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[Horseticuffs]

I'm so happy to see the multiple mentions of John Darnielle. Nobody's posted a set of his lyrics into the thread yet, though. Allow me.

As much as I love JD, I've never heard anything off of AHWT. I've heard tons about this song though, and it sure doesn't disappoint.

I found a terrific live performance of it with a really electric end with the audience joining in and all.
http://youtu.be/F4blmVOYhNc

 

[RawkHawk2010]

Childish Gambino.

"My dick is like an accent mark, it's all about the ovaries (over E's!)."

 

[SaltyDoughnut]

Justin Vernon aka 'Bon Iver'

"Flume"

I am my mother's only one
It's enough
I wear my garment so it shows
Now you know

Only love is all maroon
Gluey feathers on a flume
Sky is womb and she's the moon

I am my mother on the wall
With us all
I move in water, shore to shore
Nothing's more

Only love is all maroon
Lapping lakes like leery loons
Leaving rope burns, reddish ruse

Only love is all maroon
Gluey feathers on a flume
Sky is womb and she's the moon

 

[Medalion]

Are we human, or are we dancer?

 

[PsihoPerihelion]

Well, if Elliott Smith was still alive..

You never disappoint, gaf.

 

[Chairman85]

John K. Samson of the Weakerthans

It had something to do with the rain leeching loamy dirt
And the way the back lane came alive, half moon whispered "go"
For a while, I heard you missing steps in the street
And your anger pleading in an uncertain key
Singing the sound of you that you found for me

When the winter took the tips of my ears
Found this noisy home full of pigeons and places to hide
And when the voices die, I emerged to watched abandoned machines
Waiting for their men to return, I remember the way
I would wait for you to arrive with kibble and a box full of beer
How I'd scratch the empties desperate to hear
You make the sound that you found for me

After scrapping with the ferals and the tabby,
Let you brush my matted fur
How I'd knead into your chest while you were sleeping
Shallow breathing made me purr

But I can't remember the sound that you found for me
I can't remember the sound that you found for me
I can't remember the sound

 

[Backwards Marathon]

Modern day Shakespeare aka 2 Chainz with his song 'Birthday Song'


[Intro: 2 Chainz]
Yeah
Birthday, it's your birthday
If I die bury me inside that Louis store

[Hook: 2 Chainz]
They ask me what I do and who I do it for
And how I come up with this shit up in the studio
All I want for my birthday is a big booty ho
All I want for my birthday is a big booty ho
When I die, bury me inside the Gucci store
When I die, bury me inside the Louis store
All I want for my birthday is a big booty ho
All I want for my birthday is a big booty ho

[Verse 1: 2 Chainz]
She got a big booty so I call her Big Booty
Scrr..Scrr.. Wrists moving, cookin' to it
I'm in the kitchen, yams everywhere
Just made a juug, I got bands everywhere
You the realest nigga breathin' if I hold my breath
Referee, with the whistle, brrrrrt! hold his tech
Extendo clip, extendo roll
When your girl leave me she need a hair salon
Hair weave killer goin' on a trapathon
See I done had more bombs than Pakistan
Dope bomb, dro bomb, and a pill bomb
See nigga, I'm ballin', you in will call
When I die, bury me inside the jewelry store
When I die, bury me inside the Truey store
True to my religion, 2 everything I'm too different
So when I die, bury me next to 2 bitches

[Hook]

[Verse 2: Kanye West]
Ah, Yeezy Yeezy how you do it huh?
It's my birthday, I deserve to be greedy huh?
She holding out, she ain't givin' to the needy huh?
You go downstairs and fall asleep with the T.V. on
Ya'll been together ten years, you deserve a ménage
'Specially if you put that BMW in the garage
'Specially if you paid a couple payments on her mamma crib
Went to her niece's graduation, man, I hate those kids
Last birthday, she got you a new sweater
Put it on, give her a kiss, and tell her, "Do better"
She said, "How 'bout I get you jewelry from the West End?"
How 'bout she hit the Westin and get her best friend?
I'm jokin', I'm just serious, I asked her
Don't be actin' like no actress, if we preachin' then we practice
Don't be reachin', don't be touchin' shit
We in Kanye West's Benz
Cause I will turn you back to a pedestrian

