# 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:** 15\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DEVA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@DEVA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DEVA)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/81 "2003-06-24T01:16:57Z")
I have not heard of all the people listed, but of the ones that I HAVE heard of, I agree. Prince Alanis Morrisette Notorious B.I.G. Common (aka Common Sense) Tupac And I’m a little more than shocked that no one has said **Stevie Wonder**! ---
**Author:** ![greenphan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c37758/32.png) [@greenphan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenphan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/82 "2003-06-24T04:44:40Z")
I’m gonna have to agree with the OP and say that Tom Waits is the best. For me, he edges out Bob Dylan as the Greatest Lyricist. I’m very partial to Eminem. I know he’s “controverstial” and all that, but he’s inventive, clever, intelligent, and has an amazing vocabulary. Even as a fan, some of his songs get turned off (I’m extremely tired of hearing how he wants to hurt his ex-wife), but I still think he’s an amazing lyricist. I’m a big Marvin Gaye fan, too. Anyone who thinks this is an iffy suggestion should listen to his album “What’s Goin’ On” first. It’s an amazing piece of musical greatness that shows Gaye was much greater than his earlier work would have us believe (of which I’m not the hugest fan). –greenphan ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/83 "2003-06-24T06:49:31Z")
When King wrote w/ ex- husband Goffin he wrote the lyrics. Later she wrote both. Jerry Leiber-wrote ALL of the musical "Smokey Joe’s Cafe, "including Elvis, Drifters, Coasters , Peggy Lee & on & on. Doc Pomus-Brill building writing machine- Drifters, Dion, Jan & Dean, literally hundreds of hits. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/84 "2003-06-24T06:50:44Z")
I don’t think Robert Hunter has been mentioned yet. The Dead were known more for the jamming than their lyrics, but there were a lot of great songs in there, that’s why it worked. Box of Rain, Stella Blue, Ripple, Uncle John’s Band, Brokedown Palace… ---
**Author:** ![rumraisin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e7dd6/32.png) [@rumraisin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rumraisin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/85 "2003-06-24T08:00:14Z")
I think Randy Newman is not bad. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/86 "2003-06-24T10:32:08Z")
im backing nick cave, tom waits, morrissey id like to throw in GZA, method man and ghostface from the wu tang clan, plus posdnous and dave (formerly trugoy) from de la soul. some of their stuff is mind boggling, way above your usual guns and hos type shit. whos to say its not as valid as any of the above. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/87 "2003-06-24T12:37:15Z")
Morrissey uber alles. He’s simply an incredible lyricist. His lyrics, while sometimes deal with strange topics, make a hell of a lot more sense, and their meaning is straightforward, unlike that hack Dylan. Tom Waits comes a close second. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/88 "2003-06-24T13:25:46Z")
## "-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally posted by plnnr If anyone is still listening to Neil Peart, Roger Waters, or Jon Anderson 70 years from now I’ll eat your hat. Okay, but having your nurse puree it and feed it to you intravenously doesn’t count. You’ll have to gum it." Sorry, aint’ gonna happen and here’s why: When was the last time you heard anyone other than Rush, Pink Floyd, or Yes perform a Rush, Pink Floyd, or Yes song? Never (or, of so, rarely). The songs those guys right don’t lend themselves to multiple interpretations. Gershwin, Porter, Mercer, et al have been performed by hundreds, if not thousands, of people and will continue to be done as years go by. There classis songs that have a range and can be sung over and over again. “2112,” “In The Flesh,” and “Going For The One” aren’t going to be around in 70 years. “You’re The Top” will be. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/89 "2003-06-24T16:42:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MacSpon \* > \*\*For sheer, delightful cleverness, may I notinate: > > W. S. Gilbert > Michael Flanders \*\* I second the _notination_😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/90 "2003-06-24T20:35:01Z")
Plnnr, I guess you haven’t heard of Blue Floyd, a band that interprets PF’s songs in a more bluesy style. Not that I can think of a lot of bands who’ve done Pink Floyd covers in general… I’m not sure I buy it as a measurement of who’s better, but it’s interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Trillian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trillian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trillian)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/91 "2003-06-24T21:08:39Z")
Some more: Neil Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House, solo) Chris Rea Michael Penn Steve Kilbey (The Church) Josh Clayton-Felt (School of Fish, solo) ---
**Author:** ![Trillian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trillian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trillian)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/92 "2003-06-24T21:11:30Z")
…and one more… Mark Seymour (Hunters and Collectors, solo) - “Throw Your Arms Around Me” ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/93 "2003-06-24T21:36:07Z")
Let me also nominate Prince, raunchy and poetic and the same time. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/94 "2003-06-25T04:02:00Z")
Didn’t Dylan say Smokey Robinson was"America’s greatest living poet?" ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926/95 "2003-06-25T07:32:22Z")
Two pages, and no one’s mentioned **Warren Zevon**? Philistines. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-greatest-lyricist/182926.md?page=4)