I think you missed two of the best lyricists around. Arlo Guthrie: City of New New Orleans"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF1lqEQFVUo The lyrics reflect the passing of history in a way no other song can. But I love railroads and traveling by train are the fondest memories I have.
Bob Seeger: Like a rock. Probably one of the most beautiful videos ever filmed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMIJuuk1SFs The lyrics are the working man's lament over lost youth and it's sooo manly, and gut-wrenching.
Although it's a crossover, I think Claude King' Wolverton Mountain deserves to be remembered. It's a contemporary song which preserves the very ancient motif of Bride Stealing. Dead Flowers, with its proletarian anguish, js definitely a great piece of writing. The hotel in Louisville, the Needle and spoon, these are the seams aspect of Eliot's objective correlative. I have no difficulty imagining a junkie musician slumped over on a bench in Cave Hill Cemetery. As the guinea hens march around him, he ties his arm, shoots another dose, boots it with blood, then sinks into a deep nod.
Pre-rock, there is Yip Harburg, who wrote the lyrics to Brother Can You Spare a Dime, and songs from The Wizard of Oz, like Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
The songs cited, aside from being about affection for a woman, are very different. Maybe I'm Amazed, 1970 studio version, is a stellar vocal performance.
Great post Michael. There’s just so much poetry in rock lyrics. I’m sure everyone has a “Wait, what about” comment. Mine would be almost anything from Hüsker Dü.
Back when I was a lad I would have said, Pink to Blue or Something I Learned Today but look, you’re the genius here. I trust your judgement. Zen Arcade was the hardcore rock opera. I was such a big fan that I saw them play in an airless warehouse that by day was The Asbestos Training Institute. That my friend, is its own testament.
I love your posts. Makes me want to rush to YouTube and play all the songs! I might have included some songs by The Band. I am very partial to The Weight and have puzzled over the lyrics for years! I loved Richard Manuel’s sweet voice. There was one song, Katie’s Been Gone, I used to listen to a lot. For some reason I found his rendition very moving.
Lennon's Imagine is puerile doggerel.
I disagree and so do millions of music lovers.
Nah it’s bollox.
I think you missed two of the best lyricists around. Arlo Guthrie: City of New New Orleans"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF1lqEQFVUo The lyrics reflect the passing of history in a way no other song can. But I love railroads and traveling by train are the fondest memories I have.
Bob Seeger: Like a rock. Probably one of the most beautiful videos ever filmed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMIJuuk1SFs The lyrics are the working man's lament over lost youth and it's sooo manly, and gut-wrenching.
I agree about Bob Seeger, who wrote several great songs.
My problem with Arlo Guthrie is that I only know two songs by him, not enough to make my list.
It takes only one to be a great song.
Although it's a crossover, I think Claude King' Wolverton Mountain deserves to be remembered. It's a contemporary song which preserves the very ancient motif of Bride Stealing. Dead Flowers, with its proletarian anguish, js definitely a great piece of writing. The hotel in Louisville, the Needle and spoon, these are the seams aspect of Eliot's objective correlative. I have no difficulty imagining a junkie musician slumped over on a bench in Cave Hill Cemetery. As the guinea hens march around him, he ties his arm, shoots another dose, boots it with blood, then sinks into a deep nod.
I will add Wolverton Mountain, thanks.
Do you mean Dead Flowers by the Rolling Stones?
Neil Peart??
Gord Downie??
Morrissey??
Billy Bragg??
Lloyd Cole??
Other than Morrissey, I don't know their work well enough to rank them, and I'm not a Morrissey fan.
Pre-rock, there is Yip Harburg, who wrote the lyrics to Brother Can You Spare a Dime, and songs from The Wizard of Oz, like Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
I will mention him, thanks.
Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks tied? Really? Mitchell should be much higher.
***I don’t think Sir Paul wrote a truly great song after the breakup.***
You must be joking.
Maybe I'm Amazed
Little Lamb Dragonfly
Jet
1985
Soily
Call Me Back Again
Must Do Something About It
Warm and Beautiful
Daytime Nighttime Suffering
Coming Up
Waterfalls
Here Today
Wanderlust
No More Lonely Nights
The Lovers that Never Were
Flaming Pie
Beautiful Night
Run Devil Run
Fine Line
Friends to Go
...and many more.
None of those seem like great songs to me.
Maybe I'm Amazed is not a great song? Jann Wenner has gotten to you.
I form my own opinions.
I have never cared for songs like Maybe I'm Amazed, Wonderful Tonight, etc.
The songs cited, aside from being about affection for a woman, are very different. Maybe I'm Amazed, 1970 studio version, is a stellar vocal performance.
Someone may have a stellar vocal performance of Happy Birthday, but that doesn't make it a great song.
Kirsty McColl, Squeeze and Joe Jackson were all good lyricists in the 70s/80s; Squeeze particularly.
The Kinks, The Who and Joni the most consistent I would say, together with Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath.
Never seen the attraction of Stairway. No idea what it's about; and neither does Plant, he's said as much.
Best rock lyrics (IMO obviously):
"Look around and see the warnings close at hand, already weeds are writing their scriptures in the sand". Hawkwind, We Took The Wrong Step Years Ago.
"It seems like everything I like just makes me sick, or poor, or fat!" Dave Lee Roth, Two Fools A Minute.
You made me laugh because those nice Hawkwind lines would fit perfectly in Stairway and who knows what kind of scriptures weeds would write!
No 10cc again unless I missed it? Fuck, I’m done with you
I have 10cc in my top 50!!!!
The Fuck? No Ray Davies? I know you don’t like Todd Rundgren but Love Is The Answer is s great song.
I have added Ray Davies, thanks.
I do like Love Is the Answer better than most of Rundgren's songs. But he's still not a favorite.
Great post Michael. There’s just so much poetry in rock lyrics. I’m sure everyone has a “Wait, what about” comment. Mine would be almost anything from Hüsker Dü.
I will add "Don't want to know if you are lonely" unless you have a preference.
Back when I was a lad I would have said, Pink to Blue or Something I Learned Today but look, you’re the genius here. I trust your judgement. Zen Arcade was the hardcore rock opera. I was such a big fan that I saw them play in an airless warehouse that by day was The Asbestos Training Institute. That my friend, is its own testament.
I saw George Thorogood at the Nashville Armory, sitting on a metal folding chair for two hours, so we have something in common.
I will add your favorites, thanks.
I love your posts. Makes me want to rush to YouTube and play all the songs! I might have included some songs by The Band. I am very partial to The Weight and have puzzled over the lyrics for years! I loved Richard Manuel’s sweet voice. There was one song, Katie’s Been Gone, I used to listen to a lot. For some reason I found his rendition very moving.
I'm glad you like my posts.
We agree about The Band!
I have The Weight and The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down by The Band at #26 in my top 50.
I will add Katie’s Been Gone, thanks.
Is that a good "Whoof" or bad?
Have you listened to:
Ghosts
The Reach
The Sand and the Foam
The Lion's Share
Stevie Nicks has written great lyrics.
Not nearly as good as Mitchell.
Randy Newman was mentioned, but not in rock. Rock is a broad enough category to include him. If Yesterday is rock, then so is Newman.
I put Newman where I thought he fit best.