[Hook]

[Verse 3: 2 Chainz (Kanye West)]
It's your birthday, it's your birthday
Bad bitch contest, you in first place
You in first place, you in first place
Bad bitch contest, you in first place
I show up with a check to your work place
(Then hand the valet the keys to the Merces)
Tell the DJ play your song, this shit come on
(What I'm seein' from the back I can't front on)
They ask me what I do and who I do it for
When I die, bury me inside the booty club
Get it girl, get it girl, get it get it girl
I might switch it up and get you girl

[Hook]

[Outro: 2 Chainz (Kanye West)]
Deuce and Ye
We like Snoop and Dre
Isn't this your birthday, baby?
You deserve a coupe today

(You in first place, you in first place)
(Bad bitch contest you in first place!)

 

[flippedb]

Also, I forgot

THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST

Spoiler

jk

 

[Pennywise]

Anthony Green from Circa Surive
Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys

And well a German band called Turbostaat got some awesome lyrics.
Even though they're pretty cryptic , they're somewhat powerful.

 

[Myriadis]

Anthony Green from Circa Surive
Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys

And well a German band called Turbostaat got some awesome lyrics.
Even though they're pretty cryptic , they're somewhat powerful.

Or even more cryptic and dark, Tocotronic.

And another band where I was actually impressed with the lyrics, Two Gallants.

(Las Cruces Jail)

Down the highway, down the road
To infamy I'll ride
I'll take my pardon on the run
With a trail of death behind me
And Deluvina at my side
Two silhouettes against the sun

(Hot Summer Day)

When I was 'bout the age of five
Watched my daddy burned alive
They cut him low and they hung him high
Swayin' in the breeze
The last words I heard him say
Before they stole his life that day
Was forgive them lord, they gone astray
Now take me to my ease

And the summer day make a white man lazy
He sits on his porch killing time
But the summer day make a nigger feel crazy
Might make me do something out of line

Well, I dont know but I heard tell
Of a furnace below a place called hell
And who would catch me if I fell?
Who would pray for me?
But one thing I see for sure
It's hot as hell up here I know
And the devil lives right down the road
It's all the same to me

 

[Macmanus]

To further this, I can't understand why anyone wouldn't like Brand New. The lyrics can be read as pure poetry. Deja Entendu is amazing, God and the Devil are Raging Inside Me is amazing, the latest album not so much due to the fact that Jesse Lacey didn't write the lyrics.

My favorite song of all time is Play Crack the Sky, which I understand most people hate, but dear lord, the LYRICS:

I am the one who haunts your dreams of mountains sunk below the sea.

From a sincere musical perspective they're incredibly cliche on instrumentals. They are essentially the last bastion of emo pop. A genre that refuses to die for seemingly unknown reasons. The lyrics might be solid, but the licks are just silly for anyone that has actually enjoyed the progression of music past the late 90s.

I don't mean to sound so offensive. I know this band carries great weight for everyone under 23 years old. For everyone over that age bracket we've heard all that they have to offer a half dozen times over - however Lacey's lyrics might be a punch above the previous generation. I'm not really sure. It's kind of moot in my brain as I hear the first power cord strummed that I've heard literally hundreds of times previously, and nothing wailed convinces me they're better than Taking Back Sunday - a group everyone over 18 years of age should be completely done with save nostalgia.

If Lacey does have something of sincere interest to state he needs to pick a new venue to pronounce it in, because the emo screamo makes me embarrassed for him.

 

[Horseticuffs]

Ok so I'm soaking up this thread and, given how much I love the Mountain Goats, I'm intrigued by this Iron & Wine fellow.

I've listened to an NPR performance he did and enjoyed it. It's a bit more country than I'm used to but I'm not against that at all.

Can any of you ladies or gents suggest specific tracks I should take notice of? I quite liked "The tree by the river" and "Naked as we came".

