AppyDAZE Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 (edited) Yes, we all know about the Dylans, the Lennons, the Bowies, the Morrisseys of this world, but I'm keen on hearing about some of the other lesser known natural born word-spinners in the rock world. I've a few that I have as constant favourites to go back to and they include Andy Partridge (XTC) Ric Ocasek (The Cars) Steve Kilbey (The Church) James Mercer (The Shins) I know there are many others, but these blokes just seemed to be natural born geniuses when it came to putting pen to paper for song lyrics. Edited February 8, 2022 by AppyDAZE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AppyDAZE Posted February 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 (edited) And I missed out Chris Difford. Unforgivable. Edited February 8, 2022 by AppyDAZE 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbored Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 Roger Waters - Pink Floyd. The best lyricist of them all imv. Not an easy personality to get along with but a superb writer. He wrote the lyrics of Dark side of the Moon including my favourite track “time”….. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshtonGreat Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Robbored said: Roger Waters - Pink Floyd. The best lyricist of them all imv. Not an easy personality to get along with but a superb writer. He wrote the lyrics of Dark side of the Moon including my favourite track “time”….. Springsteen, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell... I realise these aren't exactly lesser-known artists! Edited February 8, 2022 by AshtonGreat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbored Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 2 minutes ago, AshtonGreat said: Springsteen, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell... I realise these aren't exactly lesser-known artists! Of course these artists are fantastic composers it when it comes to meaningful and actual lyrics then Waters the top in my opinion. A wonderful, wonderful lyricsist.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshtonGreat Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 39 minutes ago, Robbored said: Of course these artists are fantastic composers it when it comes to meaningful and actual lyrics then Waters the top in my opinion. A wonderful, wonderful lyricsist.. Yes, I agree he's great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renaissance Williams Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian - an amazing dry wit and writing in a foreign language to boot!!! 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebristolred Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 More recently I'd have to nominate Fontaines DC. Not everyone's cup of tea but lyrically they're great. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KegCity Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 6 hours ago, nebristolred said: More recently I'd have to nominate Fontaines DC. Not everyone's cup of tea but lyrically they're great. One of, if not the, best acts in the world right now. Alex Turner's lyrics are great too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordy62 Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Mel C? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1960maaan Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Elvis Costello, every time I hear "watching the Detectives I can see an old film. One of my fav tracks for lyrics. I have to throw in some wild cards. Carter ? I loved how they played with words. Artic Monkeys ? Really enjoy how they use accents to rhyme 'summat' with stomach . Another of my favs, Ian McNabb & the Icicle Works . Through to The Men They Couldn't Hand. Great for little stories . I could probably waffle on for ages, then end up at HMHB, so I'll stop now. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slartibartfast Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 11 hours ago, Renaissance Williams said: Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian - an amazing dry wit and writing in a foreign language to boot!!! Yes, brilliant, wry lyrics. I give you Wrapped Up In Books, The Blues are still Blue and Step into my Office, Baby , for starters . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudski Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Tears for Fears Mark Hollis/ Talk Talk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port Said Red Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 (edited) 28 minutes ago, slartibartfast said: Yes, brilliant, wry lyrics. I give you Wrapped Up In Books, The Blues are still Blue and Step into my Office, Baby , for starters . If She Want's Me is great too. I know I have spoken about Elvis Costello a lot on here but he is still the best for me. The opening lines of "The Loved Ones" a song about people who use violence to solve problems is one of the greatest opening verses in pop. Don't get smart or sarcastic He snaps back just like elastic Spare us the theatrics and the verbal gymnastics We break wise guys just like matchsticks I think Lloyd Cole has written some great stuff and Jarvis Cocker of Pulp. Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) and Paul Heaton, ( Housemartins, Beautiful South, and with Jacqui Abbot). Also Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout), Rickie Lee Jones and of course Simon Blackwell of (HMHB). Edited February 9, 2022 by Port Said Red 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudski Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 6 minutes ago, TomF said: I'm still not over Hollis passing away, regardless of the fact he'd become a recluse. Musical genius. I think George Harrison was hell of a lyricist given the shadow he lived in. I love the fact he walked away from the music industry to bring up his family properly. A genius as you say. He wasn't really a recluse though...just shunned fame and the industry. Massive motorcycle enthusiast. Owned many and often went touring on them. Not many know that 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enclosure Old Timer Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Richard Thompson, hugely underrated genius. Also Calum McDonald of Scots band Runrig, did so much for Gaelic culture. