Lennon vs McCartney - Who was the better songwriter?

[Supercollider]

I don't know where a post like this belongs on KVR. I don't see a "Songwriting" forum or similar. That's a bit weird. After all, aren't we all supposedly writing music of some sort and not just "navel gazing" about synthesizers and related music technology? But I digress.

Here's my post/question regarding who was the "better" songwriter in The Beatles between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. There are obviously no "right" answers. This is just for fun and perhaps fond remembrance of the unbelievably amazing songs these two incredible songwriters brought into our lives:

Because all of my friends growing up considered John Lennon to be the "true genius" behind the success of The Beatles, I tended to gravitate to McCartney as the better songwriter. He just seemed to have a broader songwriting vocabulary. Lennon seemed more "self-taught" whereas McCartney grew up playing standards on the family piano as I understand it.

Of course, these could all be Beatles myths (or I just don't have any of my facts straight).

Regardless, McCartney wrote "Eleanor Rigby" and "Yesterday" which are two of the most beautiful songs ever written, IMO.

But I've really come around to thinking that Lennon was the better (or at least more imaginative) songwriter. Songs like "Nowhere Man" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" are absolutely transcendent.

Either way, I'd love to hear people's thoughts on the Lennon vs McCartney divide with actual discussions regarding the sophistication of their chord progressions, the beauty of their melodies, the wit, profundity, or just abstract weirdness of their lyrics, and so forth.

Let's have some fun for a change. Absolutely no bickering allowed!

[BertKoor]

Can you edit and add a poll (with mandatory "fish" option) to keep track of the sentimen

[Supercollider]

Can you edit and add a poll (with mandatory "fish" option) to keep track of the sentimen

Hmm. Very good question. (I should have already thought of this.) Even though I know most synths like nobody's business, I'm not too savvy when it comes to forum software. I'll try.

[Supercollider]

I should have also mentioned in my original post that I really have no interest in discussing who had the greater societal impact. I personally think that John Lennon's post-Beatles output was marginal at best with "Imagine" being particularly cringeworthy - BECAUSE of its supposed profound social relevance (and this is coming from a card-carrying Socialist for what that's worth).

[RunBeerRun]

Was American patriot act in place when John Lennon got his boots, I think not, else his wife and spouse Yoko Ono would be taking up her measurements.

[harryupbabble]

you have a melody
you have words that go with the melody

that's all you need
you are a songwriter

john and paul are songwriters
but one is better at melodies
and the other one is better at words

pretend john's songs are 70 percent good lyrics
and 30 percent good melodies

pretend paul's songs are 70 percent good melodies
and 30 percent good lyrics

it all adds up to 100 percent
their strengths make up for their weaknesses

they are both bona fide great songwriters