 

[DTLIONS1013]

 

[waypoetic]

The greatest? Well, my votes goes to Brandon Boyd, Alison Sudol and Anthony Green.

 

[EVOL 100%]

Tom Waits
Patti Smith
Bob Dylan

 

[-ImaginaryInsider]

Beck

I agree. Stuff ranging from "Satan Gave Me a Taco", "Rowboat" to even "Debra" solidify it in my book.

 

[Devolution]

Peter Gabriel is one of my favs.

The wretched desert takes its form, the jackal proud and tight
In search of you I feel my way though the slowest heaving night
Whatever fear invents, I swear it make no sense
I reach out through the border fence
Come down, come talk to me

In the swirling, curling storm of desire unuttered words hold fast
With reptile tongue, the lightning lashes towers built to last
Darkness creeps in like a thief and offers no relief
Why are you shaking like a leaf
Come on, come talk to me

He also has a song about Blowjobs:

Jump in the water
Sweet little princess
Let me introduce his frogness
You alone can get him singing
He's all puffed up, wanna be your king
Oh you can do it
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
Lady kiss that frog

Splash, dash heard your call
Bring you back your golden ball
He's gonna dive down in the deep end
He's gonna be just like your best friend

So what's one little kiss
One tiny little touch
Aah, he's wanting it so much
I swear that this is royal blood
Running through my skin
Oh can you see the state I'm in
Kiss it better
Kiss it better
(Kiss that frog)

Get it into your head
He's living with you, he sleeps in your bed
Can't you hear beyond the croaking
Don't you know that I'm not joking

Aah, you think you won't
I think you will
Don't you know that this tongue can kill
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
Lady, kiss that frog

Let him sit beside you
Eat right off your plate
You don't have to be afraid
There's nothing here to hate
Princess you might like it
If you lower your defense
Kiss that frog and you will get your prince
Get your prince

The Family and the Fishing Net, I used to avoid this song but it's probably one of the most cryptic.

Mercy Street, a compilation of Anne Sexton poetry made into a song.

 

[maruchan]

Ben Gibbared-DCFC-Postal Service...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJtqmdBL4js

here's a tear in the fabric of your favorite dress
And I'm sneaking glances.
Looking for the patterns in static
They start to make sense the longer I'm at it.

[Chorus]
Ivory lines lead

Your heart is a river that flows from your chest
Through every organ
Your brain is the dam
And I am the fish who can't reach the core.

Lack of Color
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jduFDgIr598

And when i see you
I really see you upside down
But my brain knows better
It picks you up and turns you around
Turns you around, turns you around

 

[Trurl]

John Darnielle at his best is able to create a sense of place within his songs better than any other songwriter I know of.

Moon Over Goldsboro

I went down to the gas station
for no particular reason
Heard the screams from the high school
It's football season

Empty lot the station faces
Will probably be there forever
I climbed over the four foot fence
I was trying to sever the tether

Moon in the sky
Cold as a stone
Spend each night in your arms
Always wake up alone

I lay down in the weeds
It was a real cold night
I was happy 'til the overnight attendant
Switched on the floodlight

Walking home I was talking to you under my breath
Saying things I would never say directly
I heard a siren on the highway up ahead
Kinda wished they'd come and get me

Frost on the sidewalk
White as a bone
Tried to get close to you again
Always wake up alone

And as I was crossing our doorstep
I hesitated just a moment there
Remembered the day we moved in to our small house
'til the vision got too vivid to bear

You were almost asleep
Halfway undressed
I lay right down next to you
held your head against my chest

And a guy with any kind of courage
would maybe stop to think the matter through
Maybe hold you still and raise the question
Instead of blindly holding onto you

But we crank up the heat
And you giggle and moan
Spend all night in the company of ghosts
Always wake up alone​

 

[Lambtron]

Conor Oberst, I suppose.

 

[User 100115]

From a sincere musical perspective they're incredibly cliche on instrumentals. They are essentially the last bastion of emo pop. A genre that refuses to die for seemingly unknown reasons. The lyrics might be solid, but the licks are just silly for anyone that has actually enjoyed the progression of music past the late 90s.

