I'm currently reading the Elvis Costello autobiography
. . . and I'm speechless re: his songwriting / storytelling
other lyrical faves for me would be the above mentioned J.Mitchell, Dylan(natch), Neil Young, Lucinda Williams, Bruce, Cohen, Randy Newman . . . and I know haters are gonna go crazy but Eminem is funnier than hell / so clever. If you're just talking lyrics, you gotta include him
peace
What lyricists do you like and why?
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Mister Natural Mister Natural https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=164174 - KVRAF
- 2892 posts since 28 Oct, 2007 from michigan
expert only on what it feels like to be me
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- KVRAF
- 44130 posts since 11 Aug, 2008 from clown world
Sting.
By the end of the tune, I'll be wrapped around your finger, becomes, You'll be wrapped around my finger.
Wrapped Around Your Finger
You consider me the young apprentice
Caught between the Scylla and Charybdis
Hypnotized by you if I should linger
Staring at the ring around your finger
I have only come here seeking knowledge
Things they would not teach me of in college
I can see the destiny you sold
Turned into a shining band of gold
I'll be wrapped around your finger
I'll be wrapped around your finger
Mephistopheles is not your name
But I know what you're up to just the same
I will listen hard to your tuition
And you will see it come to it's fruition
I'll be wrapped around your finger
I'll be wrapped around your finger
Devil and the deep blue sea behind me
Vanish in the air, you'll never find me
I will turn your face to alabaster
Then you'll find your servant is your master
You'll be wrapped around my finger
You'll be wrapped around my finger
You'll be wrapped around my finger
It's clever. Not the usual baby, baby stuff that everybody else sings about.
By the end of the tune, I'll be wrapped around your finger, becomes, You'll be wrapped around my finger.
Wrapped Around Your Finger
You consider me the young apprentice
Caught between the Scylla and Charybdis
Hypnotized by you if I should linger
Staring at the ring around your finger
I have only come here seeking knowledge
Things they would not teach me of in college
I can see the destiny you sold
Turned into a shining band of gold
I'll be wrapped around your finger
I'll be wrapped around your finger
Mephistopheles is not your name
But I know what you're up to just the same
I will listen hard to your tuition
And you will see it come to it's fruition
I'll be wrapped around your finger
I'll be wrapped around your finger
Devil and the deep blue sea behind me
Vanish in the air, you'll never find me
I will turn your face to alabaster
Then you'll find your servant is your master
You'll be wrapped around my finger
You'll be wrapped around my finger
You'll be wrapped around my finger
It's clever. Not the usual baby, baby stuff that everybody else sings about.
This is the same method MJ used when he was working on Anthony Marinelli's Thriller.
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- KVRAF
- 2633 posts since 17 Apr, 2004
No mention of Leonard Cohen? Or was I being blind...?
Voted KVR's resident drunk Robert Smith impersonator (thanks Frantz!)
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2myYesRBRgQB3LkZzEYdt5 | https://soundcloud.com/steevm/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2myYesRBRgQB3LkZzEYdt5 | https://soundcloud.com/steevm/
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- KVRer
- 21 posts since 4 Jul, 2006 from Los Angeles, CA
Not mentioned in any of the above are country songs, in which the lyrics usually have to be good for a song to have any chance of being a hit. Here is one, emotional, affecting, and written in a commercial verse/chorus structure:
Tough
Songwriters: Joe Leathers / Monty Russ Criswell
Recorded by Craig Morgan
She's in the kitchen at the crack of dawn
Bacon's on, coffee's strong
Kids running wild, taking off their clothes
If she's a nervous wreck, well, it never shows
Takes one to football and one to dance
Hits the Y for aerobics class
Drops by the bank, stops at the store
Has on a smile when I walk through the door
The last to go to bed; she'll be the first one up
And I thought I was tough.
She's strong, pushes on; can't slow her down
She can take anything life dishes out
There was a time
Back before she was mine
When I thought I was tough.
We sat there five years ago
The doctors let us know; the test showed
She'd have to fight to live; I broke down and cried
She held me and said it's gonna be alright
She wore that wig to church
Pink ribbon pinned there on her shirt
No room for fear, full of faith
Hands held high singing Amazing Grace
Never once complained, refusing to give up
And I thought I was tough.
She's strong, pushes on; can't slow her down
She can take anything life dishes out
There was a time
Back before she was mine
When I thought I was tough.
She's a gentle word, the sweetest kiss
A velvet touch against my skin
I've seen her cry, I've seen her break
But in my eyes she'll always be strong.
There was a time
Back before she was mine
When I thought I was tough.
