Best Prog Rock Lyricist
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Topic: Best Prog Rock Lyricist
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Subject: Best Prog Rock Lyricist
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 11:12
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I'm sorry if this has already been done, but I believe that this could be a good topic of discussion. ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 11:15
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Sorry that I forgot Jon Anderson. I like his lyrics but they are really REALLY hard to follow at times. -------------
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Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 11:24
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For me it is very close between Peart, Waters and Gabriel. However you have left off the greatest of them all!!!
Best ever. ------------- 
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Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 11:24
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Nice one ... although I'm pretty sure Fripp used outside lyricists for
KC certainly I Sinfiield and Palmer-James (I think that's his name)
were doing lyrics during the group's first run from 68-76 ... Had to vote for Waters, even though I really admire Gabriel's imagery ... Waters is the one who consistently connects emotionally I've always thought Anderson's lyrics were the weakest point of classic-era Yes ... ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 11:26
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Ian Anderson of Tull is another genius lyric-writer
------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 11:40
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Spine-tingling railway sleepers Sleepy houses lying four-square and firm. Orange beams divide the darkness Rumbling fit to turn the waking worm. Sliding through Victorian tunnels where green moss oozes from the pores. Dull echoes from the wet embankments Battlefield allotments. Fresh open sores. In late night commuter madness Double-locked black briefcase on the floor, like a faithful dog with master sleeping in the draught beside the carriage door. To each Journeyman his own home-coming Cold supper nearing with each station stop. Frosty flakes on empty platforms Fireside slippers waiting. Flip. Flop. Journeyman night-tripping on the late fantasic Too late to stop for tea at Gerard's Cross and hear the soft shoes on the footbridge shuffle as the wheels turn biting on the midnight frost. On the late commuter special Carriage lights that flicker, fade and die Howling into hollow blackness Dusky diesel shudders in full cry. Down redundant morning papers Abandon crosswords with a cough Stationmaster in his wisdom told the guard to turn the heating off. WHY IS IAN ANDERSON NOT ON THIS POLL?! |
Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 11:42
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Out of the list on display here, I guess Roger Waters does it for me,
just for the simple fact that his narrative style sounds very natural
and evocative (if a little one paced)... ...and he DOES have amazing powers of observation.  ------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: ShrinkingViolet
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 11:44
| er why aint Peter Hammill or Jon Anderson not on the list Jon Anderson is the best prog lyricist! oh Reedy Fish rocks!!!! |
Posted By: tuxon
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 11:45
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I like the lyrics by "Fish" and Jon Anderson. Both are not included ------------- I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT |
Posted By: Manunkind
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 11:45
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Not to jump on the "never satisfied" wagon, but neither are Peter Hammil nor Adrian Belew. Waters is the best on the list. ------------- "In war there is no time to teach or learn Zen. Carry a strong stick. Bash your attackers." - Zen Master Ikkyu Sojun |
Trouserpress wrote:Posted By: maani
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 11:48
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Although I am almost embarrassed to say so ( Peace. |
), I agree with tuxon. Although Waters, Sinfield and Gabriel (and the missing Andersons) are all great, where is Fish?Posted By: ShrinkingViolet
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 12:04
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the great jon anderson, before he started embracing the mother nature lovey dovey stuff he wrote some of the best lyrics ever, and even today he can still write good lyrics, jon is a lyrical genius...so is that crazy scot Fish!!! |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 12:06
| I like Roger Waters' lyrics just fine, but Neil Peart is probably the coolest because of his amazing vocabulary. His lyrics are very intellectual. I can relate to Peart's lyrics best. I voted Peart. |
Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 13:08
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Peter Hammill is also a serious contender, IMO.
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Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 13:15
| What, no Jon Anderson? He's one of the best there's ever been. |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 13:17
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What No David Lee Roth? "I like the Simple Life It's so Simple"
Ooops wrong forum.
