THe best song/lyrics writer?

[Lucky13]

Just wondering, with the huge music interest on the forum, I was wondering what your Top 10 list of songwriters (not the like of the evil three from the 80's) would look like, maybe a ww2aircraft.net Top 10 list, if we could agree on one...

 

[Capt. Vick]

Just a few off the top of my (non-musical) head:

Bob Dylan
Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull
Sting
Greatful Dead

 

[Thorlifter]

In no order....

Rush
Lennon/McCartney (early years)
Paul Simon
John Fogerty
Sting
Leonard Cohen
Stevie Nicks/Lindsey Buckingham

Many, many others, but it's a start. I know on several lists Dylan is #1, but I just don't get him.

 

[Jack_Hill]

Suzanne Vega, for her intelligence, beauty, delicacy and more.
James Hetfield, for rebellion and energy,
Tom Araya for his animist sense of humour.
Paul Mc Cartney, for...all..

 

[meatloaf109]

Rush, Led Zeppelin, Van Morrison, Ol' whats his name from the Tubes, ("Talk to ya later" is a favorite.) Ric Ocasek of the Cars, Boston,...
And I hate to say it, but Neil Sedaka, Elton John and Bernie Taupin have accounted for more music than all the rest combined.

 

[Njaco]

My 10:

Ian Anderson
Jon Anderson
Robert Plant
Peter Gabriel
Gordon Lightfoot
Alanis Morissette
Robert Palmer
Bernie Taupin
Tori Amos
John Lennon

 

[michaelmaltby]

Randy Newman

 

[Matt308]

"The Trees"


There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade

There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
'The oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light'
Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe and saw

 

[meatloaf109]

Thank goodness no-one has mentioned Jim Morrison, I mean, the man rhymed "fire" with "fire"!
Drug indused lyrics I can understand, but, really? "fire" and "fire"!

 

[meatloaf109]

"The Trees"


There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade

There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
'The oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light'
Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe and saw

"Free Will" is my favorite!

 

[Matt308]

"Daddy I want to kill uuuuuuuuuuu...."

 

[meatloaf109]

?????

 

[Thorlifter]

I'll second the vote for Ian Anderson for sure. Have mixed opinions on naming Roger Waters/David Gilmore. Some of their lyrics are true poetry, IMO. But some are just shroom riddled psychedelic babbling.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Lets see Songwriter or Lyricist...

Not sure of what order yet.

James Hetfield (Metallica)
Maynard James Kennan (Tool)
Bob Dylan
Stevie Nicks/Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac)
Roger Waters/David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
Bruce Springsteen

 

[Jack_Hill]

Steve Perry.
Neal Schon.
Joe Perry
Phil Lynott
Antonio Vivaldi
J.S Bach
Brian Setzer
Chuck Berry
David Gilmour
Tom Scholz
Mark Knopfler
Dave Mustaine
Django Reinhardt
Barbara
And so much more.
Ps : forgot many but Steve Lukather.
Pps : ty Matt for the poetry.
Real fine Anthem to your country.

 

[gumbyk]

I'll second the vote for Ian Anderson for sure. Have mixed opinions on naming Roger Waters/David Gilmore. Some of their lyrics are true poetry, IMO. But some are just shroom riddled psychedelic babbling.

Most of the psychedelic songs were Syd Barrett, weren't they?

 

[Njaco]

Before 1969 - really only one album before Gilmore arrived.

 

[gumbyk]

Thats why I said songs, not albums. Things got a lot saner after that album.

 

[Matt308]

Nobody voted for The Doors. Shame. Musical genius. Love their music. But lyrics are drug addled moronic seances.

 

[Jack_Hill]

First thought The Doors were for intelectuals and so on.
Then I discovered a great band.
Pure Rocking.