Favourite Lyricist Of All Time!!

Kingp35

Who is your favourite lyricist of all time??

Mine has got to be Rob Thomas from matchbox twenty. Even if you dont like the music read his lyrics they are amazing!!

Post up your favourite lyricist and lyrics as well if you want to.

Cheez

YEA! FUKIN GENIUS MAN!

lyrics from "Disease" off their "More Than you Think You Are" album(2002)

feels like you're making a mess

you're hell on wheels in a black dress

you drove me to the fire

and left me there to burn



every little thing you do is tragic

all my life before was magic

beautiful girl-i can't breathe

robbie1876

Donald Fagan / Walter Becker.

In my opinion their two best albums lyrically are Aja and Two Against Nature

James R

Metallica's early stuff is kinda like poetry in a way.... great stuff.

I like Creeds too.

Matchbox 20 aren't bad. You're Gone is a great song. its on that album with bent !

eggshapedfred

Paul Draper, lead singer of Mansun (RIP)

Nasty, bitter, enraged
A nice polite English way
Full circle, desensitised
I'm right back where I began

from "What its Like to Be Hated" crackin' song. and you can't argue with the man who wrote

when the vicar strips he gets away with it

(from "Stripper Vicar")

Kingp35

Here is some more cool lyrics. Its written by wayne staley of Alice in chains. Pretty depressing stuff but cool anyway.

Bury Me Softly In This Womb
I Give This Part Of Me For You
Sand Rains Down And Here I Sit
Holding Rare Flowers
In A Tomb.....In Bloom

Down In A Hole And I Don't Know
If I Can Be Saved
See My Heart I Decorate It
Like A Grave
You Don't Understand Who They
Thought I Was Supposed To Be
Look At Me Now A Man
Who Won't Let Himself Be

Down In A Hole, Losin' My Soul
Down In A Hole, Losin' Control
I'd Like To Fly
But My Wings Have Been So Denied

Down In A Hole And They've Put All
The Stones In Their Place
I've Eaten The Sun So My Tongue
Has Been Burned Of The Taste
I Have Been Guilty
Of Kicking Myself In The Teeth
I Will Speak No More
Of My Feelings Beneath

Yeah I think Metallica's early stuff is pretty cool. That manson lyric sounds really good as well.

Keep posting your fav lyrics!!

Raam

I like the lyrics from that Pulp song - "Like a Friend"

"...you are the cut that makes me hide my face,
you are the party that makes me feel my age"

Dunno who wrote it though. Maybe it was Jarvis. So if it was him, then he is my favourite!

Sauron

It has to be Billy Corgan......great lyrics....with the pumpkins anyway.:rolleyes:
"Love is Suicide"

Mossy Monk

Bob Dylan for me

Originally posted by eggshapedfred
Paul Draper, lead singer of Mansun (RIP)

when did he die :eek:

Karoma

a team effort: the benga boys!

eggshapedfred

when did he die

oh he didn't. sorry about that. the RIP was for Mansun. they split up earlier this year.

Kali

Aidan Moffat of Arab Strap... anyone with a poem called C*nts gets my vote.

angelofdeath

Originally posted by Sauron
It has to be Billy Corgan......great lyrics....with the pumpkins anyway.:rolleyes:
"Love is Suicide"

i second:)

Kurdt

leonard cohen



Four o'clock in the afternoon
and I didn't feel like very much.
I said to myself, "Where are you golden boy,
where is your famous golden touch?"
I thought you knew where
all of the elephants lie down,
I thought you were the crown prince
of all the wheels in Ivory Town.
Just take a look at your body now,
there's nothing much to save
and a bitter voice in the mirror cries,
"Hey, Prince, you need a shave."
Now if you can manage to get
your trembling fingers to behave,
why don't you try unwrapping
a stainless steel razor blade?
That's right, it's come to this,
yes it's come to this,
and wasn't it a long way down,
wasn't it a strange way down?
There's no hot water
and the cold is running thin.
Well, what do you expect from
the kind of places you've been living in?
Don't drink from that cup,
it's all caked and cracked along the rim.
That's not the electric light, my friend,
that is your vision growing dim.
Cover up your face with soap, there,
now you're Santa Claus.
And you've got a gift for anyone
who will give you his applause.
I thought you were a racing man,
ah, but you couldn't take the pace.
That's a funeral in the mirror
and it's stopping at your face.
That's right, it's come to this,
yes it's come to this,
and wasn't it a long way down,
ah wasn't it a strange way down?

Once there was a path
and a girl with chestnut hair,
and you passed the summers
picking all of the berries that grew there;
there were times she was a woman,
oh, there were times she was just a child,
and you held her in the shadows
where the raspberries grow wild.
And you climbed the twilight mountains
and you sang about the view,
and everywhere that you wandered
love seemed to go along with you.
That's a hard one to remember,
yes it makes you clench your fist.
And then the veins stand out like highways,
all along your wrist.
And yes it's come to this,
it's come to this,
and wasn't it a long way down,
wasn't it a strange way down?

