# Who are the great lyricists today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 30, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334 "2016-07-30T22:24:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/1 "2016-07-30T22:24:42Z")
Earlier this week, I heard Janis Ian’s [At Seventeen](https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tkak6kd7rbz7blptwh7rs2hsuae?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics) as I was driving to work, and I was struck by the poetry. It got me to thinking about other songs with elegant lyrics, especially so many by Paul Simon: [Dangling Conversation](https://play.google.com/music/preview/T4gon5jaibsqarc7enharf3smiy?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics), [Sound of Silence](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/simongarfunkel/thesoundofsilence.html), [America](https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tikep4h6ydaght5wpurhk4tu4pu?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics). (Yes, he’s a particular favorite of mine.) I know the music of my youth wasn’t all of such quality (_She loves you, yeah yeah yeah…_) but there seemed to be a lot of substance. Carole King, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Lennon & McCartney, Bernie Taupin, and on and on. I admit I don’t listen to current music, but what bits I’ve caught at different times seems to be unimpressive. I’ve heard contrived rhymes that make me cringe, tortured metaphors, and just plain awful lyrics. Surely there are people who write subtle, elegant, poetic lyrics these days. Aren’t there? Can you point me at some? ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/2 "2016-07-30T23:16:07Z")
[Drive-by Truckers](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-By_Truckers). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/3 "2016-07-31T00:25:14Z")
Lin-Manuel Miranda. ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/4 "2016-07-31T00:39:06Z")
Jeff Tweedy. > **[The Top 20 Jeff Tweedy Songs: #1 "Misunderstood"](https://americansongwriter.com/the-top-20-jeff-tweedy-songs-1-misunderstood/)** > > Videos by American Songwriter Videos by American Songwriter “Misunderstood” Band: Wilco Album: Being There (1996) Key lyric: “When you’re back in your old neighborhood/the cigarettes taste so good/but you’re so misunderstood.” “Misunderstood” is the... Ryan Adams. Not only does he write some great songs, he reinterprets other people’s hits and gives them a whole new life. > **[20 Best Ryan Adams Songs | The Wild Honey Pie](https://www.thewildhoneypie.com/playlists/20-fave-ryan-adams-songs)** > > Calling Ryan Adams prolific is an understatement. At the age of 39 he’s already released 14 studio albums, ranging everywhere from the alternative country/singer-songwriter music he’s known best for to some interesting if ill begotten attempts at... ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/5 "2016-07-31T03:48:02Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > [Drive-by Truckers](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-By_Truckers). …and former Trucker Jason Isbell. “Flying Over Water” “Songs That She Sang in the Shower” “Outfit” (Originally recorded with Drive-By Truckers) “Speed Trap Town” “Decoration Day” (Originally recorded with Drive-By Truckers) “The fall and rise of Jason Isbell” from CBS Sunday Morning. Background on Isbell, including his struggle with drugs and alcohol, the role his wife and fellow musician Amanda Shires played in helping him achieve sobriety and his recent success as a singer/songwriter. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QqasKIuE3y8/hqdefault.jpg "The fall and rise of Jason Isbell") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqasKIuE3y8) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/6 "2016-07-31T04:24:50Z")
Elvis Costello ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/7 "2016-07-31T06:19:21Z")
Stephin Merritt. With so many projects and albums, it’s hard to pick a single example, but how about this? [(Crazy For You But) Not That Crazy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-JXHxc4BmQ) ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/8 "2016-07-31T10:02:35Z")
Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys. He can be too sardonic for some, and is very northern English in his culteral references, but for all that - he is a gifted lyricist. My favourite is Cornerstone but there are so many - Number 1 Party Anthem Crying Lightning They have a fantastic drummer too! MiM ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/9 "2016-07-31T11:27:29Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Lin-Manuel Miranda. He came to mind, based on a very small excerpt I heard from Hamilton. I need to get my hands on the cast recording, methinks. I did enjoy reading Jason Isbell’s lyrics. I’ve never heard the music but right now, I don’t want to listen. Later, I’ll give 'em a try. I know I’ve heard some of Elvis Costello’s stuff, but never really paid attention - I need to. And I’d never heard of Alex Turner, but I’m impressed with what I’ve read. Good to know it’s not all dreck out there. 😉 I’ll be checking all of these out in the coming days. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/10 "2016-07-31T12:26:27Z")
Neil Hannon of Divine Comedy ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/11 "2016-07-31T13:43:44Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > He came to mind, based on a very small excerpt I heard from Hamilton. I need to get my hands on the cast recording, methinks. > > I did enjoy reading Jason Isbell’s lyrics. I’ve never heard the music but right now, I don’t want to listen. Later, I’ll give 'em a try. > > I know I’ve heard some of Elvis Costello’s stuff, but never really paid attention - I need to. And I’d never heard of Alex Turner, but I’m impressed with what I’ve read. > > Good to know it’s not all dreck out there. 😉 I’ll be checking all of these out in the coming days. Thanks! I came in to mention Elvis Costello. Oddly, I also thought of Lin-Manuel Miranda. You need to get Hamilton ASAP. mmm ---
