Do lyrics matter?

Well?

I mostly care about music, good lyrics are bonus.

Ounamahl wrote: "The music’s more important but good lyrics matter too."

Ditto. The music comes first, but lyrics can do a lot. I like intelligent lyrics, and sometimes I do miss some sort of Bob Dylan in prog. Great lyricists are around (e.g. Geoff Mann, Peter Hammill, Roger Waters) but not many.

I especially hate it when some good music is butchered because the main man couldn't write decent lyrics. With early Pendragon for instance. The Jewel shows Barrett's musical talents, but some of the lyrics... "Lead me, lead me, take me down, take me down, cry, don't cry, long standing hypocrites, you burned the candle at both ends, reality, reflections in my mind". Completely crazy and very annoying, but I keep listening to early Pendragon, because I really like the music. I listen to it more than to Bob Dylan, who has much better lyrics without a doubt.

Edited by Moogtron III

It depends obviously on what the artists are trying to convey, Tangerine dream try to create a particular atmosphere with their music, If the composers can create a composition as interesting and with a balance between predictable and unpredictable twists just like a novel tries to do then so be it,

Other artists need the use of lyrics to present their message because with music it just isn't enough

Ounamahl wrote: "The music’s more important but good lyrics matter too."

Lyrics are very important.  Bad lyrics can ruin a musically good song but great words can elevate it to greatness. 

I believe they are just as important as the music , Nothing comes close to a prog band with a lyricist who is a poet and can play with words, where would Genesis be without the lyrics of Peter Gabriel ?  

Edited by White Feather

Sometimes they are important.

Im paying attention to the lyrics of the new Flower Kings album and realized that they are dark as hell!! Very unexpected indeed!

You get an attack on the music industry in hit me with a hit (cool title), evilness of men in the epic (maybe as in terrorism from islamic fundamentalism, im not sure yet), Suicide in Selfconsuming Fire, a dying child in Mommy leave the light on, NAZI criminals' view in Bavarian Skies, The Devil being jealous, and "Lucy Has a Dream" also sounds dark lyrically but Im trying to interpret it. That's only the 1st disc.

Anyways, I won't see them the same way as before now that I know what the songs are about.

 

I voted that good lyrics are important too.

Lyrics (along with the singers vocalizations) can provide imagery which enhance the listening experience and help give relevance to (and/or connect) musical passages.

Great lyrics along with a great singer can really make music come alive. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy instrumental pieces as well. I even listen to quite a bit of music were I cannot understand the singer (language barrier - ie. LE ORME Felona e Sorona).

But I love great vocals,

and great vocals with great lyrics - too good.

I can't imagine The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway as an instrumental!

Here's something to think about! The lyrics on Tales From Topographic Oceans are some of my favourite, And will remain that way for a long time, In fact, Here's what my gravestone will read -

"Wait all the more regard your past
School gates remind us of our class
Chase all confusion away with us"

Just thought I'd say  So lyrics are very important once they 'stike a chord' with me.