You can still find a job,
go out and talk to a friend.
On the back of every magazine
there are those coupons you can send.
Why don't you join the Rosicrucians,
they can give you back your hope,
you can find your love with diagrams
on a plain brown envelope.
But you've used up all your coupons
except the one that seems
to be written on your wrist
along with several thousand dreams.
Now Santa Claus comes forward,
that's a razor in his mit;
and he puts on his dark glasses
and he shows you where to hit;
and then the cameras pan,
the stand in stunt man,
dress rehearsal rag,
it's just the dress rehearsal rag,
you know this dress rehearsal rag,
it's just a dress rehearsal rag.

Kurdt

leonard cohen



Four o'clock in the afternoon
and I didn't feel like very much.
I said to myself, "Where are you golden boy,
where is your famous golden touch?"
I thought you knew where
all of the elephants lie down,
I thought you were the crown prince
of all the wheels in Ivory Town.
Just take a look at your body now,
there's nothing much to save
and a bitter voice in the mirror cries,
"Hey, Prince, you need a shave."
Now if you can manage to get
your trembling fingers to behave,
why don't you try unwrapping
a stainless steel razor blade?
That's right, it's come to this,
yes it's come to this,
and wasn't it a long way down,
wasn't it a strange way down?
There's no hot water
and the cold is running thin.
Well, what do you expect from
the kind of places you've been living in?
Don't drink from that cup,
it's all caked and cracked along the rim.
That's not the electric light, my friend,
that is your vision growing dim.
Cover up your face with soap, there,
now you're Santa Claus.
And you've got a gift for anyone
who will give you his applause.
I thought you were a racing man,
ah, but you couldn't take the pace.
That's a funeral in the mirror
and it's stopping at your face.
That's right, it's come to this,
yes it's come to this,
and wasn't it a long way down,
ah wasn't it a strange way down?

Once there was a path
and a girl with chestnut hair,
and you passed the summers
picking all of the berries that grew there;
there were times she was a woman,
oh, there were times she was just a child,
and you held her in the shadows
where the raspberries grow wild.
And you climbed the twilight mountains
and you sang about the view,
and everywhere that you wandered
love seemed to go along with you.
That's a hard one to remember,
yes it makes you clench your fist.
And then the veins stand out like highways,
all along your wrist.
And yes it's come to this,
it's come to this,
and wasn't it a long way down,
wasn't it a strange way down?

You can still find a job,
go out and talk to a friend.
On the back of every magazine
there are those coupons you can send.
Why don't you join the Rosicrucians,
they can give you back your hope,
you can find your love with diagrams
on a plain brown envelope.
But you've used up all your coupons
except the one that seems
to be written on your wrist
along with several thousand dreams.
Now Santa Claus comes forward,
that's a razor in his mit;
and he puts on his dark glasses
and he shows you where to hit;
and then the cameras pan,
the stand in stunt man,
dress rehearsal rag,
it's just the dress rehearsal rag,
you know this dress rehearsal rag,
it's just a dress rehearsal rag.

Dr. Loon

Jim Morrison

From The Soft Parade

When I was back there in seminary school, There was a person there
Who put forth the proposition, That you can petition the Lord with prayer
Petition the lord with prayer, Petition the lord with prayer
You cannot petition the lord with prayer!
Can you give me sanctuary, I must find a place to hide, A place for me to hide
Can you find me soft asylum, I can't make it anymore, The Man is at the door

......

The Soft Parade has now begun, Listen to the engines hum
People out to have some fun, A cobra on my left
Leopard on my right, yeah
The deer woman in a silk dress, Girls with beads around their necks
Kiss the hunter of the green vest, Who has wrestled before
With lions in the night


Axl Rose

From Estranged

When I find out all the reasons
Maybe I'll find another way
Find another day
With all the changing seasons of my life
Maybe I'll get it right next time
An now that you've been broken down
Got your head out of the clouds
You're back down on the ground
And you don't talk so loud
An you don't walk so proud
Any more, and what for

Well I jumped into the river
Too many times to make it home
I'm out here on my own, an drifting all alone
If it doesn't show give it time
To read between the lines
'Cause I see the storm getting closer
And the waves they get so high
Seems everything We've ever known's here
Why must it drift away and die


and Lennon & McCartney

Rocky Racoon - love this story

Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye, Rocky didn't like that
He said I'm gonna get that boy
So one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon

Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy
Her name was Magil and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy

Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a showdown
But Daniel was hot - he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner

Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better, I'll be better doc as soon as I am able

Now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival

Miguel_Sanchez

Definitely has to be Bill Callahan, aka Smog. His albums, Knock Knock and Dongs of Sevotion are amazing.

(from: To Be Of Use)
most of my fantasies are of
making someone else come
most of my fantasies are of
to be of use
to be of some hard
simple
undeniable use

He's also a great live performer - you should all definitely check out his albums and next time he comes to Ireland go and see him.

Kingp35

Eminem

His lyrics are good because he says it like it is and he is by far the best hip hop lyricist because he doesnt only sing bout guns,drugs and girls!

