# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/61 "2003-06-20T15:22:10Z")
Serious answer: Johnny Mercer Not-so-serious answer: Tom Lehrer ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/62 "2003-06-20T15:22:28Z")
Tim Kasher Ben Gibbard Elvis Costello Thom Yorke Michael Stipe But Bono’s disqualified for the vast quantaties of dreck he dumps between his inspired lyrical and musical moments. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/63 "2003-06-20T15:40:39Z")
That was a British music-hall song of the 1910s that the Hermits co-opted. And yes, **MacSpon** , W.S. Gilbert goes right to the top of my list, too! ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/64 "2003-06-20T16:32:48Z")
Jane Siberry: The Lobby so I go down to the lobby and everybody stares they say take off that foolish hat what man? I say so I go down to the lobby and everybody stares they say take off that foolish hat put down that chair so I go down to the lobby and everyone’s still there and they say the snow is getting deeper don’t go out there you can’t leave him like that go back upstairs so I run down the fire-escape I leap into the air and I say - I thought I’d like to fly I needed air ………. and another by Jane: Calling All Angels a man is placed upon the steps, a baby cries and high above the church bells start to ring and as the heaviness the body oh the heaviness settles in somewhere you can hear a mother sing then it’s one foot then the other as you step out onto the road how much weight? how much weight? then it’s how long? and how far? and how many times before it’s too late? ………………… Kirsty MacColl: Bad I’ve been the token woman all my life The token daughter and the token wife Now I collected tokens one by one 'Til I’ve saved enough to buy a gun Now you can’t get even but you can get mad And it’s not funny no and it’s not sad It’s just a feeling that I’ve always had Oh look out world I’m about to be bad I want a brief encounter in a stolen car A hand on my buttock in a Spanish bar I want to meet the man who wants to go too far For a token of my affection I want to taste excitement, smell the danger Get swept off my feet by the perfect stranger I want to try something that I’ve never had Oh look out world I’m about to be bad ………………………. Big Boy on a Saturday Night The last of England’s spoiled brats, grand order of the gutter rats A big fish in a public house You’re never going to learn to shut your mouth A silly pseudo lager lout with nothing much to shout about Spent hours looking in the mirror trying to perfect the perfect pout Now take the spotlight and pause for your applause Well my oh my you’re such a big boy on a Saturday night You try but there is always something - something not right inside There’s always someone Somebody else to take the power and the glory all for themselves ………………………… My Affair And when we first got wed We used to stay in bed All day and night all night and day We bedded half our lives away But that’s all over now We move in higher circles Chomping through the upper crust I couldn’t see you for the dust And then you met that girl Who left you with your money spent And now it’s no concern of yours If I sleep with the President ………………………… ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/65 "2003-06-20T18:04:07Z")
No offense to **Eminem** , but it takes more than rhymes to make a brilliant lyric. It also takes more than “It really grabbed me.” It’s possible to sincerely write some lines and affect people without having the brilliance and craft to really turn out lyrics that will be remembered. My vote goes to **Billy Joel**. Check out [The Downeaster Alexa](http://www.billyjoel.com/discography/TheDowneasterAlexa.html) and [Lenningrad](http://www.billyjoel.com/discography/Leningrad.html) from _Storm Front_. ---
**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, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/66 "2003-06-20T23:27:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > **That was a British music-hall song of the 1910s that the Hermits co-opted.** Emusic has these music-hall tunes available for downloading. I have a copy of that song, along with _Burlington Bertie From Bow_ and _Jolly Good Luck To The Girl Who Loves A Soldier_😃 ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/67 "2003-06-20T23:39:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by An Arky \* > \*\*I’ll add Scott Miller (Game Theory, Loud Family). \*\* This is an great choice for the title. His lyrics on Interbabe Concern were flat out stunning, and are routinely excellent on all his songs. ---
**Author:** ![BlueMit11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@BlueMit11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueMit11)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/68 "2003-06-21T01:05:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoCoolUserName \* > \*\*No offense to **Eminem** … \*\* Am I the only one that finds irony in that line? ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/69 "2003-06-22T02:21:41Z")
Paul Kelly, of course. The best narrative lyricist of all time. I dare you to listen to _How to Make Gravy_ and _Everything’s Turning to White_ and disagree. Darren Hanlon’s a fine lyricist, but as a folkie he’s almost unknown. Steven Page of the Barenaked Ladies would be up there, too. Their stuff is heavily crafted pop, so there’s a natural assumption that the lyrics will be bubblegum mush - and some of them are - but many, especially on the Stunt and Maroon albums - are magnificently turned, often in direct contradiction to the lightness of the melody: From _Call and Answer_ "You think I only think about you when we’re both in the same room You think I’m only here to witness the remains of love exhumed You think we’re here to play a game of who loves more than whom… So if you call, I will answer And if you fall, I’ll pick you up And if you court this disaster I’ll point you home" Followed by the sudden emotional switchback: “But I’m warning you, don’t ever do Those crazy, messed-up things that you do If you ever do, I promise you I’ll be the first to crucify you Now it’s time to prove that you’ve come back here to rebuild” Oh, and Ben Folds is a great songwriter too, but if you exclude his tunecrafting from consideration he’s not in the same class. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/70 "2003-06-22T03:27:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by twickster \* > \*\* > ooh! One new nominee: > > Joni Mitchell \*\* I knew I liked you **twicks**! I’ll also add **Robin Williamson**. From _Lordly Nightshade_: _Safe and secure in the skirts of the midsummer wood Cooking soup with stale words and fresh meanings it tastes so good The green wolf with his bunch of red roses is slinking away All on a summer’s day._ and my favorite little couplet: _born in a house where the door was shut tight shadowy fingers on the curtains at night_ from _Koeeoaddi There_ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![moonchilde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@moonchilde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moonchilde)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/71 "2003-06-22T04:46:13Z")
Kudos to most of those already mentioned. Here are a couple that haven’t: One writer I’ve always had a fondness for is Harry Chapin. I think he is a wonderful story teller, as is Jimmy Buffett. Also add Bernie Taupin. ---
**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 22, 2003, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/72 "2003-06-22T09:50:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > **That was a British music-hall song of the 1910s that the Hermits co-opted.** I would have guessed that **Eve** was going to come along and answer that! And I second **Zeldar** ’s nomination of Tom Lehrer. ---
**Author:** ![Husker\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Husker\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Husker_Dude)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/73 "2003-06-22T10:45:28Z")
I’ll nominate **Paul Westerberg** from **The Replacements.** The ones who love us best are the ones we’ll lay to rest And visit their graves on holidays at best The ones who love us least are the ones we’ll die to please If it’s any consolation, I don’t begin to understand them - [Bastards Of Young](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/the-replacements/bastards-of-young.html) ---
**Author:** ![RawkStah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@RawkStah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RawkStah)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/74 "2003-06-22T11:27:03Z")
While perhaps not the best, I’d nominate John Flansburgh and John Linnell (They Might Be Giants), Al Stewart and Stephen Bishop. **Wristy** – While I dig Patton, I think he’s a better composer (with a band, not with a tape deck and aluminum cans), performer and vocalist than lyricist. IIRC, Patton writes lyrics based on the sounds he wants to make, not on what he wants to _say_. Sorry, no ready cite for that. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/75 "2003-06-22T13:40:59Z")
In a quick scroll, I didn’t see her name, so I’ll also mention **Natalie Merchant**. ---
**Author:** ![survivorology.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/0ea827/32.png) [@survivorology.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survivorology.com)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/76 "2003-06-22T16:53:04Z")
Bono is far and away the best ever!!! ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/77 "2003-06-22T18:13:13Z")
I’m all over **Jon Anderson of YES**. However, I’d offer this up. Lyrics of the storytelling variety are different than lyrics of the poetry variety. As far as brilliant storytelling lyrics, **Billy Joel** gets my vote hands down. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Trancey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Trancey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancey)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/78 "2003-06-22T18:18:43Z")