I don't mean to sound so offensive. I know this band carries great weight for everyone under 23 years old. For everyone over that age bracket we've heard all that they have to offer a half dozen times over - however Lacey's lyrics might be a punch above the previous generation. I'm not really sure. It's kind of moot in my brain as I hear the first power cord strummed that I've heard literally hundreds of times previously, and nothing wailed convinces me they're better than Taking Back Sunday - a group everyone over 18 years of age should be completely done with save nostalgia.

If Lacey does have something of sincere interest to state he needs to pick a new venue to pronounce it in, because the emo screamo makes me embarrassed for him.

I have an obsession with lyrics; genre never matters to me and never will, likely. I am used to things sounding the same, however, so it likely doesn't effect me the way it does others. I have sound based synesthesia, so most music looks exactly the same to me. It's lyrics that bring out the difference, and since the thread is about the best lyrics, I can't see why they wouldn't be given a mention. The lyrics are completely amazing. I've never read a lyric book back to front like it was poetry before Deja Entendu. Also, I am 30 . I continue to enjoy Taking Back Sunday (only certain songs, mind, the lyrics have to carry it after all), and one of my favorite bands is Coheed and Cambria. It isn't about age, it's about different tastes. You can't claim that liking Brand New is a mark immaturity.

Today's rock lyrics are pretty awful, so I really have to dig to find stuff that isn't trite and full of overused metaphor. While you might be bored with cords, I get easily bored with lyrics. There are really only a few bands that are visually appealing to me, Coheed being one of them (imagine being able to see music and listen to the first minute of Domino the Destitute, you might understand)

 

[Pezking]

Frankly, Mr. Shankly

But sometimes I'd feel more fulfilled
Making Christmas cards with the mentally ill
I want to live and I want to love
I want to catch something that I might be ashamed of.

Why don't you find out for yourself?

Don't rake up my mistakes! I know exactly what they are.

I know it's over

It's so easy to laugh
It's so easy to hate
It takes strength to be gentle and kind.

Speedway

In my own strange way
I've always been true to you
In my own sick way
I'll always stay true to you.

Seasick, yet still docked

I am a poor freezingly cold soul
So far from where
I intended to go.

Now my Heart is full

There's gonna be some trouble
A whole house will need re-building
And everyone I love in the house
Will recline on an analyst's couch quite soon
Your father cracks a joke
And in the usual way
Empties the room.

The Youngest was the most loved

A blushed rose if he had to say 'hello'
A lopsided grin strained to keep the shyness in
There is no such thing in life as normal.

I also love The National and Peter Gabriel, but in regard to lyrics, Morrissey is just in a league of his own.

 

[Casanova]

Issac Brock.

He is hands down the most innovative and creative lyricist of our time.



"Well you were spitting venom at most everyone you know
If you truly knew the gravity you'd know just where to go
Well let it drop

...

My ears were pressed so firmly right against your mouth to hear
When you tried to spit the venom out your words were not so clear
Now let it drop

...

Cheer up baby it wasn't always quite so bad
for every bit of venom that came out, the antidote was had"

 

[NinjaBoiX]

Oh yeah, that guy. (Seriously, who the fuck is this? Why would you expect everyone would know? Is your post cooler, because it's all mysterious and shit?)

I'd go with Jeff Buckley, Bjork, Amy Winehouse and Alex Turner. All fairly recent artists, but I'm an uncultured swine!

 

[msdstc]

Issac Brock.

He is hands down the most innovative and creative lyricist of our time.



"Well you were spitting venom at most everyone you know
If you truly knew the gravity you'd know just where to go
Well let it drop

...

My ears were pressed so firmly right against your mouth to hear
When you tried to spit the venom out your words were not so clear
Now let it drop

...

Cheer up baby it wasn't always quite so bad
for every bit of venom that came out, the antidote was had"

Came to post him... incredible writer, really devastating stuff in there.

"Ice-age heat wave, can't complain.
If the world's at large, why should I remain?
Walked away to another plan.
Gonna find another place, maybe one I can stand.
I move on to another day, to a whole new town with a whole new way.
Went to the porch to have a thought.
Got to the door and again, I couldn't stop.
You don't know where and you don't know when.
But you still got your words and you got your friends.
Walk along to another day.
Work a little harder, work another way.

