Best Lyricist Of All Time?

Who is your favourite lyricist of all time? The person who most invokes emotion through words set to music?

My vote goes to Morrissey, ex-Smiths frontman.

Tupac is an awesome choice. I hate the way people hate on rap - I admit some of the mainstream stuff is full of cliches at times but when you listen to some of the memorable artists there's so much there. I hate the way people think rapping is talentless too.

I'm going to say Davey Havok because I know no one else will but he definitely deserves some kind of representation here.

There's only one answer: Mr. Lennon

Eek i can't edit, but anyway other favorites of mine include:

Freddy Mercury
Joey Ramone
Andy McCoy
Axl Rose
Izzy Stradlin
Paul McCartney
Johnny Rotten

Tom Waits

"There's only one answer: Mr. Lennon

  




















Mr. Lennon

"

My favourite song writer has to be Thom Yorke.

"Johnny Rotten"

Around the world
I feel dutiful
Take away cause life is beautiful

I know, I know
Fo' sure
That life is beautiful around the world
I know, I know
It's you
You say hello and then I say I do

Thom Yorke

Game Over.

"Black_Rose said:

"Johnny Rotten"

Get out of here. His stuff is so trying too hard to be rebelious."

"Black_Rose said:

"Johnny Rotten"

Get out of here. His stuff is so trying too hard to be rebelious."

"

  

"

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"

"Mr_Bauer said:

"

  

"

The video is much more impressive than the actual lyrics. Still a great song."

"HandsomeDead said:

"Black_Rose said:

"Johnny Rotten"

Get out of here. His stuff is so trying too hard to be rebelious."

You like Avril Lavigne, you get out of here"

Warrel Dane (Nevermore)
Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)

Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die. I'm pretty sure he was an English teacher before he got into the music business.

Im going to go with John Lennon too.. He was ahead of his time.

"HandsomeDead said:

"Black_Rose said:

"Johnny Rotten"

Get out of here. His stuff is so trying too hard to be rebelious."

I hate commenting on other peoples opinions unless I have something decent to respond but I personally detest the whole "punk" movement. It was an awful sounding genre with an awful message."

"Eek i can't edit, but anyway other favorites of mine include:

Freddy Mercury
Jimmy Paige
Axl Rose
Izzy Stradlin
Paul McCartney
Chris Cornell"

"Punk rock is one of the most important genres in the history of music. Many musicians were influenced by it (including your beloved Morrissey), and popular music today wouldn't be the same without it."

The most important genre in music history was actually Jazz, it influenced the industry in such a way that classic rock was created and from there different musics branched out from it.

"The most important genre in music history was actually Jazz, it influenced the industry in such a way that classic rock was created and from there different musics branched out from it."

Blues and Swing were the foundation of rock and roll.  Rockabilly, one of the earliest forms of rock and roll, was derived from country, blues, and swing music.

I think Axl Rose (Guns 'N' Roses) and David Draiman (Disturbed) are some pretty good lyricists.

BOB DYLAN

"damn it feels good to be a gangsta' -ghetto boyz

Either Jeff Magnum, Thom Yorke, Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, or Ben Gibbard.

"I think Axl Rose (Guns 'N' Roses) and David Draiman (Disturbed) are some pretty good lyricists."

Tupac, full stop.

"KiddSushi said:

"Punk rock is one of the most important genres in the history of music. Many musicians were influenced by it (including your beloved Morrissey), and popular music today wouldn't be the same without it."

This guy is right, in fact the whole new wave move was heavily influenced by The Ramones, there wouldnt be The Smiths without punk"

I'm gonna have to go with Jonathan Coulton.

Mostly because a lot of the obvious ones were already said. But Also because he is an awesome musician/songwriter who cannot be pigeon holed into a genre.

Eddie Vedder!

It is hard to mention only one.

Thom Yorke
Michael Stipe (for his cryptic yet meaningful lyrics)
Roger Waters
Joe Strummer
John Lennon
Paul McCartney


All of them are great!

*FACEPALM*
 
How the hell did I forget? Trent Reznor. He is seriously up there.

"Eek i can't edit, but anyway other favorites of mine include:

Freddy Mercury
Axl Rose
Paul McCartney
John Lennon

Municipal Waste

I don't know who writes their lyrics but I like em.

Freddy Mercury  /thread

<thread> Freddie Mercury. </thread>

Tupac and Eminem.
I have a very limited knowlage of music, but those 2 people just jump out at me

"Eek i can't edit, but anyway other favorites of mine include:


Axl Rose

"

I can't name one, so I'll name five:

Matthew Good (Matthew Good Band)
Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie)
Issac Brock (Modest Mouse)
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana obviously)
Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys)
Thom Yorke (Radiohead)

These are some of favorites...
Rakim
Nas
AZ
2Pac
Notorious BIG
Mos Def
Talib Kweli
KRS-ONE
Jay-Z

Some of these guys aren't "pure" lyricists, but they have that natural flow that I like. I don't care for these corny ass "rap" artists too much.