------------- 
"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: mirco
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 13:44
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Ian Anderson, for sure. And wath about italians? Traditionally, italians are very good songwriters, and prog ones aren't an exception. ------------- Please forgive me for my crappy english! |
Posted By: Fragile
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 13:53
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Cygnus, you may have forgotten the great Jon Anderson, but you have also forgotten the great Peter Hammill, which totally devalues your poll as both, especially Hammill of today and Anderson of Yesterday are contenders in this field. But my favourite now is most definitely the 'Fish Man' his talent has been terribly ignored over the last decade. So much so that he has decided to call it quits - unconfirmed as yet - but what a loss to the music scene. He cannot be allowed to simply vanish. Theres a new thread in this somewhere. |
Posted By: scrivener
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 14:07
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Can't argue with most of the positions stated here, but would add for consideration Doug Ott of Enchant and Kerry Livgren of Kansas. Also, a sentimental favorite: Dennis deYoung and Tommy Shaw of Styx. ------------- Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. --- Francis Bacon |
Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 14:31
"So soon the evening comes And with it runs the aching fear of hate Could someone still remain Who thinks he still could gain by escaping fate? It’s much too late Don’t underrate Appreciate" What next? "Kiss me kate", "Constipate" or "Procreate"? I seriously love Yes and some of the lyrics are cool ... like Close To The Edge and the Your Move part of I've Seen All Good People ... but they often sail over my head too ... or maybe JA just did the cosmic thing so often that it eventually became too much (in the same way Ronnie James Dio overdid his references to chains/wheels/stars/rainbows ) ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: Spartacus
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 14:43
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Roger Waters His narrative style is the most duplicated in prog but the hardest to equal. Narrative either connects or it does not. Waters understood how to write in a clear and emotional way but he always left just enough for the imagination, unlike the Neil Morse, Arena, and DT. Just listen to Snow by SB and then listen to the Final Cut, then you will understand the difference between telling a story and writing a real narrative piece of art. |
Posted By: JrKASperov
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 15:45
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Peter Hammill: 'prematurely curtailed, by the brain' ------------- Epic. |
Posted By: gdub411
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 15:49
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Roger Waters is SO over-rated. Wish You Were Here...Oh wah...I miss Syd The Wall...Oh wah...my daddy died and I still miss Syd The Final Cut...oh wah...let me tell you some more about my daddy dieing.
Peter Gabriel is the best on this list, but he doesn't compare to Fish. |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 16:06
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WHERE ARE IAN ANDERSON, PETER NICHOLLS & PETER HAMMILL? WHAT KIND OF LYRICISTS' POLL DARES NOT INCLUDE THEM? |
Posted By: tuxon
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 16:08
You missed Radio K.A.O.S. Dad?? Is It Really You?? ------------- I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT |
Posted By: Cluster One
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 16:27
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Well from that list (even though it excludes both the Ian and Jon
Anderson) I voted for Gabriel, if only because he had less votes than
Peart and Waters... (my other two probable selections).
------------- Marmalade...I like marmalade. |
Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 16:31
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Robert Fripp? Solo outings aside, his lyrics for King Crimson total to this line: "Cigarettes and ice cream; figurines of the Virgin Mary!" ...was that line alone enough to have him included while excluding the likes of Anderson(s), Hammill, Livgren, and Stolt ( ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Vegetableman
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 16:34
One (two counting both of them) song on WYWH was about Syd.... One song of the wall has anything to do about his Dad..... one song on the Final Cut has anything to do about his dad.... ------------- "Mister Fripp, your music is quite different than everything else out there. In one word, how would you describe it?" "Progressive.... yeah, that's it..." |
Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 16:35
Trotsky, sure JA penned some bum lyrics -- who among the greats haven't whipped up a dud or two during their career? -- but for the most part JA is definitely one of the most creative, original, and provoactive lyricists in the business. His lyrics greatly contributed to the personality we know as Yes. |
Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 16:36
Which just goes to show that not everybody understands the concept behind the songs/lyrics! -------------
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Posted By: Lunarscape
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 16:36
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My vote went to Roger Waters, and even if you put in another 100 lyric writers, it'll still be Waters. Mr. Waters appeal to "tell it like it is" with the emotional/psychological in depth touch is yes to be surpassed. His lyrics seduces audiences and fans for over 30 years now and he`s still going at it. Brain Damage, Eclipse, Wish You Were Here, Dogs, Mother, Is There Anybody Out There, Nobody Home, Comfortbly Numb, South Hampton Dock, Final Cut, Every Strangers Eyes, 4:37am, 5:01am, Home, Four Minutes, The Tide Is Turning, Perfect Sense II, Watching TV, Its a Miracle, Amused To Death, Folded Flags, Towers Of Faith, To Kill a Child and Leaving Beiruth.... Not only do we have the straight to the face lyrics, the thoughts of the common daily hard working middle class dude, but also geopolitical points of view; on the cold war and on the post-cold war. We have the constant fear of "loosing it" and be institutionalized !
One of the things I keep asking myself is why does Roger Waters have this huge appeal among Prog Rock die hard fans ? His music is not that prog after all. His side men are allways recruted from the Rythm and Blues ranks (Drummers, backing, vocals are mostly from former Tina Turner line-ups). His guitar players are proeminently blues influenced. Clapton, Beck and Guilmore. Is it the "easy to digest" tunes and "hard to swallow" lyrics that does the magic ?