**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:** [July 31, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/12 "2016-07-31T14:41:02Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I know the music of my youth wasn’t all of such quality (_She loves you, yeah yeah yeah…_) As an aside, I think you’re being unfair to this particular song. It may not be subtle, elegant, or poetic, but there’s more to it than the “yeah yeah yeah” chorus. The lyrics are meaningful and well-constructed; they tell an effective story sung from an unconventional point of view for a love song. > [@](#): > > but there seemed to be a lot of substance. Carole King, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Lennon & McCartney, Bernie Taupin, and on and on. FWIW I notice that many of the writers you’ve mentioned have at least roots in folk music. > [@](#): > > I admit I don’t listen to current music, but what bits I’ve caught at different times seems to be unimpressive. As is often the case in threads complaining about current music, the answer is “There’s a lot of good stuff out there if you know where to look.” If you’re just going by what you accidentally hear on the radio or wherever, well, 95% of _everything_ is crap. ---
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/13 "2016-07-31T15:09:56Z")
One of my favorite lyricists has regrettably recently been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer - Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip. My favorite lyric of his: [Don’t Wake Daddy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ear7ki83UpA) But he has so many more… Shame that we’ll soon lose such a great talent. He’s a good dancer too 😃 [Gord’s dance moves](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC7j6nxUNeo) ---
**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:** [July 31, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/14 "2016-07-31T15:16:01Z")
I know I bring him/them up a lot in music threads, but Tom Shear of [Assemblage 23](http://assemblage23.com/lyrics) writes some very poetic and thought-provoking lyrics. Often cynical and depressing as hell, but still very good. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/15 "2016-07-31T16:35:53Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > As is often the case in threads complaining about current music, the answer is “There’s a lot of good stuff out there if you know where to look.” If you’re just going by what you accidentally hear on the radio or wherever, well, 95% of _everything_ is crap. Several artists mentioned here fall into the alt country/Americana genre which you aren’t really going to hear much of on commercial radio. Jeff Tweedy (Uncle Tupelo, Wilco) Ryan Adams Jason Isbell Drive-By Truckers Some others that fall into this category: Jay Farrar (Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt) Old 97’s Shovels & Rope The Civil Wars Lucinda Williams Old 97’s - “Question” Drive-By Truckers -“Grand Canyon”. This song was written by Patterson Hood as a tribute to close friend and DBT tour merchandise sales manager Craig Lieske who died in 2013. A few from Lucinda Williams’ excellent album _Car Wheels on a Gravel Road_ “Drunken Angel” “Concrete and Barbed Wire” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/K-TeSuIPdwg/maxresdefault.jpg "Concrete And Barbed Wire") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-TeSuIPdwg) “2 Kool 2 Be 4-gotten” “Lake Charles” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Gr5k3VbEKwk/maxresdefault.jpg "Lake Charles") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr5k3VbEKwk) ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/16 "2016-07-31T16:39:25Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > FWIW I notice that many of the writers you’ve mentioned have at least roots in folk music. Very astute - yes, I love folk music. I love an economy of words, a good metaphor, a vivid mental image - evidence of excellent writing. At the other end of the spectrum is the most cringe-inducing song I can name off the top of my head: _A Horse With No Name_. Apologies to anyone who likes that song, but to me, it’s fingernails on the chalkboard. And I also know that much of what’s played today on the radio is chosen by personality or commercial value and not necessarily artistic value - then again, that’s what commercial radio is all about, right? I mostly listen to my local public radio station or PRX on SiriusXM. I’ve even quit listening to the stations that play the music of my high school and college days because they play the same 10 songs over and over again, so get off my lawn!! 😛 Maybe thru this thread, I can find music I want to play. I figured I could count on Dopers to point me in a good direction. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/17 "2016-07-31T16:48:14Z")
Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, extolled [here](http://www.davidgrayforum.com/threads/dawes.460/) by another favorite of mine, David Gray. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/18 "2016-07-31T16:57:13Z")
Jimmy Pop of the Bloodhound Gang. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/19 "2016-07-31T19:02:54Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, extolled [here](http://www.davidgrayforum.com/threads/dawes.460/) by another favorite of mine, David Gray. Apologies. Should read by _a fan of_ another favorite of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334/20 "2016-07-31T19:09:14Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, extolled [here](http://www.davidgrayforum.com/threads/dawes.460/) by another favorite of mine, David Gray. Dawes is another one I thought of mentioning. I haven’t listened to a lot of their stuff yet but they did a great cover of Warren Zevon’s “Desperados Under the Eaves.” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A6MtHz-g4k) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-great-lyricists-today/761334.md?page=2)