Don Coyne
http://www.broadjam.com/doncoyne
Tough
Songwriters: Joe Leathers / Monty Russ Criswell
Recorded by Craig Morgan
She's in the kitchen at the crack of dawn
Bacon's on, coffee's strong
Kids running wild, taking off their clothes
If she's a nervous wreck, well, it never shows
Takes one to football and one to dance
Hits the Y for aerobics class
Drops by the bank, stops at the store
Has on a smile when I walk through the door
The last to go to bed; she'll be the first one up
And I thought I was tough.
She's strong, pushes on; can't slow her down
She can take anything life dishes out
There was a time
Back before she was mine
When I thought I was tough.
We sat there five years ago
The doctors let us know; the test showed
She'd have to fight to live; I broke down and cried
She held me and said it's gonna be alright
She wore that wig to church
Pink ribbon pinned there on her shirt
No room for fear, full of faith
Hands held high singing Amazing Grace
Never once complained, refusing to give up
And I thought I was tough.
She's strong, pushes on; can't slow her down
She can take anything life dishes out
There was a time
Back before she was mine
When I thought I was tough.
She's a gentle word, the sweetest kiss
A velvet touch against my skin
I've seen her cry, I've seen her break
But in my eyes she'll always be strong.
There was a time
Back before she was mine
When I thought I was tough.
Don Coyne
http://www.broadjam.com/doncoyne
poet
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- KVRAF
- 44130 posts since 11 Aug, 2008 from clown world
Philip Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
A lot of really good lyrics. Here's just a few examples that I like ...
________________________________________________________________
Whispered by a bramble
carried by a brook
to every fishers hook
... Sarah
_________________________________________________________________
The vulture sits on top of the big top circus arena
He's seen the show before, knows someone's gonna fall
Just near the part where the beautiful dancing tightrope ballerina
Forgets the safety net isn't there at all
Down he swoops with claws drawn to take her
Razor sharp, so savage is she mauled
Oh my God, is there no one who can save her?
In steps the fox to thunderous applause
_________________________________________________________________
He calls for wine, but they’ll only serve him water, the bartender says we don't sell sympathy
A lot of really good lyrics. Here's just a few examples that I like ...
________________________________________________________________
Whispered by a bramble
carried by a brook
to every fishers hook
... Sarah
_________________________________________________________________
The vulture sits on top of the big top circus arena
He's seen the show before, knows someone's gonna fall
Just near the part where the beautiful dancing tightrope ballerina
Forgets the safety net isn't there at all
Down he swoops with claws drawn to take her
Razor sharp, so savage is she mauled
Oh my God, is there no one who can save her?
In steps the fox to thunderous applause
_________________________________________________________________
He calls for wine, but they’ll only serve him water, the bartender says we don't sell sympathy
This is the same method MJ used when he was working on Anthony Marinelli's Thriller.
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- KVRAF
- 2256 posts since 29 May, 2012
The one you had posted. I mean there are a lot of sad songs, but the fact that they are imaginary are often way too obvious. It's clear that the one you had posted is not a work of somebody's imagination during a lyrics writing session.Which song is "This one?"
~stratum~
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- Banned
- 6129 posts since 9 Oct, 2007 from an inharmonious society
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- Banned
- 6129 posts since 9 Oct, 2007 from an inharmonious society
He's saying he is gay, and so am I.jancivil wrote: I never got that before this
which still slays me
We are lesbians trapped in the body of a man.
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- KVRAF
- 1794 posts since 9 Apr, 2011
Sufjan Stevens - Elliott Smith disciple turned wild experimenter. This one's a bit more of the former but opens his most musically/sonically adventurous album yet
Kendrick Lamar - one of the most forward-thinking and nuanced rappers ever https://open.spotify.com/track/3BNjuJBicYBzcgos3TPlOx
Ben Folds - can be hilarious, poignant, and often both
Sean Bonnette from Andrew Jackson Jihad - funny, blistering folk-punk commentary. "I hate whiny fuckin songs like this, but I can't afford a therapist, sorry guys... here's a solo"
Kendrick Lamar - one of the most forward-thinking and nuanced rappers ever https://open.spotify.com/track/3BNjuJBicYBzcgos3TPlOx
Ben Folds - can be hilarious, poignant, and often both
Sean Bonnette from Andrew Jackson Jihad - funny, blistering folk-punk commentary. "I hate whiny fuckin songs like this, but I can't afford a therapist, sorry guys... here's a solo"
"musician."
http://soundcloud.com/nine-of-kings
http://soundcloud.com/nine-of-kings