The moths beat themselves to death against the lights.
Adding their breeze to the summer nights.
Outside, water like air was great.
I didn't know what I had that day.
Walk a little farther to another plan.
You said that you did, but you didn't understand."

He can paint a pretty amazing picture. I know it's on some of the newer stuff, which people weren't as crazy about, but I still thought his writing was as sharp as ever.

"As life gets longer, awful feels softer
And it feels pretty soft to me
And if it takes shit to make bliss
Well, I feel pretty blissfully

If life's not beautiful without the pain
Well, I'd just rather never ever even see beauty again
Well, as life gets longer, awful feels softer
And it feels pretty soft to me"

 

[Casanova]

Came to post him... incredible writer, really devastating stuff in there.

"Ice-age heat wave, can't complain.
If the world's at large, why should I remain?
Walked away to another plan.
Gonna find another place, maybe one I can stand.
I move on to another day, to a whole new town with a whole new way.
Went to the porch to have a thought.
Got to the door and again, I couldn't stop.
You don't know where and you don't know when.
But you still got your words and you got your friends.
Walk along to another day.
Work a little harder, work another way.

The moths beat themselves to death against the lights.
Adding their breeze to the summer nights.
Outside, water like air was great.
I didn't know what I had that day.
Walk a little farther to another plan.
You said that you did, but you didn't understand."

He can paint a pretty amazing picture. I know it's on some of the newer stuff, which people weren't as crazy about, but I still thought his writing was as sharp as ever.

"As life gets longer, awful feels softer
And it feels pretty soft to me
And if it takes shit to make bliss
Well, I feel pretty blissfully

If life's not beautiful without the pain
Well, I'd just rather never ever even see beauty again
Well, as life gets longer, awful feels softer
And it feels pretty soft to me"

I liked your post.

I also am re-posting because I forgot to mention his songwriting abilities, which are phenomenal as well.

The music he creates to accompany his lyrics seems to tell just as much of a story as the lyrics themselves.

 

[KingofGourds]

I tend to focus almost entirely on the musicality of the voice rather than anything that is being said. I can spend years listening to most songs and never even get close to remembering the lines.

Once in a while though certain songwriters manage to get through to me, largely due to certain hooklines that touch upon something profoundly personal and send me back through their catalogue with an ear more the lyrics.

Off the top of my head, Matthew Good, Maynard James Keenan, Johnny Guitar Watson, any of the Beatles (except Ringo), B.B.King....

 

[Salvor.Hardin]

Bob Dylan is still one of the best out there.

How did it take 28 posts to get to Dylan? Should have been the first reply.

 

[BrightEyedPanic]

Chris Corner

 

[Danielsan]

I'm not one who usually listens a lot to the lyrics in music. However with Fiona Apple it's different. I didn't really learn to appreciate The Idler Wheel until I started paying attention to the Lyrics. I'm seriously amazed by her fantastic writing and the amount of emotion she puts in singing her songs.

 

[AAequal]

I'm just gonna go with Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen. They deliver quality lyrics time after time.

 

[Casanova]

How did it take 28 posts to get to Dylan? Should have been the first reply.

Dylan is an amazing lyricist but he really "sounds like he's been eating nuts and bolts for the past half-century ..."

I disagree, for the most part, about what that critic said about Dylan. But, he is spot on with Dylan's singing abilities.

 

[Anastasia]

My favorite is Richard Ashcroft. A lot of his work has played an important role in my life, but one that sticks out is "On Your Own":

Tell me what you seen
Was it a dream?
Was I in it?
Life seems so obscene
Until it's over
Who knows?

All I want is someone who can fill the hole
In the life I know
In between life and death
When there's nothing left
Do you wanna know?

You come in on your own
And you leave on your own
Forget the lovers you've known
And your friends on your own

Tell me if it's true
That I need you
You are changing
I've seen this road before down on this floor
It is hurting me

All I want is someone
Who can fill the hole
In the life I know
In between life and death
When there's nothing left
Do you want to know?

