Best Lyricist

During the 50s-70s, there are many poets who are members of (or even lead one) rock 'n' roll bands and write lyrics for them. Which one is the best? I prefer Jim Morrison.

 

jim morrison poems ideas came from this man - http://www.mag4.net/Rimbaud/Biography.html

 

i wanted to say jim morrison, too.
but i don't think his ideas come from arthur rimbaud... jim loved him, just as william blake, but he didn't take rimbaud's ideas.

 

he sure did. Matter of fact Jim was not much until he started reading his stuff . Jim lived in a little redneck town in florida before. his inspiration came from Arthur .

 

and too put more twist Jim die in France Arthur home country.

 

yeah... he had a big influence on him.
once when someone asked him for an autogram he just wrote: Love, Arthur Rimbaud.

 

Id have to say Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, and Jim Morrison

 

Bob Dylan and I liked Syd Barret's style too but Bob Dylan was the best.

 

Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot . . .and those are just two of many

 

If you could read my mind love, what a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie about a ghost from a wishing well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong with chains upon my feet, you know that ghost is me.
And I will never be set free as long as I'm a ghost that you can't see.

If I could read your mind love, what a tale your thoughts could tell.
Just like a paperback novel, the kind that drugstores sell.
When you reach the part where the heartaches come, the hero would be me but heroes often fail.
And you won't read that book again because the ending's just too hard to take.
I'd walk away like a movie star who gets burned in a three way script, enter number two.
A movie queen to play the scene of bringing all the good things out in me,
but for now love, let's be real.
I never thought I could feel this way and I've got to say that I just don't get it,
I don't know where we went wrong but the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back.

If you could read my mind love, what a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie about a ghost from a wishing well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong with chains upon my feet, but stories always end.
And if you read between the lines you'll know that I'm just trying to understand
the feelings that you lack.
I never thought I could feel this way and I've got to say that I just to get it,
I don't know where we went wrong but the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back.

 

Jim Morrison
Syd Barrett
John Lennon

 

Dylan.

 

Neil Young, Dylan and Van Morrison-ever listen to Astral Weeks? You should!

 

jim morrison sucked, here we go again....

Dylan and Hunter are where its at

 

Bob Dylan
Leonard Cohen
Roger Waters
Woody Guthrie
Neil Young
Fish(with an F, Derrek Dick, originally from the band Marillion)
Bruce Springsteen
John Lennon
Johnny Cash
Syd Barrett

 

Jimmy Paige
Leonard Cohen
Bob Dylan

 

The criminally underrated George Harrison. His Beatle stuff is awesome (although theres not too much of it) give "The Inner Light", "I Me Mine" or "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" a listen.

But his solo stuff is unfairly ignored. I mean "Isn't It A Pity" and "Beware of Darkness" could be two of the most meaningful songs of the last forty years.


"Isn't it a pity
Now, isn't it a shame
How we break each other's hearts
And cause each other pain
How we take each other's love
Without thinking anymore
Forgetting to give back
Isn't it a pity

Some things take so long
But how do I explain
When not too many people
Can see we're all the same
And because of all their tears
Their eyes can't hope to see
The beauty that surrounds them
Isn't it a pity"


"Watch out now, take care
Beware of falling swingers
Dropping all around you
The pain that often mingles
In your fingertips
Beware of darkness

Watch out now, take care
Beware of the thoughts that linger
Winding up inside your head
The hopelessness around you
In the dead of night

Beware of sadness
It can hit you
It can hurt you
Make you sore and what is more
That is not what you are here for

Watch out now, take care
Beware of soft shoe shufflers
Dancing down the sidewalks
As each unconscious sufferer
Wanders aimlessly
Beware of Maya

Watch out now, take care
Beware of greedy leaders
They take you where you should not go
While Weeping Atlas Cedars
They just want to grow, grow and grow
Beware of darkness (beware of darkness)"

~~~
Besides Harrison, I think Pete Townshend (The Who) is pure genius as a songwriter and Idea man, along with Neil Young and Roger Waters.

~Layla

 

lyrics genius is definetly Dylan

 

Gonna bump this up and give props to Bruce Springsteen for his longevity. He'll definitely go down in history has one of the top artists of this time period. In fact, I'd argue he, Morrison, Townsend, Dylan, and others will be mentioned in future english text books.

Then again, I dunno.

 

Morrison
Dylan
Lennon