I have no idea whether he really originated that toast, he’s certainly a more likely source than a person who lived mostly in the 16th century, who would never have heard of a type of wine called “champagne.” ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/47 "2009-08-12T22:45:25Z")
Agree with **Wilco** and **Modest Mouse** , would like to add: **The Weakerthans** **Bright Eyes** ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/48 "2009-08-13T13:46:02Z")
I’m not even sure if there’s even a current incarnation, but for my money, the best lyrics - hands down - in rock, were created by [King Crimson (In the Court of the Crimson King](http://www.amazon.com/Court-Crimson-King-30th-Anniversary/dp/B000003S09/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250170778&sr=1-3) in particular) as well as some of their later work like [Larks’ Tongues in Aspic](http://www.amazon.com/Larks-Tongues-Aspic-King-Crimson/dp/B000003S0I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250170965&sr=1-2). IIRC, the band considered the lyrics so important, that one member’s role was exclusively to write them ([Pete Sinfield](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Sinfield)). ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/49 "2009-08-13T21:01:55Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > I think Blue Oyster Cult has some interesting songs (lyrics-wise). The Agents of Fortune album didn’t provide lyrics but there was an address you could write to for the band’s lyrics, so I did. About 18 months later, no exaggeration, I got a huge envelope in the mail. All the lyrics had been printed out on greenbar paper. I was really disappointed that the lyrics which sounded so cool on the record were really meaningless when you saw them written down. Younger folks will have to Wiki “greenbar” – hmm, and maybe “album” too. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/50 "2009-08-13T21:04:56Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > I’m not even sure if there’s even a current incarnation, but for my money, the best lyrics - hands down - in rock, were created by [King Crimson (In the Court of the Crimson King](http://www.amazon.com/Court-Crimson-King-30th-Anniversary/dp/B000003S09/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250170778&sr=1-3) in particular) as well as some of their later work like [Larks’ Tongues in Aspic](http://www.amazon.com/Larks-Tongues-Aspic-King-Crimson/dp/B000003S0I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250170965&sr=1-2). IIRC, the band considered the lyrics so important, that one member’s role was exclusively to write them ([Pete Sinfield](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Sinfield)). Never cared much for lyrics in ItCotCK personally, but the KC album Discipline has fantastic lyrics throughout. It’s also a kickass album. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/51 "2009-08-13T22:00:52Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > I’m not even sure if there’s even a current incarnation, but for my money, the best lyrics - hands down - in rock, were created by [King Crimson (In the Court of the Crimson King](http://www.amazon.com/Court-Crimson-King-30th-Anniversary/dp/B000003S09/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250170778&sr=1-3) in particular) as well as some of their later work like [Larks’ Tongues in Aspic](http://www.amazon.com/Larks-Tongues-Aspic-King-Crimson/dp/B000003S0I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250170965&sr=1-2). IIRC, the band considered the lyrics so important, that one member’s role was exclusively to write them ([Pete Sinfield](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Sinfield)). > [@palindromemordnilap](#): > > Never cared much for lyrics in ItCotCK personally, but the KC album Discipline has fantastic lyrics throughout. It’s also a kickass album. Sinfield provided lyrics for the first four King Crimson albums only. He then fell out of favor with Robert Fripp, and by the time of _Larks’ Tongues in Aspic_, Richard Palmer-James had been recruited as lyricist. That association lasted for three albums, until that version of the band broke up in 1974. All subsequent incarnations of the band, starting with _Discipline_ in 1981, have had singer/guitarist Adrian Belew providing his own lyrics. Just funny to note that each of the specific albums mentioned is the first album by each of the three Crimson lyricists. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/52 "2009-08-13T22:07:04Z")
How about Pink Floyd? ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/53 "2009-08-13T22:17:30Z")
Some of my favorite lyrical heavy weights(hiphop)… Aesop Rock Busdriver Illogic Lupe Fiasco Pharoahe Monch Sage Francis Saul Williams Talib Kweli ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/54 "2009-08-14T15:31:43Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Sinfield provided lyrics for the first four King Crimson albums only. He then fell out of favor with Robert Fripp, and by the time of _Larks’ Tongues in Aspic_, Richard Palmer-James had been recruited as lyricist. That association lasted for three albums, until that version of the band broke up in 1974. All subsequent incarnations of the band, starting with _Discipline_ in 1981, have had singer/guitarist Adrian Belew providing his own lyrics. > > Just funny to note that each of the specific albums mentioned is the first album by each of the three Crimson lyricists. 🙂 Very, very interesting. Thanks for this. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/55 "2009-08-14T21:50:17Z")
> [@Black\_Sunshine](#): > > Clutch. Pure brilliance. Seconded. Most underrated band of all time. They got pretty close to success with SELF TITLED but otherwise never really got big. Them and the Supersuckers. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/56 "2009-08-15T18:48:39Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Yes, the [painter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon_(painter)) Francis Bacon. While I have no idea whether he really originated that toast, he’s certainly a more likely source than a person who lived mostly in the 16th century, who would never have heard of a type of wine called “champagne.” Right, exactly that Francis Bacon. I’d like to think Tom Waits is a fan of Bacon’s art, as it’s just as odd and beautiful and off-putting as Tom Waits’ work. Let me add Neko Case to the list of great lyricists. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/57 "2009-08-19T08:26:15Z")
Since we’re adding solo acts, for me the best lyricist ever was **Warren Zevon**. As Rolling Stone said, “He took the California music scene and kicked it in the ass.” _And if California slides into the ocean, Like the mystics and statistics say it will, I predict this motel will be standing, Until I pay my bill._ Song Noir. One of the only practitioners of it. ---
**Author:** ![BlackFish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@BlackFish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackFish)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/58 "2009-08-19T08:38:46Z")
Here’s two of mine: the electro-goth band Diary of Dreams Marc Almond ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/59 "2009-08-22T15:54:54Z")
I’m disappointed no one has yet mentioned Cake. “The Distance” and “Short Skirt, Long Jacket” have some nigh-poetic imagery. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963/60 "2009-08-22T16:48:16Z")
**Squeeze** consistently churned out songs with clever, memorable lyrics. Unlike a lot of other bands known for lyrics, their music was also very good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-have-the-best-lyrics/505963.md?page=4)