Whoever writes the lyrics for Led Zeppelin. I just got into them not too long ago and I don’t know who writes them, but I love them none the less. "Spent my days with a woman unkind, Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine. Made up my mind to make a new start, Going To California with an aching in my heart. Someone told me there’s a girl out there with love in her eyes and flowers in her hair. Took my chances on a big jet plane, never let them tell you that they’re all the same. The sea was red and the sky was grey, wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today. The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake as the children of the sun began to awake. Seems that the wrath of the Gods Got a punch on the nose and it started to flow; I think I might be sinking. Throw me a line if I reach it in time I’ll meet you up there where the path Runs straight and high. To find a queen without a king, They say she plays guitar and cries and sings… la la la Ride a white mare in the footsteps of dawn Tryin’ to find a woman who’s never, never, never been born. Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams, Telling myself it’s not as hard, hard, hard as it seems." Ani Difranco “but i love this city, this state this country is too large and whoever’s in charge up there had better take the elevator down and put more than change in our cup or else we are coming up” Rap/HipHop wise: Grouch "I’m lost upon this voyage and I’m searching for truth. They told me to believe, but I want to see the truth. I’m tired of your lies, so now you feel my anger. How could I ever trust my soul with a stranger? Now, dear Mr. Bigshot, let me ask you a question. Put you on the stand, raise your right hand. I want to hear your confessions. My family is stressing out 'cause there’s nowhere else to go. We’re looking for a higher power. You dodge, just hit us low. In church they said that it was free. Your love would always be. I’m steadily giving mine, but where is yours for me? I couldn’t see it, so I stray. You took my dreams, I prayed. I wanted to get them back, but you laughed and I’m afraid I made the wrong decision. You killed my hopes and visions. I thought you had arisen, but this is more like prison. I’m giving my all daily and maybe it’s all for nothing. I never hurt anyone, so why do you keep me suffering? I stay tough and you lay it on thicker and I say it’s wrong. I’ll play this song 'till you answer, give you another chance to appear 'cause we dying out here. I see no light. All I ever did was care and try to do what the fuck was right. I’m lost upon this voyage and I’m searching for truth. They told me to believe, but I want to see the proof. I’m tired of your lies, so now you feel my anger How could I ever trust my soul with a stranger? ( x2 ) I trained all my life for it. I would have died for it. Man, you took it from me, bully crummy friend, got the nerve to say I’ve sinned? I tend to feel abandoned 'cause you left me in the dark. The light of my life was gone and I’m searching for a spark. Sure, the mark of the beast is near, so we’re all living in fear. Noone holds a clear head, so people appear dead for a reason and I’m breathing. Not even demons scare me. Is it necessary to panic? By now I feel prepared. See, I planned it to be one way, but of course it never works, forever quirks within the system. Am I a victim or a jerk?, with a sickened spurt of questions, guessing without your blessing, testing my own limits. I can feel the walls compressing and within it I ain’t shit, but to me I’m all there is. Sometimes I hate my life when I look at the next man and compare his to mine and it is the time for me to rise, so let me. They labelled me a child of God, so help me or forget me. I’m lost upon this voyage and I’m searching for truth. They told me to believe, but I want to see the truth. I’m tired of the lies, so now you feel my anger. How could I ever trust my soul with a stranger?" Benefit “Professional, uppen the decibel a decimal above Extraterrestrial audible vessels For blood audible missiles and vocal dismissals Like Pistols, Tearing through emcees skeletal bristles Beneficial, Ripping in the kids brain tissues Leaving them a bit retarded with personal issues Personal miss-use, of my tracks is tested deadly Infest the steady, when my tracks oppress the ready To floods the brain like cocaine ingested heavy And less than every, bit of protection when testing benny I’ve battled plenty, and everyone is rattle empty Without a skeleton to hold 'em up they had to temp me And then correctly, spitting at me like a Jetski Go ahead and press me, bones crunch like nestle Arrest me, Sentence me and lock me away So the streets can be safe for emcee’s to play By the way, when i spit don’t get hit by a stray Cause every random word i say can shatter your vertebrae Every verb i spray, is a miss-call herb away Word play, that will keep emcee’s on the curb all In a verbal way, I get violent and kill quick To define me kids make up words like “Ill-Sick” Whose a relic, wack emcee’s heads are real thick So the target is big, my metaphors will stick” ---
**Author:** ![Bjork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@Bjork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bjork)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/79 "2003-06-22T19:01:42Z")
I’d like to add Tori Amos to this list please ---
**Author:** ![Violin\_D\_Ingrate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/898d66/32.png) [@Violin\_D\_Ingrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violin_D_Ingrate)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/80 "2003-06-23T22:57:42Z")
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