I wasn’t trying to change anybody’s mind. I think Lehrer stands out because the style that he did so well, no one else even attempts. But there’s more to life and art than brilliant wit. I’m going to keep thinking about this and see if I can come up with someone who’s eloquence is the equal of Tom Lehrer’s cleverness.
When I wasn’t being chased by wooly mammoths and sabre tooth tigers, I felt that Pete Sinfield’s (King Crimson) lyrics were pure poetry, or at least literature (or maybe it was just the drugs).
Carole King
Ben Folds
Van Morrison
Bruce Springsteen (and if you disagree with me on this, listen to “It’s Hard to Be a Saint in the City” off the “Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ” album–just fantastic.)
Bob Dylan
George Gershwin
Billie Holiday (I don’t know if she wrote a lot of her songs, but “Strange Fruit” is one of the best songs ever written, not question)
Pete Townshend