You come in on your own
And you leave on your own
Forget the lovers you've known
And your friends on your own
You come in on your own
And you leave on your own
Forget the lovers you've known
And your friends you have told

Lies
I've got to get rid of this hole inside
Lies
I've got to get rid of this hole inside
I'm coming in on my own
I'm coming in on my own
I'm coming in on my own
Lies
I've got to get rid of this hole inside
Lies
I've got to get rid of this hole inside
Lies
I've got to get rid of this hole inside

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un1AzTkY2tQ

My favorite version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=403IYcHo6KQ


Another is "History" (inspired by William Blake):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UthXR8NAn_Q

 

[ToxicAdam]

Fiona Apple is incredible


My only critique would be that her 'pallette' she paints from is incredibly limited.

 

[Servbot24]

Are we human, or are we dancer?

This pretty much makes me laugh every time I hear it, lol

Anyways I nominate Aaron Weiss.
Messes of Men:

"I do not exist," we faithfully insist
sailing in our separate ships,
and in each tiny caravel -
tiring of trying, there's a necessary dying
like the horseshoe crab in its proper season sheds its shell
such distance from our friends,
like a scratch across a lens,
made everything look wrong from anywhere we stood
and our paper blew away before we'd left the bay
so half-blind we wrote these songs on sheets of salty wood

you caught me making eyes at the other boatmen's wives
and heard me laughing louder at the jokes told by their daughters
I'd set my course for land,
but you well understand
it takes a steady hand to navigate adulterous waters
the propeller's spinning blades held acquaintance with the waves
as there's mistakes I've made no rowing could outrun
the cloth low on the mast like to say Ive got no past
but I'm nonetheless the librarian and secretary's son
with tarnish on my brass and mildew on my glass
I'd never want someone so crass as to want someone like me
but a few leagues off the shore, I bit a flashing lure
and I assure you, it was not what it expected it to be!
I still taste its kiss, that dull hook in my lip
is a memory as useless as a rod without a reel
to an anchor-ever-dropped-seasick-yet-still-docked captain spotted napping with his first mate at the wheel
floating forgetfully along, with no need to be strong
we keep our confessions long and when we pray we keep it short
I drank a thimbleful of fire and I'm not ever going back

Oh, my G-d!

"I do not exist," we faithfully insist
while watching sink the heavy ship of everything we knew
if ever you come near I'll hold up high a mirror
Lord, I could never show you anything as beautiful as you

 

[Sis Focaccia]

Avey Tare (Animal Collective)
Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie)
Dave Longstreth (Dirty Projectors)
Bradford Cox (Atlas Sound/Deerhunter)
Kevin Barnes (Of Montreal)
Joanna Newsom
Panda bear


And many more... people who say the 60s and 70s was the best time for songwriting just don't know where to look. The level of talent is consistent through the decades

 

[Mogwai]

I agree with the OP, Matt Berninger is pretty awesome. I like his honesty in his lyrics.

The Shins' James Mercer also comes to mind. He has a cool way of incorporating some rather complex lyrics in their rather poppy songs. Take Pink Bullets as an example.

 

[WHOAguitarninja]

Daniel Gildenlow from Pain of Salvation

This world is what we can give
Scarred from the way we lived
All those dreams we shared for you
How I wish they could come true

We dreamed of a world in peace
But killed for a life of ease
Now we leave the wounds for you
What else can the dying do?

...all those dreams we shared for you
God, I wish them to be true...

It was '79 and the world seemed more kind.
And it was still okay to be modest.
The sixties were gone but their soul lingered on.
And the eighties were still just a promise.
And I remember me and you.
Two children of six still playing with sticks.
And whatever we found in the forest.
Our grandpas were strong and our parents still young.
And the world seemed a little more honest.
And I remember me and you.
All still fine.
1979.
Left behind.
1979.
Do you remember?
Do you remember?
'Cause I remember.
Me and you.

