# Who is/was the greatest lyricist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926 "2003-06-19T14:39:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/1 "2003-06-19T14:39:15Z")
So I’m listening to Tom Waits’ “Mule Variations” and I am reminded or just how talented a storyteller he is, and has been throughout his career. I also think Paul Simon, circa Simon & Garfunkel was exceptional, especially when it came to having words and melody complement and support each other. There are plenty of others worthy of mention, which is why I’m asking you who’s your favourite lyricist. Any lyrics particularly worthy of mention? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/2 "2003-06-19T15:38:05Z")
Tie between Cole Porter & Johnny Mercer ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/3 "2003-06-19T15:59:39Z")
Neil Peart from Rush is my personal favorite. Honorable mention goes to Roger Waters of Pink Floyd. Jon Anderson of Yes has done some great stuff (check out “The Friends of Mr. Cairo” from Jon & Vangelis). But I’d probably wind up giving the prize to Bernie Taupin. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/4 "2003-06-19T16:15:00Z")
Here’s an excerpt from TFOMC: _Early Thirties gangster movies Set to spellbind population From Chicago to Hong Kong Via Istanbul the Talking Tong Dirty rats from Prohibition Money flowed thru gangsterism Acting out this fantasy In Hollywood’s vicinity Best parts for the best rendition Al Capone - he sent to prison Citizen Kane came fast and quickly Conquering old New York City Poking fun at superstition Media became television Give me Cagney any day Or Jimmy Stewart for President Or Edward G. and all those guys Who always shoot between the eyes Between the eyes_ ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/5 "2003-06-19T16:16:01Z")
Not sure if they’re the greatest, but I’ve got to throw in two of my favorites from “back in the day”: Bob Dylan and John Prine, although the latter guy kind of fizzled after his first album. Springsteen certainly picked up the ball from these guys, and I’d say Dave Matthews has done his share to carry on in more recent years. I wouldn’t argue with any of those mentioned so far either. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/6 "2003-06-19T16:18:28Z")
Cole Porter or Ira Gershwin If anyone is still listening to Neil Peart, Roger Waters, or Jon Anderson 70 years from now I’ll eat your hat. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/7 "2003-06-19T16:22:36Z")
Cole Porter, definitely. Other great ones: Ira Gershwin – vastly underrated since he’s overshadowed by his brother, but his use of simple words is just awe inspiring. Stephen Sondheim – as a composer, he stinks, but he always had a great way with lyrics. It’s a shame he stopped working with people who knew how to write music. Keith Reid (Procol Harum) – for the strangeness of his lyrics. Billy Joel – rock’s best lyricist. Lyle Lovett – His songs always say a lot in a minimum number of words. Paul Simon Loudon Wainwright III – great range from the touching to the comic, and always full of lyrical surprises. Dorothy Fields ---
**Author:** ![sjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@sjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sjc)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/8 "2003-06-19T17:25:57Z")
Can I throw in David Byrne? (Talking Heads and post-Talking Heads.) There’s just something about his lyrics. I’m not sure if **Greatest Lyricist** applies to him, but his songs are really pretty cool in their way. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/9 "2003-06-19T17:34:52Z")
Ray Davies of The Kinks. It’s too bad they arrived on the scene about the same time as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. As a result, Ray has always been vastly underrated. ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/10 "2003-06-19T17:50:27Z")
No Bob Dylan, yet? ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Spaulding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5a626/32.png) [@Capt.Spaulding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Spaulding)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/11 "2003-06-19T18:19:25Z")
In no particular order (and some have already been mentioned), and this is just an excercise in opinion anyway, right?: Ira Gershwin Cole Porter Harold Arlen Johnny Mercer Elvis Costello John Lennon Paul McCartney (and just because I think she’s great and nobody else will probably mention her) Aimee Mann ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Spaulding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5a626/32.png) [@Capt.Spaulding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Spaulding)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/12 "2003-06-19T18:20:32Z")
Oops. Of course, I meant to include Bob Dylan. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_B.Goode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Johnny\_B.Goode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_B.Goode)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/13 "2003-06-19T18:23:55Z")
I can only give my opinion on Rock and Pop artists. Bob Dylan Bono of U2 Paul Simon Honourable mentions to: Van Morrison Bruce Springsteen Chuck Berry Sting Jim Morrison of the Doors ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/14 "2003-06-19T18:25:33Z")
No one mentioned Irving Berlin, yet? He was right up there with Porter and Gershwin. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/15 "2003-06-19T18:26:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by easy e \* > \*\*No Bob Dylan, yet? \*\* Look 5 posts up from your post. He’s there. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/16 "2003-06-19T18:26:46Z")
Ira Gershwin or Shane Macgowan. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/17 "2003-06-19T18:38:50Z")
I’m in agreement with the posters who mentioned Ray Davies and Elvis Costello. I’ll add Scott Miller (Game Theory, Loud Family). ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/18 "2003-06-19T18:43:26Z")
No new nominees _sigh_ but plenty of amens: Cole Porter Ira Gershwin Bob Dylan Elvis Costello Lyle Lovett ooh! One new nominee: Joni Mitchell ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/19 "2003-06-19T18:44:06Z")
Robert Hunter and Leonard Cohen (since Dylan was already mentioned). ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/20 "2003-06-19T18:45:44Z")
[Stan Rogers](http://stevebriggs.superb.net/stanrogers/songs.html), Canadian songwriter who died way to young. Compared to others his stuff is incredibly well crafted. Even if you don’t like the genre you have to appreciated the quality. One of his greatest is [“Lies”](http://stevebriggs.superb.net/stanrogers/songs/lie-sng.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926.md?page=2)