Best and Worst lyricist

chesterfieldking · 08-06-2011, 05:34 AM

The worst among bands that I listen to has to be the guy from Iron Chic. Just awful.

Best: Blake Schwarzenbach, John K. Samson, Michael Stipe, Craig Finn, Josh Ritter, Stephan Jenkins, Elvis Costello, Travis Morrison.

Oh, how could I forget? Davey von Bohlen has to be mentioned among the worst...he occasionally stumbles onto a decent line, but overall he is absolutely terrible.

TheNiceGuy · 08-06-2011, 07:25 AM

Best: Dylan, Morrissey, Roger Waters

Worst: Whoever writes for Ke$ha.

The Monkey · 08-07-2011, 03:45 PM

Best: Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen (how can you all have missed him?), Tom Waits (again, how could you miss him?), Jack White, Ian Curtis, Roger Waters, Damon Albarn, Pete Townsend, Nick Cave, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Morrissey, Ray Davies, Joe Strummer

Worst: Most of the hired songwriters for popular artists

Queen Boo · 08-07-2011, 03:51 PM

Kurt Cobain is by no means a bad lyricist but he has to be the most overrated bastard ever. They read like unedited streams of consciousness, not that there's anything wrong with them but they just aren't that wonderful. I hate to compare them because there's next to no common ground other than lyrically but Stephen Malkmus has the same kinda lyrical style and his work seems more substantial and is overall more appealing to me anyway.

TheBig3 · 08-14-2011, 06:58 PM

the worst lyrics I've heard recently are from the Red House Painters. Found them awhile back through iTunes. They had a "folk artists, up and coming" section and I DL'ed this to give them a shot...Here's the masterwork:

I can't let you be, cause your beauty won't allow me
wrapped in white sheets,
like an angel from a bedtime story
and shut out what they say,
cause your friends are ****ed up anyway
and when they come around,
somehow they feel up and you feel down.

When we were kids, we hated things our parents did
we listened low to Casey Kasem's radio show
that's when friends were nice,
to think of them just makes you feel nice
the smell of grass in spring
and October leaves cover everything.

Have you forgotten how to love yourself? [x2]

I can't believe all the good things that you do for me
sat back in a chair like a princess from a faraway place
nobody's nice, when you're older your heart turns to ice
and shut out what they say;
they're too dumb to mean it anyway

When we were kids, we hated things our sisters did
backyard summer pools and Christmases were beautiful
and the sentiment of coloured mirrored ornaments
and the open drapes
look out on frozen farmhouse landscapes

Have you forgotten how to love yourself? [x6]

Zer0 · 08-17-2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

the worst lyrics I've heard recently are from the Red House Painters. Found them awhile back through iTunes. They had a "folk artists, up and coming" section and I DL'ed this to give them a shot...Here's the masterwork:

I can't let you be, cause your beauty won't allow me
wrapped in white sheets,
like an angel from a bedtime story
and shut out what they say,
cause your friends are ****ed up anyway
and when they come around,
somehow they feel up and you feel down.

When we were kids, we hated things our parents did
we listened low to Casey Kasem's radio show
that's when friends were nice,
to think of them just makes you feel nice
the smell of grass in spring
and October leaves cover everything.

Have you forgotten how to love yourself? [x2]

I can't believe all the good things that you do for me
sat back in a chair like a princess from a faraway place
nobody's nice, when you're older your heart turns to ice
and shut out what they say;
they're too dumb to mean it anyway

When we were kids, we hated things our sisters did
backyard summer pools and Christmases were beautiful
and the sentiment of coloured mirrored ornaments
and the open drapes
look out on frozen farmhouse landscapes

Have you forgotten how to love yourself? [x6]

I wouldn't call a band that split up 8 years ago "up and coming".

I've never really paid that much attention to the lyrics but they are definitely not the worst, it's not really what he sings but the way he sings them.

Necromancer · 08-17-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastingas10

No one has mentioned Robert Johnson, he was a good lyricist of his time.

Areosmith:= (Some of the worst lyrics).

When I think of bad lyrics, and also at the same time, "lyrics that are hard to understand" and interpret when listening to their music, in my opinion would have to be "Aerosmith".
Ive always liked Aerosmith and Steven Tyler, especially their earlier albums like Toys In The Attic, Rocks, and one of my personal favorite albums, Get Your Wings. Permanent Vacation is one their later albums Ive always liked, Pump was OK..