Jak

Neil Young and I'm amazed nobody has mentioned Whigfield yet.

JAK.

Littletinyman

Morrissey, Eddie Vedder, Michael Stipe, Robert Smith

Kurdt

Originally posted by Kingp35
Eminem

His lyrics are good because he says it like it is and he is by far the best hip hop lyricist because he doesnt only sing bout guns,drugs and girls!

says it like it is?

really?

do you know what its like? i'd like to know?

and when did he get brain damage? and when did he kill his estranged wife?

just wondering is all

D!ve^Bomb!

jeff buckley

last goodbye

This is our last goodbye
I hate to feel the love between us die
But it's over
Just hear this and then i'll go
You gave me more to live for
More than you'll ever know

This is our last embrace
Must I dream and always see your face
Why can't we overcome this wall
Well, maybe it's just because i didn't know you at all

Kiss me, please kiss me
But kiss me out of desire, babe, and not consolation
You know it makes me so angry 'cause i know that in time
I'll only make you cry, this is our last goodbye

Did you say 'no, this can't happen to me,'
And did you rush to the phone to call
Was there a voice unkind in the back of your mind
Saying maybe you didn't know him at all
You didn't know him at all, oh, you didn't know

Well, the bells out in the church tower chime
Burning clues into this heart of mine
Thinking so hard on her soft eyes and the memories
Offer signs that it's over... it's over

......................................................................................
lover, u should have come over

Looking out the door i see the rain fall upon the funeral mourners
Parading in a wake of sad relations as their shoes fill up with water
And maybe i'm too young to keep good love from going wrong
But tonight you're on my mind so you never know

When i'm broken down and hungry for your love with no way to feed it
Where are you tonight, child you know how much i need it
Too young to hold on and too old to just break free and run

Sometimes a man gets carried away, when he feels like he should be having his fun
And much too blind to see the damage he's done
Sometimes a man must awake to find that really, he has no-one

So i'll wait for you... and i'll burn
Will I ever see your sweet return
Oh will I ever learn

Oh lover, you should've come over
'Cause it's not too late

Lonely is the room, the bed is made, the open window lets the rain in
Burning in the corner is the only one who dreams he had you with him
My body turns and yearns for a sleep that will never come

It's never over, my kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder
It's never over, all my riches for her smiles when i slept so soft against her
It's never over, all my blood for the sweetness of her laughter
It's never over, she's the tear that hangs inside my soul forever

Well maybe i'm just too young
To keep good love from going wrong

Oh... lover, you should've come over
'Cause it's not too late

Well I feel too young to hold on
And i'm much too old to break free and run
Too deaf, dumb, and blind to see the damage i've done
Sweet lover, you should've come over
Oh, love well i'm waiting for you

Lover, you should've come over
'Cause it's not too late



no contest!!

yellum

Tom Waits:


Wasted and wounded, it ain't what the moon did, I've got what I paid for now
See you tomorrow, hey Frank, can I borrow a couple of bucks from you
To go waltzing Mathilda, waltzing Mathilda,
You'll go waltzing Mathilda with me

I'm an innocent victim of a blinded alley
And I'm tired of all these soldiers here
No one speaks English, and everything's broken, and my Stacys are soaking wet
To go waltzing Mathilda, waltzing Mathilda,
You'll go waltzing Mathilda with me

Now the dogs are barking and the taxi cab's parking
A lot they can do for me
I begged you to stab me, you tore my shirt open,
And I'm down on my knees tonight
Old Bushmill's I staggered, you'd bury the dagger
In your silhouette window light go
To go waltzing Mathilda, waltzing Mathilda,
You'll go waltzing Mathilda with me

James R

I think Springsteen has to get a mention. he has some great stuff and the Rising for example was very popular in America following 9/11

lordsippa

Ergh... I can't decide between Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, or Jim Morrison...

But I'm actually gonna go for Tim Buckley. His early stuff was filled with amazing imagery, while his crazy years were filled with subtle brilliance.

zAbbo

Originally posted by Dr. Loon


and Lennon & McCartney

Rocky Racoon - love this story

John Lennon had nothing to do with that song, all macca.

As for best lyricist of all time, how someone could mention either springsteen or eminem is beyond me.

Has to be

Dylan or Cohen

Doctor J

Chris Goss

"I moved like syrup slow"

eggshapedfred

Tim Buckley. His early stuff was filled with amazing imagery

the lyrics from his early songs were mostly written by larry beckett (a guy tim went to high school with). tim's stuff around the middle of his career (happy sad -> blue afternoon) was pure class.

Pacifico

paul simon:cool:

comet

Dylan or Morrissey for me. Hal David wasn't bad either

funktastic

Dylan should win hands down-over 40 years of (almost) totally consistently great lyrics

Robert johnson
Michael Stipe
Morrissey
Chuck d esp. 'fear of a black planet'
kurt cobain
zack de la rocha
curt kirkwood
syd barrett
bobbie gentry