# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Wristy\_McSlashalot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Wristy\_McSlashalot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wristy_McSlashalot)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/41 "2003-06-20T01:26:52Z")
Roger Waters I like Ogre’s (from Skinny Puppy) style. Jello Biafra Mike Patton is pretty underrated. Andrew WK Leonard Cohen ---
**Author:** ![BlueMit11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@BlueMit11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueMit11)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/42 "2003-06-20T01:33:08Z")
Putting everything aside but rhyming ability I’d go behind _gasp_ eminem. I don’t think I’d consider myself a fan of his, in fact I really hate his first 2 albums, but the guy’s got rhyming talent. Flog me if you must. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@Mona\_Lott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lott)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/43 "2003-06-20T02:04:09Z")
Did Laura Nyro write lyrics in addition to music? If so, I nominate her. Carole King Neil Sedaka ---
**Author:** ![Wristy\_McSlashalot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Wristy\_McSlashalot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wristy_McSlashalot)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/44 "2003-06-20T02:08:44Z")
If we’re going with hip-hop as well, I’ll nominate KRS-ONE and Common. ---
**Author:** ![Supernate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@Supernate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Supernate)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/45 "2003-06-20T03:10:46Z")
What??? No one has mentioned **Eminem**? He might not be the GREATEST, but no one can deny that he is **very** talented…! ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/46 "2003-06-20T03:21:13Z")
Eric Bachman of Archers of Loaf and Crooked Fingers is incredible. If you haven’t heard this guy, you need to check it out! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/47 "2003-06-20T03:24:38Z")
Has anyone mentioned Kurt Cobain? He’s the best of his generation, imo. ---
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/48 "2003-06-20T03:24:46Z")
…Morrissey… …Matt Jonhson(The The)… …Micheal Gira ( The Swans/Angels of Light…) ---
**Author:** ![Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/db5fbb/32.png) [@Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/49 "2003-06-20T03:25:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wristy McSlashalot \* > Andrew WK > Leonard Cohen If I were Leonard Cohen I would be very insulted right now. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/50 "2003-06-20T03:29:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Supernate \* > **What??? No one has mentioned Eminem yet?** Only an hour or so before you. I think Bono should be disqualified from this list for the utter dreck that passes for lyrics in _All That You Can’t Leave Behind_. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/51 "2003-06-20T03:31:44Z")
For sheer, delightful cleverness, may I notinate: W. S. Gilbert Michael Flanders ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/52 "2003-06-20T03:32:53Z")
> [@](#): > > For sheer, delightful cleverness, may I notinate: In fact, may I even _nominate_ them! ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/53 "2003-06-20T03:37:31Z")
Elvis Costello, Nick Cave, Kurt Cobain, and Ray Davies are all good. But the greatest lyricist is Richard Thompson. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/54 "2003-06-20T03:42:22Z")
Another vote for Cole Porter – especially his “list” songs such as “You’re the Top.” He kept adding to it through the years. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/55 "2003-06-20T04:05:07Z")
I haven’t seen Lucinda Williams mentioned yet. ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/56 "2003-06-20T04:32:58Z")
Coming in to add an _amen_ to **John Hiatt** ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/57 "2003-06-20T06:41:50Z")
Paul Simon was my first thought upon reading the thread title. Other favorites of mine: All four Beatles Frank Zappa (he said he had no pretensions of being a poet, but man oh man, could he write BRILLIANTLY stupid lyrics) Captain Beefheart Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale Jimi Hendrix Whoever wrote “Cool Jerk” “Weird Al” Yankovic Whoever wrote “I’m Henry VIII I Am”… did Peter Noone or any of the other Hermits write their own songs, or did someone else? ---
**Author:** ![yola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/48db29/32.png) [@yola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yola)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/58 "2003-06-20T09:48:08Z")
The late, great Hoyt Axton. Bob Marley wasn’t too shabby either. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/59 "2003-06-20T09:50:18Z")
What? No Jagger & Richard? “Sympathy for the Devil” alone should qualify them for this list! ---
**Author:** ![beefymeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@beefymeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beefymeg)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/60 "2003-06-20T15:17:45Z")
**Adam Duritz**!!! **Adam Duritz**!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926.md?page=4)