Favorite Lyricist

There have been so many topics about favorite guitarists, drummers, didgeridooists (take my word on it), etc. that I thought I'd go for something a bit more unorthodox.
I have long held the staunch belief that lyrics are the least important part to any song. I've known that the poetry in various songs can be quite excellent but I never really paid attention. Recently I was listening to "The Letters" off King Crimson's Islands and was surprised at what wonderful poetry had been right under my nose for so many years.
I have sampled my library and I have noticed that Peter Sinfield (most notably King Crimson's early works), Peter Hamill and Neal Peart have all consistently created excellent lyrics. Since this is a "top 10s and lists" thread, I suppose I'll be forced to rate my favorite lyricists as:

1. Peter Hamill (VDGG and solo)
2. Peter Sinfield (KC)
3. Neal Peart (Rush)

Please mention what band(s) the lyricist has written well for as few people will likely recognize the names as this goes on.

1. Peter Gabriel
2. ----------------
3. ----------------
4. Ian Anderson
5. Fish

1. Peter Hammill
2. Roger Waters
3. Peter Gabriel
4. Pete Sinfield
5. Ian Anderson

a tentative 6. everyone from 10cc
7. Kate Bush
8. Mark Knopfler

And a slap round the head for the first person who says Magma/Christian Vander/Whoever (grrr!)

Edit: Fish ain't bad either, even if he repeats himself a bit much for my liking.

I do need to hear more Beatles lyrics. Joni Mitchell is rather good at times... I seem to be quite divided on her material, though. Bowie verges on excellence every now and then. Colosseum's Jon Hiseman has a couple of bursts of dark genius in the Daughter Of Time album.


Edited by TGM: Orb - December 26 2008 at 20:16

John Lennon
Joni Mitchell
Peter Gabriel
Ozzy Osbourne
Ian Anderson

Bob Dylan
Colin Meloy
John Lennon
Woody Guthrie
Paul Simon
Patti Smith
Donald Fagen
Neil Young
Michael Stipe
Kurt Cobain

Sinfield, Fish, Gabriel, the vastly underated Bryan Ferry (the early Roxy stuff especially), both Anderson, Roger (yeah, give him credit) , Palmer-James, Springsteen, Dylan, Steve Wilson. Few more I need to scour for but...

Hammill Hammill Hammill 

Fish

Hammill is my favourite, but there are many other good ones that have not been mentioned yet, especially Robert Calvert and Peter Blegvad.
Daevid Allen is a bit underestimated because people think he only writes lyrics about flying teapots and pot-head pixies. Very wrong! His lyrics are almost always very witty and sometimes even deep.



Edited by BaldFriede - December 27 2008 at 06:02

1. Neil Peart
2. Frank Zappa
3. Christian Vander