re: Greatest lyricists of all time

So many particularly in the South will pooh pooh Springsteen, but he is a helluva songwriter with pretty deep prose....his musical arrangements are not bad either

Jagger-Richards partnership has not been mentioned but in the late 60s and early to mid 70s, they pumped out some great lyrics and music

Others.....aside from Plant( who was excellent)

Townes Van Zandt
Steve Earle
Paul McCartney
Gordon Lightfoot

Charles Wesley Godwin is an up and comer. His work is impressive

In the same vein.....Brennan Edwards

Good Man from OOTV. Simple lyrics don't do it justice though, it's the alliteration in how he sings that just adds that extra bit of zest to the song.

If you ever find a way to forgive me
If you ever find a way to put this all to rest
Because I'm hanging on your dress now like a little boy

When all that you wanted, all that you wanted
Was a good man, all right
Right in the middle of another big fight
Boom back, another one tonight
Blood never forgets but who protects
The memories when we bleed each other from the vein?

And if you ever find a way to make this interesting
If I ever find a way to stop disintegrating
Into pieces that I was that you destroy

When all that you wanted, all that you wanted
Was a good man, all right
Right in the middle of another big fight
Go to bed it's getting light out
Why do you, why do you, why do you
Always find me in the places when I'm coming down?

And how do you do it when I'm overwhelmed by a violet sky?
And we fly in a decayed orbit 66,000 miles an hour goes by
When we kissed and only now do I feel your mouth
Like an ache you never knew
And it was right in front of you
Oh how do you do it? Roots in the soil untangled
Releasing in sweet summer oil, still I recoil like mace
In all the little moments I pushed you away that I can't erase
Every moment overflows with power, 66,000 miles an hour

And if you ever find a way to forgive me
If you ever find a way to put this all to rest
Because I am hanging on your dress now like a little boy

When all that you wanted, all that you wanted
Was a good man, all right
And all that you wanted, all that you wanted
Was a good man

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has no one mentioned Bernie Taupin yet?

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only to say he deserves life in front of the firing squad for "candle in the wind"

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And co-wrote We Built this City which is dreadful.

I grew up a huge Elton John fan and still like his music. But Bernie Taupin is a mediocre writer, at best.

Can anyone explain these mystifying lyrics from Country Comfort (a song I really like anyway):

"Soon the pines will be falling everywhere, village children fight each other for a share".

I don't think Bernie Taupin had a clue what he was doing when he wrote that.

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Jackson Browne

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Way underrated

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The thing I appreciate most about Springsteen's lyric is the attention to detail. He is so particular with his choice of words. He uses words like a painter uses paintbrushes.

Here is an example of what I mean from Jungleland.

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I love Jungleland and you're right. Atlantic City is one of my favorite lyrical songs, and it nails the nuance of being young, poor and taking a desperate way out.

Look, I'll go to bat for Born in the USA having a tremendous amount of lyrical detail and depth for a pop song.

"Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go"

That's significantly above average for what he pretty explicitly did as a pop album. It's great imagery of a Nam vet down on his luck.

Jackson Browne is pretty good.

Jason Molina was a lyrical genius and deserves recognition in this thread.

Lennon

Everyone else should be pumping gas.

Kris Kristofferson
Joni Mitchell

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Vedder is underrated

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Always liked him and of course my all time favorite Layne Staley. His voice conveyed so many different emotions.