View Full Version : Who is the best lyricist in music history?
Cedric Farthsbottom III
28-Nov-07, 17:14
OOOhhhhhhhhhhhh.Mine would have to be for local issues Morrisey.For a wee bit world wide Bono,even though he was made oot to be Jesus!!!!!For his own art of music Fish.For Fish,I think he wrote his best lyrics when he was pissed oot his face.I love that.
rob murray
28-Nov-07, 17:19
OOOhhhhhhhhhhhh.Mine would have to be for local issues Morrisey.For a wee bit world wide Bono,even though he was made oot to be Jesus!!!!!For his own art of music Fish.For Fish,I think he wrote his best lyrics when he was pissed oot his face.I love that.
Dylan no question...Blonde on Blonde, Highway 61 period, take your pick from any song " God said to Abraham kill me a son, Abe said to God, man your puttin me on....
Cedric Farthsbottom III
28-Nov-07, 17:31
Dylan no question...Blonde on Blonde, Highway 61 period, take your pick from any song " God said to Abraham kill me a son, Abe said to God, man your puttin me on....
Good one Rob.
But to me these lyrics are better
"It was morning and I found myself mourning
For a childhood that I thought had disappeared
I looked out a window I saw a magpie in a rainbow
The rain is gone I'm not alone I looked in the mirror I saw you"
Excellent.....oh by the way Fish on Marillions 'Misplaced Childhood'
Cedric Farthsbottom III
28-Nov-07, 17:47
Another good lyric was by Fish I remember was the story in primary school about Robert the Bruce before Bannockburn seeing a spider rebuild his web showing that nothing was invicible.
Fish wrote:
"A spider wanders aimlessly within the warmth of a shadow
Not the regal creature of Border caves
But the poor miscarded directionless familiar
Of some obscure Scottish poet"
I love lyrics me.......:lol::lol:
rob murray
28-Nov-07, 17:48
Good one Rob.
But to me these lyrics are better
"It was morning and I found myself mourning
For a childhood that I thought had disappeared
I looked out a window I saw a magpie in a rainbow
The rain is gone I'm not alone I looked in the mirror I saw you"
Excellent.....oh by the way Fish on Marillions 'Misplaced Childhood'
Aye, good stuff right enough, I dont know much Fish / Marillion material but yes a great lyric. Must admit I prefer the mid 60's Dylan, over all otehr Dylan periods ie spouting brilliant surreal nonsense all over Blonde / Highway etc. " Six white horses that she sent me finally arrived at the gates of the penitentiary, but you know to live outside the law you must be honest" or " I dunno how he did it but that river boat captain he knows my name" ( Absolutly Sweet Marie )or "tell me great leader, but make it quick". I can never remember whole lyrics, just the bits that strike me as quirky and funny.
Cedric Farthsbottom III
28-Nov-07, 17:56
Aye, good stuff right enough, I dont know much Fish / Marillion material but yes a great lyric. Must admit I prefer the mid 60's Dylan, over all otehr Dylan periods ie spouting brilliant surreal nonsense all over Blonde / Highway etc. " Six white horses that she sent me finally arrived at the gates of the penitentiary, but you know to live outside the law you must be honest" or " I dunno how he did it but that river boat captain he knows my name" ( Absolutly Sweet Marie )or "tell me great leader, but make it quick". I can never remember whole lyrics, just the bits that strike me as quirky and funny.
But thats the best thing about lyrics Rob,the one's that "strike "you.Cos while the drummer was striking it hard,the guitarist was kissing his licks and the bassist was pumpin the beat and a group at its best wi a keyboardist singing the keys.It was the singer or lyricist singing their own song or somebody else's to the crowd.The words are sometimes stronger than the chord.
rob murray
28-Nov-07, 18:03
But thats the best thing about lyrics Rob,the one's that "strike "you.Cos while the drummer was striking it hard,the guitarist was kissing his licks and the bassist was pumpin the beat and a group at its best wi a keyboardist singing the keys.It was the singer or lyricist singing their own song or somebody else's to the crowd.The words are sometimes stronger than the chord.
Totally agree, music is always the back drop to the lyric, look at the Sex Pistols, would God Save the Queen have the same effect and immediacy if the lyric / song was called " Pour me another one" !!
Cedric Farthsbottom III
28-Nov-07, 18:17
Totally agree, music is always the back drop to the lyric, look at the Sex Pistols, would God Save the Queen have the same effect and immediacy if the lyric / song was called " Pour me another one" !!