(For example) - Train Kept A Rollin

Well, on a train, I met a dame,
She rather handsome, we kind looked the same
She was pretty, from New York City
I'm walkin' down that old fair lane,
I'm in heat, I'm in love,
But I just couldn't tell her so

Jedey · 08-17-2011, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necromancer

Areosmith:= (Some of the worst lyrics).

When I think of bad lyrics, and also at the same time, "lyrics that are hard to understand" and interpret when listening to their music, in my opinion would have to be "Aerosmith".
Ive always liked Aerosmith and Steven Tyler, especially their earlier albums like Toys In The Attic, Rocks, and one of my personal favorite albums, Get Your Wings. Permanent Vacation is one their later albums Ive always liked, Pump was OK..

(For example) - Train Kept A Rollin

Well, on a train, I met a dame,
She rather handsome, we kind looked the same
She was pretty, from New York City
I'm walkin' down that old fair lane,
I'm in heat, I'm in love,
But I just couldn't tell her so

"Train Kept A-Rollin" is a song written by Tiny Bradshaw, Howard Kay, and Lois Mann.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_Kept_A-Rollin'

Necromancer · 08-17-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jedey

"Train Kept A-Rollin" is a song written by Tiny Bradshaw, Howard Kay, and Lois Mann.

Train Kept A-Rollin' - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oh Wow! Im glad you pointed that out Jedey. Since you've mentioned it, Areosmith did actually do a lot of different covers.

Thanks for the info.

TheBig3 · 08-18-2011, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zer0

I wouldn't call a band that split up 8 years ago "up and coming".

I've never really paid that much attention to the lyrics but they are definitely not the worst, it's not really what he sings but the way he sings them.

Well take it up with iTunes. This is the same music industry that gave David Gray a "best new artist" award for his 8th album.

No they are pretty ****ing bad, theres no way to sing "that's when friends were nice, to think of them just makes you feel nice" to make it less ****ty.

08-06-2011, 07:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
TheNiceGuy Living under the bridge Join Date: May 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 317	Best: Dylan, Morrissey, Roger Waters Worst: Whoever writes for Ke$ha. __________________ My Music Review Blog-It's Only Rock 'n' Roll There is no Dark Side of the Moon really, matter of fact it's all dark...

08-07-2011, 03:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
The Monkey Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 803	Best: Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen (how can you all have missed him?), Tom Waits (again, how could you miss him?), Jack White, Ian Curtis, Roger Waters, Damon Albarn, Pete Townsend, Nick Cave, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Morrissey, Ray Davies, Joe Strummer Worst: Most of the hired songwriters for popular artists __________________ Now another stranger seems to want you to ignore his dreams as though they were the burden of some other My Last.fm

08-14-2011, 06:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	the worst lyrics I've heard recently are from the Red House Painters. Found them awhile back through iTunes. They had a "folk artists, up and coming" section and I DL'ed this to give them a shot...Here's the masterwork: I can't let you be, cause your beauty won't allow me wrapped in white sheets, like an angel from a bedtime story and shut out what they say, cause your friends are ****ed up anyway and when they come around, somehow they feel up and you feel down. When we were kids, we hated things our parents did we listened low to Casey Kasem's radio show that's when friends were nice, to think of them just makes you feel nice the smell of grass in spring and October leaves cover everything. Have you forgotten how to love yourself? [x2] I can't believe all the good things that you do for me sat back in a chair like a princess from a faraway place nobody's nice, when you're older your heart turns to ice and shut out what they say; they're too dumb to mean it anyway When we were kids, we hated things our sisters did backyard summer pools and Christmases were beautiful and the sentiment of coloured mirrored ornaments and the open drapes look out on frozen farmhouse landscapes Have you forgotten how to love yourself? [x6] __________________ I've moved to a new address

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08-06-2011, 05:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
chesterfieldking Groupie Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2	The worst among bands that I listen to has to be the guy from Iron Chic. Just awful. Best: Blake Schwarzenbach, John K. Samson, Michael Stipe, Craig Finn, Josh Ritter, Stephan Jenkins, Elvis Costello, Travis Morrison. Oh, how could I forget? Davey von Bohlen has to be mentioned among the worst...he occasionally stumbles onto a decent line, but overall he is absolutely terrible.