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offside Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Elvis Costello has already been mentioned in this thread - his lyrics are absolutely superb. Bob Dylan too. Many of his songs contain wonderful images. Tangled Up In Blue is one of his best - the way the narrative in the song shifts Justin Currie (Del Amitri) is also a very good lyricist - Nothing Ever Happens is an amazing song. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slacker Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Just like to add The Streets/ Mike Skinner to the list. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slartibartfast Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 4 hours ago, Enclosure Old Timer said: Richard Thompson, hugely underrated genius. Also Calum McDonald of Scots band Runrig, did so much for Gaelic culture. Sorry, I hit the wrong emoji, meant to be flames ! I just did a Paddy Maloney....."Oh Christ" ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbored Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 I haven’t scrolled thru the entire thread so as anyone mentioned Bob Dylan? Surely one of greatest lyricist of all times? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Leigh of Somerset Posted February 9, 2022 Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 Mike Scott of The Waterboys is one of the most under-rated but utterly brilliant lyricist around. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AppyDAZE Posted February 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, Robbored said: I haven’t scrolled thru the entire thread so as anyone mentioned Bob Dylan? Surely one of greatest lyricist of all times? I started the thread by saying forget the obvious, well deserved lyrical heroes ie Dylan Lennon Bowie etc Was asking for some of those less generally accepted as naturals but are nevertheless. The guys (and gals) like Andy Partridge, who the man on the street wouldn't have a clue about, but are when you actually look at it, in the same league as the big guns. They definitely tend to fall into two camps The more literal (story telling) = Chris Difford Squeeze the best and the abstract , words that just sound great and go with the music = Ric Ocasek The Cars Maybe it's just me, but if the band doesn't have words that make you go hey, I lose interest quickly. Edited February 9, 2022 by AppyDAZE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Robbo Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 I'm adding Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) & Pete Shelley (the Buzzcocks) to that list. Plus why has no one mentioned either Ray Davies or Paul Weller??! If you want a wild card, I'm going to throw in Carl Puttnam of late80s/early 90s band Cud. His lyrics are wordy and funny as hell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hunt-Hertz Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 Nigel Blackwell, Ian McCulloch, Jarvis Cocker and Muttley McLad. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enclosure Old Timer Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 16 hours ago, slartibartfast said: Sorry, I hit the wrong emoji, meant to be flames ! I just did a Paddy Maloney....."Oh Christ" ! Remember that Paddy Moloney moment well, not the greatest lyric or finest musicianship ever !! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enclosure Old Timer Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 15 hours ago, Sir Leigh of Somerset said: Mike Scott of The Waterboys is one of the most under-rated but utterly brilliant lyricist around. Totally agree ,also Shane Macgowan, pure poetry despite his problems. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollydog Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 Some that names here. Would personally emphasise Mark Hollis and Nigel Blackwell. Rather less known than most names here is the late great Jackie Leven. If you’re yet to discover Jackie, you have a great treat ahead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Robbo Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 16 hours ago, Sir Leigh of Somerset said: Mike Scott of The Waterboys is one of the most under-rated but utterly brilliant lyricist around. Not that it affects his lyrical ability at all, but I met an ex-bandmate of Scott's over the Christmas period and he was vocal over what an arsehole the bloke is to work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dolman Pragmatist Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 43 minutes ago, Enclosure Old Timer said: Totally agree ,also Shane Macgowan, pure poetry despite his problems. Agree about Shane, but just a word about the late Philip Chevron, and his superbly moving lyrics for ‘Thousands are sailing’. Also nice to see Mark Hollis and Mike Scott getting a mention, though Mike Scott does tend to wander off up his own fundament sometimes… Just to change the subject a little though: the greatest single song lyrics ever written? No question: America by Paul Simon. “Cathy, I’m lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping…”. Astonishing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Saturday Boy Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 Top three for me, Billy Bragg Kirsty MacColl Beans on Toast 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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