The Greatest Prog Lyricist - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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FloydZappa View Drop Down

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Joined: April 19 2011
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Posted: May 06 2011 at 15:46

Roger Waters

Neil Peart

Frank Zappa

Ian Anderson

Peter Gabriel

Alitare

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Location: New York
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Points: 3595

Posted: May 05 2011 at 08:58

The Dark Elf wrote:

resurrection wrote:

Almost a contradiction in terms, I would have thought; prog tends to be about the excellence of the music rather than the lyrics or any sensible concept. The best we can hope for is that the lyrics are at least coherent. Will need to root among the haystack to see if I can find any exceptions, though nothing springs to mind, other than proto-prog, that seems to the point where the music moved forward in inverse proportion to the lyrics.

Hmmm...I would have to disagree and cite a couple primary instances where progressive lyricists are actually writing poetry beyond the scope of trite rock and roll statements such as "I wanna rock 'n' roll all night and party everyday."

For instance, Ian Anderson, particularly on such albums as Minstrel in the Gallery (which has some of the best poetry ever written in rock music) and A Passion Play (with its stunning word puns, allegory and allusions to 15th century stagecraft and Dante Alghieri, as well as snide commentary on contemporary governmental bureaucracy and religious observations).

Also, Peter Gabriel on Foxtrot runs the gamut from retelling medieval fables (Can-Utlity and the Coatliners) to the extravagant and allusive "Supper's Ready", which features Gabriel's take on The Book of Revelation, William Blake, vaudeville show tunes and even BBC children's programming. It is neither conventional rock lyricism, nor is it bland poetry; on the contrary, it is vital and well-written.

We all had this conversation before on another thread just a day or two ago. I'd love to start it again, because I love nothing more than a bout of rampant, free-floating hostility, but it's all relative, mack. Since when was Kiss the gold-standard by which all rock bands are considered? Since when are they the quintessential rock band? I hate the band, and sure Genesis' lyrics are more enjoyable to me, but it seems to me some folks think ALL prog lyricists are better than ALL non-prog lyricists, which is a psychotic delusion.

On topic, though, I dearly love Ian Anderson's lyrics, as do I enjoy Pain of Salvation, Pink Floyd, Devin Townsend, maudlin of the Well/Toby Driver, Tim Rice, and more.

jalist

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Joined: November 20 2007
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Posted: May 05 2011 at 02:34

Fish
Peter Hamill
Roger Waters
Peter Gabriel
Tony Banks

giselle

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Joined: March 18 2011
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Points: 466

Posted: April 26 2011 at 16:14

Hammil is about as good as it gets, and that's not great. Too much pretension in most of it.

colorofmoney91 View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: March 16 2008
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Points: 22774

Posted: April 17 2011 at 11:14

I'd go with either Peter Sinfield or Neil Peart.

Sinfield is more flawlessly poetic, but Peart more often reaches me emotionally.

Hanashukketsu

The Dark Elf View Drop Down

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Posted: April 17 2011 at 11:10

...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...

resurrection View Drop Down

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Posted: April 17 2011 at 09:36

Almost a contradiction in terms, I would have thought; prog tends to be about the excellence of the music rather than the lyrics or any sensible concept. The best we can hope for is that the lyrics are at least coherent. Will need to root among the haystack to see if I can find any exceptions, though nothing springs to mind, other than proto-prog, that seems to the point where the music moved forward in inverse proportion to the lyrics.

Mista-Gordie View Drop Down

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Points: 282

Posted: April 03 2011 at 15:34

Richard Palmer-James is among the bests

Billy Pilgrim View Drop Down

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Joined: September 28 2010
Location: Austin
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Points: 1505

Posted: March 31 2011 at 03:49

"Snake behind me hisses what my damage could have been, my blood before me begs me open up my heart again"- Maynard Keenan

also, I can't believe Jon Anderson is mentioned here, I like Yes to some extent, but the lyrics were something I came to except, not something I marveled at.

Guldbamsen View Drop Down

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Joined: January 22 2009
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Posted: March 30 2011 at 18:43

Captain Beefheart

Fish

Gabriel (Genesis days - where he painted pictures with words)

“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

- Douglas Adams

giselle

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Joined: March 18 2011
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Posted: March 30 2011 at 17:27

Mista-Gordie wrote:

1-Peter Sinfield

2-Roger Waters

3-Peter Gabriel

4-Fish

5-Peter Hammill

6-Serge Fiori

7-Jon Anderson

8-Ian Andreson

9-Betty Thatcher-Newsinger

10-Neil Peart

My Placings of same people

1 - 10

2 - 30

3 - 29

4 - 100

5 - 5

6 - 250

7 - 249

8 - 40

9 - 500

10 - 499

all approx of course, depending on who fits before and after.

Mista-Gordie View Drop Down

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Joined: March 27 2011
Location: Canada
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Points: 282

Posted: March 30 2011 at 14:40

1-Peter Sinfield

2-Roger Waters

3-Peter Gabriel

4-Fish

5-Peter Hammill

6-Serge Fiori

7-Jon Anderson

8-Ian Andreson

9-Betty Thatcher-Newsinger

10-Neil Peart

giselle

Forum Senior Member

Joined: March 18 2011
Location: Hertford
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Posted: March 25 2011 at 10:06

Peter Hamill must come pretty high on the list.

presdoug

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Posted: March 24 2011 at 16:45

As well as great music, there are some great lyrics on the Groundhogs album "Thank Christ For The Bomb", my favorite lines being from "Rich Man, Poor Man"

              "You be the rich man, i'll be the poor man, cross-section of mankind
                 You can have society, i'll take nature, combined with peace of mind"

           not sure who was the lyricist at that time in the band, but he was great!

paroxix

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Joined: September 06 2010
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Posted: March 24 2011 at 15:47

syd barret.....what?

Music is the only safe kind of high-Jimi Hendrix

TheLionOfPrague View Drop Down

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Posted: March 20 2011 at 08:50

Roger Waters.

I shook my head and smiled a whisper knowing all about the place

TheLastBaron View Drop Down

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Posted: March 19 2011 at 23:59

Pete Townsend, Neil Pert, Brian May, Steve Harris

" Men are not prisoners of fate, but prisoners of their own minds." - FDR

tszirmay

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Posted: March 19 2011 at 20:05

Slartibartfast wrote:

Misomex777 wrote:

Peter Sinfield

Bingo!

yup

I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.

VanVanVan

Prog Reviewer

Joined: October 08 2009
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Points: 756

Posted: March 19 2011 at 18:53

I think I have to go with the majority and throw my opinion behind Hammill. The man is nothing short of a genius.

"The meaning of life is to give life meaning."-Arjen Lucassen

The Dark Elf View Drop Down

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Posted: March 19 2011 at 18:40

I have to hand the baton to Ian Anderson who writes with both humor and profundity. Listen to the words of A Passion Play or a song cycle like "Baker St. Muse", and you'll find an amazing poeticism, filled with allusions, double-entendres and cultural and literary references. He even channels Robert Burns in "One Brown Mouse".

...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...