And SEX was always there from when I was only eight years - tempting me leave thirsty
Sweat, skin, a PULSE divine to balance this restless MIND - it seemed so wonderfully physical
Oh the BLOOD, the lust, the bodies that color the world: all drugs to die for! Won't you share my fire?
How can LOVE make that world a minefield of forbidden GROUND?
A map of untouchable skin and SILENCED desire?

 

[Servbot24]

And many more... people who say the 60s and 70s was the best time for songwriting just don't know where to look. The level of talent is consistent through the decades

Kevin Barnes and Avey Tare are your proof? Lol.

Joanna writes good lyrics though.

 

[Sis Focaccia]

Kevin Barnes and Avey Tare are your proof? Lol.

Joanna writes good lyrics though.

Songwriting is not first and foremost about lyricism.

Kevin Barnes has done some questionable things, and he's not Bob Dylan, but Skeletal Lamping was amazing, a real original work.

Avey Tare however... that guy is a class A songwriter!

 

[StuBurns]

More Newsom love, I'm glad this thread was bumped.

 

[Ctrl A1t Elite]

Mike Vennart, formerly of Oceansize and now with British Theatre, writes absolutely amazing lyrics. I could post pretty much any song and it would be mind blowing, but i'll just post this one:

Voorhees

periscope extends the lens
veiny hands can't mend
your broken little babies remains
we all fall to bits just the same

eyes down for a full house
yeah i love you long time
they christened me just to give me a name
now i know that i'm to blame

there was no man in his eyes
and no lights to beam home those ships
can't even extend out his arm
to go and cash in his chips
i wish that i could not so rightly place this

but least i can say that i was there
that i witnessed his demise
but you my lucky son
because of your size
you would not remember

this has sent your only son
to an early grave
what you thought was an accident
was deliberate

there was a twitch in his hand
as i offered him mine
but our captain only cared about his crew
but you just would not remember would you

and when that time does come my brother
and i should offer you my hand
you'll know just what to do
what not to put me through
you must remember

come your expiration
come your sell by date
and there is no companion
it'll be too late

all this misfortune is punishment
he sings of gods that desert him
he falls again
but undeterred he hides from the light

and maybe a bit from another song just for good luck

Sign this and file it under dumbstruck envy that’ll strike you down.

Sightless – the comfort in the danger enticing... I join the queue.

Mindlessly I made her in my likeness – scattered and absolute.

Silent and transparent – the one who holds the candle to the glow of you.

 

[Raiden]

Alex Turner is one of my favourite out there.

And the moonlight they're more thrilling
Those things that he knows
As he leads you through the grinning, bubble blowers in the snow
Watching his exit is like falling off the ferry in the night

The inevitables gather to push you around
Any old voice makes such a punishing sound
He became laughter's assassin
Shortly after he showed you what it was

 

[Bulbo Urethral Baggins]

Jason Isbell is the answer. Damn he's good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXyi19z-zg

 

[Shiny Llama]

John Darnielle, without question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abvqNQ2QXuk

Dance Music

Alright I'm on Johnson Avenue in San Luis Obispo
And I'm five years old or six maybe
And indications that there's something wrong with our new house trip down the wire twice daily
I'm in the living room watching the Watergate hearings while my stepfather yells at my mother
Launches a glass across the room, straight at her head, and I dash upstairs to take cover
Lean in close to my little record player on the floor
So this is what the volume knob's for
I listen to dance music
Dance music

Okay so look I'm seventeen years old
And you're the last best thing I got going
But then the special secret sickness starts to eat through you
What am I supposed to do? No way of knowing
So I follow you down your twisting alleyways
Find a few cul-de-sacs of my own
There's only one place this road ever ends up, and I don't wanna die alone
Let me down, let me down, let me down gently
When the police come to get me I'm listening to dance music
Dance music

 

[NinjaBoiX]

Alex Turner is one of my favourite out there.