- Is my English clear enough to understand ? - _________ Lunar
------------- Music Is The Soul Bird That Flies In The Immense Heart Of The Listener . . . |
Posted By: Lunarscape
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 16:39
Dont take this ill up.....but just wait untill your dad dies....... Lunar ------------- Music Is The Soul Bird That Flies In The Immense Heart Of The Listener . . . |
Posted By: frosty
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 17:45
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Fish of course should've been there, but what about Geoff Mann of Twelfth Night. Sequences, We Are Sane, Creepshow, The Collector... the list goes on. Very sadly missed. |
Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 18:01
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Posted By: Manunkind
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 18:32
Haunting lyrics, telling many an uncomfortable truth about ourselves, and therefore invaluable. R. I. P. Geoff Mann ------------- "In war there is no time to teach or learn Zen. Carry a strong stick. Bash your attackers." - Zen Master Ikkyu Sojun |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 18:47
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Well I love Pete Sinfield's lyrics... but I love Greg's even more: Just take a pebble, and cast it to the sea. Shreds of our memories are lying on the grass. With sadness on your shoulders like a worn-out overcoat.
------------- THIS IS ELP 
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Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 18:59
You're right! Geoff Mann was another great lyricist. Even the candorous simplicity of his lyrics to 'Love Son' is moving and compelling. The final lines " When you think that your open heart has led you into pain, take a tip from the Carpenter 'Forgive and love again and again...' " are simply beautiful!!
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 20:54
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Pete Sinfield.
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Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 22:04
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Sorry if I forgot anybody's favorites, I was in a hurry when I made it and just took a few names from the top of my head. I didn't realize I forgot Fish until about an hour later. Same with Jon and Ian Anderson. -------------
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Posted By: aqualung28
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 22:06
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I say Ian Anderson but of the ones on the poll I'd say Mr. Waters ------------- "O' lady look up in time o' lady look out of love 'n you should have us all O' you should have us fall" "Bill's Corpse" By Captain Beefheart |
Posted By: Cluster One
Date Posted: February 09 2005 at 22:25
 ------------- Marmalade...I like marmalade. |
Posted By: White Duck
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 04:37
| Ian Anderson and from the list Gabriel. |
Posted By: TheLamb
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 12:12
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Fish is a great lyricist even though I don't really like Marilon... But out of this list, I'd say Greg Lake... Just because his lyrics are ussualy more simple and you don't need a dictionary from the 18th century to understand what the hell he is talking about. ------------- 
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Posted By: matti meikäläin
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 13:05
| where is peter hammil ( one of the best all time) but the best is of course legendary IAN CURTIS ( joy division) |
Posted By: Korova
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 14:20
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My vote goes to Rog...anyway a lot of lyricist are missing in this poll...and robert fripp never wrote a single verse...
------------- La Speranza della coscienza è forza La Speranza del sentimento è schiavitù La Speranza del corpo è malattia (G.I. Gurdjieff) |
Posted By: shyman
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 14:26
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My favourite one is not here. He is Steve Kilbey. |
Posted By: Rockin' Chair
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 15:36
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The 2 Peters...Gabriel and Sinfield ...and Hammil too Daniel Gildenlow the best in prog-metal. about Greg Lake...I'm sorry, He is a great singer and a great musician but IMO he's not a good lyricist |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 15:59
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From the list: Greg Lake. But Geoff Mann is unequaled in prog |
Posted By: Publius84
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 16:06
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Mr. Roger Waters ------------- I know what I like and I like what I know... Prog is in my heart, in my mind, in my soul... |
Posted By: Destrio
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 17:17
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Out of those, Peart, althought I love Ian Anderson's lyrics Fripp has cool lyrics too |
Posted By: Heraclea
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 17:53
| I like both Roger Waters and Peter Gabriel, but my vote goes to Gabriel, with hardly any doubt. Stagnation, The Return of the Giant Hogweed, Can-Utility and the Coastliners, Supper's Ready, Dancing With the Moonlit Knight, The Battle of Epping Forest, almost everything on The Lamb, Twilight Alehouse, etc. So many wonderful songs which such great lyrics. |
Posted By: W.Chuck
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 18:07
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My favourite is Markus Steffen (Sieges Even)! ------------- 
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Posted By: Gentle Tull
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 18:37
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PETER GABRIEL. IAN ANDERSON. JON ANDERSON. ------------- 
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Posted By: viperjr98
Date Posted: December 16 2005 at 18:57
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From the list, I'd pick Peart. All time I'd have to go with Daniel Gildenlow.
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