:lol::lol:Ma favourite lyric that caused asture at the time.
"Won't you come back tomorrow,won't you come back tomoorow
There's a black car parked at the side of the road
Don't go to the door
Don't go to the door"
A song wrote by a young Bono after his maw had died about a hearse waiting for his Mums funeral.Was made out to be an IRA song,why.Sometimes lyrics are heard more sinister than they were made out to be.
The Pepsi Challenge
28-Nov-07, 18:20
Frank Zappa.
rob murray
28-Nov-07, 18:22
:lol::lol:Ma favourite lyric that caused asture at the time.
"Won't you come back tomorrow,won't you come back tomoorow
There's a black car parked at the side of the road
Don't go to the door
Don't go to the door"
A song wrote by a young Bono after his maw had died about a hearse waiting for his Mums funeral.Was made out to be an IRA song,why.Sometimes lyrics are heard more sinister than they were made out to be.
I cant remember the song title, didnt know that is caused a stushie, but was the song on the second album October ? I actually thought the early U2 were brill !
Cedric Farthsbottom III
28-Nov-07, 18:31
I cant remember the song title, didnt know that is caused a stushie, but was the song on the second album October ? I actually thought the early U2 were brill !
Yer spot on Rob.The song was "Tomorrow" on the 'October' album.But then lyrics are always there to be misjudged.Just ask Liz Fraser fae the Cocteau Twins she sung a song "Song to the Siren"by Bill Buckley,it was made to be a lesbian anthem.The song was about a fisherman stickin up to the siren curse.Lyrics..........I love them.More political than politics today :D
Cedric Farthsbottom III
28-Nov-07, 18:40
Frank Zappa.
Gie us an example Pepsi?
i wid say prity much anything by roger waters, hes got 3 main solo albums
amused til death, radio kaos, an pros an cons o hitchhiking
e lyrics are fantastic...
The Pepsi Challenge
29-Nov-07, 16:59
Gie us an example Pepsi?
What's the ugliest
Part of your body?
What's the ugliest
Part of your body?
Some say your nose
Some say your toes
But I think it's
YOUR MIND
I think it's your mind, woo woo
ALL YOUR CHILDREN ARE POOR
UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS OF
SYSTEMS BEYOND THEIR
CONTROL
A PLAGUE UPON YOUR
IGNORANCE & THE GRAY
DESPAIR OF YOUR UGLY LIFE
Where did Annie go
Whe she went to town?
Who are all those creeps
That she brings around?
ALL YOUR CHILDREN ARE POOR
UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS OF LIES
YOU BELIEVE
A PLAGUE UPON YOUR
IGNORANCE THAT KEEPS
THE YOUNG FROM THE TRUTH
THEY DESERVE...
supernova
29-Nov-07, 20:12
"I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes - you'd know what a drag it is to see you"..."don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"....
two of my favourite lyrics by Dylan - definitely the best lyricist in my view, there are hundreds more to choose from.
Floyd, Neil Young, Joni Mitchel also at the top of the list.
oh my god, I must be a hippy!!
did I forget to mention Shakin' Stevens?
Jeemag_USA
29-Nov-07, 21:46
There is so many befoe I list some of them, here is the man that i say is undoubtedly the crown champion of all lyricists and also one of the most prolific, every song a winner.....
BOB MARLEY (easy peasy)
But I'd like to throw these names into the ring....
Marc Bolan
David Bowie
Lennon & McCartney
James Taylor
Bono
Tracy Chapman
Who wrote for Elvis, whoever it was I thought he or she was really good, my favourite line is from Hound Dog.
"You ain't never caught a rabbit, you ain't no friend of mine" :Razz
Who wrote for Elvis, whoever it was I thought he or she was really good, my favourite line is from Hound Dog.
I don't think anybody wrote for Elvis. Carl Perkins wrote Blue Suede Shoes I know that but I don't think he wrote any of the others, wouldn't surprise me if every song didn't have a different composer.
House of the Rising Sun was a classic example of how things worked in them days. Been around in the barrelhouses for donkeys years before someone decided to make it their own, Bob Dylan heard them doing it and decided to record it then the Animals nicked it off Bob Dylan and everybody associates it with them now. Hard to say just who wrote what, it wasn't always the person who got the credits.
Aaldtimer
30-Nov-07, 04:06
One of the early sources of "House of the Rising Sun" was Leadbelly (Huddie Leadbetter, pronounced Hewdie btw). God only knows where the original came from.
