Great lyricists

One thing I'm surprised about in these forums is that there is not much discussion of lyrics.  My opinion is that good lyrics are necessary (except for instrumentals, of course) for any good song, prog or not.  While I love Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing, for example, I'm not a VH fan because their lyrics are generally lame.

I'm not a big fan of "fantasy" type lyrics, such as Yes or Glass Hammer.  The lyrics need to touch me in some way, either emotionally or politically.

My favorite lyricist, bar none, is Fish.  His lyrics hit home with me during a tough time in my life, and the emotion he has put in many of his songs has made him a regular purchase of mine.  Unfortunately, IMO, his music has not always matched his lyrics.

Among my favorites, from Marillion's "Warm Wet Circles": "She faithfully traces his name/With quick bitten fingernails/Through the tears of condensation/That will cry through the night/As the glancing headlights of the last bus/Kiss adolecense goodbye". 

What other lyricists strike peoples' fancies, and why? 

Roy Harper:

Locked, in mortal combat, where the future's shadows loom,

The gaurdian of my spirit fights its way across the room,

To where the sick majority infests the myths of doom,

and the lanterns of children hold fast, in full bloom.

Roy Harper:

Hey Mr Wilson! Hey mr Heath!

Can't you pull your pants up boys, I'm standing underneath!

Fish

Peter Hammill

Peter Gabriel

Geoff Mann

Thom Yorke

Fish for the intense poetry of his work.

Peart (No mention, shame on you guys!) for his intense intellect.

Reed Lover wrote: Fish for the intense poetry of his work. Peart (No mention, shame on you guys!) for his intense intellect.

Agreed. Why no mention for Peart?? He has been criticised for not being emotional enough, or being too scientific. I think he has written some very moving lyrics over the years, 'Ghost of a chance' and 'The pass' to name but a few from the 80's and 90's.

With regard to Fish, I think I've had this discussion before. I had not listerned to Marillion for a long time until recently. I seem to remember some of his lyrics being a little too 'arty farty' for my liking. But, I concede I was wrong. The lyrcis to songs like 'Incubus' and 'Cinderella search' are masterfull. Not forgetting 'Script for a jesters tear'

Also Peter Gabriel, Peter Hammil, Bob Calvert, Nick Drake, Roger Waters..

Blacksword wrote: Reed Lover wrote: Fish for the intense poetry of his work. Peart (No mention, shame on you guys!) for his intense intellect. Agreed. Why no mention for Peart?? He has been criticised for not being emotional enough, or being too scientific. I think he has written some very moving lyrics over the years, 'Ghost of a chance' and 'The pass' to name but a few from the 80's and 90's. With regard to Fish, I think I've had this discussion before. I had not listerned to Marillion for a long time until recently. I seem to remember some of his lyrics being a little too 'arty farty' for my liking. But, I concede I was wrong. The lyrcis to songs like 'Incubus' and 'Cinderella search' are masterfull. Not forgetting 'Script for a jesters tear' Also Peter Gabriel, Peter Hammil, Bob Calvert, Nick Drake, Roger Waters..

I think Cinderella Search is a triumph! Some of the most wonderful lyrics ever, and not even an official album release!

My favourites consist of most mentioned by the others being.

1. Fish, farout the best lyricist I know.

Neil Peart, I like the futuristic and (pseudo-)scientific theme's

Gabriel, though I find him hard to follow sometimes (did he wrote all lyrics for Genesis????)

Clive Nolan, it's not brilliant, but it does connect well to his music (Moviedrome, and Sirens, music and lyrics in perfect harmonie)

Jon Anderson, Survival is great,

              If we were flours we would worship the sun (later work).

for non-prog I like Tim Rice, Bernie Taupin (I'm a great Elton John Afficionado) and Neil Young

Hi:

I should add David Cousins, from Strawbs. His poetry can easyly be read on its own:

  Here in the windchill years of our lives
We dwell in the shade of evergreen
Stirring the last of the slow burning embers
Counting our way through a year of Decembers.

I love the last line. Very sad, though. He is also famous among fans for the... ehem.., particular images he sometimes uses:

Her breasts are gentle snowdrifts
In an open field
The supple fingered winter wind
The grass concealed
And though the winter wind may be deceiving
I feel her breathing
At my fingertips.

An many more examples. In his early records, he also has several story-like songs, something I quite like: The Battle, The Vision of the Lady in the Lake, The Man Who Called Himself Jesus...