He has a wonderful way with words. I love this section from "Fake Tales of San Francisco":

"Fake Tales of San Francisco,
Echo through the air,
And there's a few bored faces in the back,
All wishing they weren't there,

And as the microphone squeaks,
A young girl's telephone beeps,
Yeah she's dashing for the exit,
Oh, she's running to the streets outside,
" Oh you've saved me," she screams down the line,
"The band were fucking wank and I'm not having a nice time,

I don't want to hear you (Kick me out, kick me out),
I don't want to hear you no (Kick me out, kick me out),
Yeah but his bird said it's amazing though, so all that's left,
Is the proof that love's not only blind but deaf,"

 

[Barnaby_Jones]

Shane Koyczan and George the Poet may not be the greatest lyricists of all time, but they're definitely talented at the srt of storytelling through lyricism.

George the Poet - Olders
George the Poet - Yolo

 

[Noaloha]

Newsom!

And it can have no bounds, you know
It can have no end
But you can take my hand in the darkness, darling
When you need a friend

And it can change in shape and form
But never change in size
Well, the water, it runs deep, my darling
Where it don't run wide

Hey hey hey the end is near
On a good day you can see the end from here
But I won't turn back now though the way is clear
I will stay for the remainder

I saw a life and I called it mine
I saw it drawn so sweet and fine
And I had begun to fill in all the lines
Right down to what we'd name her

Our nature does not change by will
In the Winter 'round the ruined mill
The creek is lying flat and still
It is water though it's frozen

So, across the years and miles and through
On a good day you can feel my love for you
Will you leave me be so that we can stay true
To the path that you have chosen?

And when we were found
I know we both grieved
My heart made the sound of snow falling from eaves

 

[HiResDes]

Bill Callahan....Seriously just listen

 

[RDreamer]

Mike Vennart, formerly of Oceansize and now with British Theatre, writes absolutely amazing lyrics. I could post pretty much any song and it would be mind blowing, but i'll just post this one:

Voorhees


and maybe a bit from another song just for good luck

Daniel Gildenlow from Pain of Salvation

Yes! To both of these!

More from Mike:

Ornament/The Last Wrongs

Signs the signs invisible
Trace the trail and follow you wherever you will lead me
To the heart of me and your spilling grief
To answer to a God who never answers you
Feathernest invest and gain
Shiny brass is milk and grain
And yours is to just sustain and chip away with haste
Treasure time and savour taste
And all the while you quietly crave and crave
The day is done
Time you've made has come and gone
Stay asleep now
Everyone into position
Everyone into their place
Grow to grow at snail's pace
Like carnivores at grace
Feed to feed and building face
Pay to play and find a place.

One Day All this Could be Yours

disconnect
an impossible divorce that put the life into you
that's too late to abort
i never gave you the time that you deserved
i never gave you even half of what you're worth
my beautiful son can you feel it inside you
my son could you beat me black and blue
for all the doubt and apathy
just trying to keep your feet on the floor
just trying to put the fear into you
just trying to board up all the doors
and i can't tell anymore
and maybe you'll realise
when you take those little tests
the more you breathe the more you age
you know yourself even less
nobody ever said they'd love you forvever
they grow you up and let you down
and separate forever
one day all this could be yours

And for Daniel:

Ashes

You claim I don't know you, but I know you well
I read in those ash eyes we've been through hell
I've walked with the weakest just to feel strong
You've given your body just to belong

Let's burn together
Let's burn together

This pain will never end
These scars will never mend

I taste your sorrow and you taste my pain
Drawn to each other for every stain
Licking the layers of soot from your skin
Your tears work my crust to let yourself in

Touching you harder
Touching you harder now

As we walk through the ashes
I whisper your name
A taste of pain to cling to
As we walk through the ashes
You whisper my name
Who's the one with the sickest mind...
now?

This pain will never end
Our scars will never mend
Cleansing sweat
We are just using each other
Too depraved to stay alive
But too young to die
And we hurt
Thus we hurt

Scrubbing it harder
Too late to back out now
Scrubbing it even harder
As these two broken barren desolate disordered words collide

As we walk through the ashes
I whisper your name
A taste of pain to cling to
As we walk through the ashes
You whisper my name
Who's the one with the sickest mind...
now?

This pain will never end
These scars will never mend
Damn this dirty bed
Damn this dirty head