One of the early sources of "House of the Rising Sun" was Leadbelly (Huddie Leadbetter, pronounced Hewdie btw). God only knows where the original came from.
One of the unsung heroes of music, the grass roots who innovate not the mainstream who capitalise, I take my hat off to him whoever he was.
I don't think anybody wrote for Elvis. Carl Perkins wrote Blue Suede Shoes I know that but I don't think he wrote any of the others, wouldn't surprise me if every song didn't have a different composer.
Leiber and Stoller wrote Hound Dog, original (and best) version done by Big Mama Thorton.
I think that folk / traditional songs have the best lyrics, especially the more haunting ballads that have come out of our way - though I'm fond of older blues, old timey Americana as well. I'm sure Dylan would agree with me too!
Aaldtimer
30-Nov-07, 18:00
One of the unsung heroes of music, the grass roots who innovate not the mainstream who capitalise, I take my hat off to him whoever he was.
Just for you Fred:- http://aolsearch.aol.co.uk/aol/redir?src=eu_websearch&requestId=null&clickedItemRank=1&userQuery=huddie+leadbetter&clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paddyg.f9.co.uk%2F igas%2Fleadbelly.htm&title=%3Cb%3EHuddie+Leadbetter%3C%2Fb%3E.+A+biogra phy.&moduleId=matchingsites_uk.jsp.M&clickedItemPageRanking=1&clickedItemPage=1&clickedItemDescription=WebResults
Mmmm, doesn't seem to work! Ach well, just Google to learn about Leadbelly, an amazing character!
Mmmm, doesn't seem to work! Ach well, just Google to learn about Leadbelly, an amazing character!
Well thank you Aaldtimer, I got the link to work by removing the part caithness.org puts on the front. A very interesting read, I'm fond of the old Orleans blues players, in my youth I had the good fortune to be acquainted with one of the best but Leadbelly's story is one I had never read before.
Jeemag_USA
01-Dec-07, 21:00
Well thank you Aaldtimer, I got the link to work by removing the part caithness.org puts on the front. A very interesting read, I'm fond of the old Orleans blues players, in my youth I had the good fortune to be acquainted with one of the best but Leadbelly's story is one I had never read before.
I love Leadbelly, I have two of his records on cassette, great stuff. Jump down turn around pick a bale of cotton, jump down turn around pick a bale of hay, jump down turn around pick a bale of cotton etc etc ..... I love the old timey blues!
OOOhhhhhhhhhhhh.Mine would have to be for local issues Morrisey.For a wee bit world wide Bono,even though he was made oot to be Jesus!!!!!For his own art of music Fish.For Fish,I think he wrote his best lyrics when he was pissed oot his face.I love that.
I was just looking for a link to post elsewhere and remembered this thread.
Tom Lehrer by a long way, nobody else even comes close.
Cole Porter!
LET"S DO IT!
birds do it, bees do it
even educated fleas do it
let's do it, let's fall in love
in spain, the best upper sets do it
lithuanians and letts do it
let's do it, let's fall in love
the dutch in old amsterdam do it
not to mention the finns
folks in siam do it
think of siamese twins
some argentines, without means, do it
people say, in boston, even beans do it
let's do it, let's fall in love
romantic sponges, they say, do it
oysters, down in oyster bay, do it
let's do it, let's fall in love
cold cape cod clams, against their wish, do it
even lazy jellyfish do it
let's do it, let's fall in love
electric eels, i might add, do it
though it shocks 'em, i know.
why ask if shad do it
waiter, bring me shad roe.
in shallow shoals, english soles do it
goldfish, in the privacy of bowls, do it
let's do it, let's fall in love
I don't think anybody wrote for Elvis. Carl Perkins wrote Blue Suede Shoes I know that but I don't think he wrote any of the others, wouldn't surprise me if every song didn't have a different composer.
Whoever wrote One Night should have had a rethink before letting The King sing the line "I ain't never did no wrong"
Conor Oberst.
People may perceive him to be awfully pretentious but there's no doubting his talent.
"As they take eye for and eye until no one can see, we must stumble blindly forward, repeating history."
futurelegends
06-Dec-07, 23:57
Has to be the Zimmerman & Bowie.
"And outside Pedro sits there dreamin`
he`s found a book of magic tricks in a garbage can,
stares out the window and looks at the cracked ceiling,
at the count of three I can disappear and fly fly away,
from this dirty boulevard".
Ol` Lou Reed at his best from "Dirty Boulevard" on the New York album.
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