Greatest song writer ever + example...

[touchfaith]

Since we seem to be on a music theme lately...

<font color="brown">Who in your opinion is the greatest song writer? </font>

Please provide an example.

[touchfaith]

Ok, me first...

Neil Peart - RUSH

He writes some of the greatest story-songs ever. Here is my favorite...


Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres

I. Prelude

When our weary world was young
The struggle of the ancients first began.
The gods of Love and Reason
Sought alone to rule the fate of Man.

They battled through the ages,
But still neither force would yield.
The people were divided,
Every soul a battlefield.

II. Apollo/Dionysus

Apollo: Bringer of Wisdom
"I bring truth and understanding,
I bring wit and wisdom fair,
Precious gifts beyond compare.
We can build a world of wonder,
I can make you all aware.
I will find you food and shelter,
Show you fire to keep you warm
Through the endless winter storm.
You can live in grace and comfort
In the world that you transform."

The people were delighted
Coming forth to claim their prize
They ran to build their cities
And converse among the wise.
But one day the streets fell silent,
Yet they knew not what was wrong.
The urge to build these fine things
Seemed not to be so strong.
The wise men were consulted,
And the Bridge of Death was crossed
In quest of Dionysus
To find out what they had lost.

Dionysus: Bringer of Love
"I bring love to give you solace
In the darkness of the night,
In the Heart's eternal light.
You need only trust your feelings;
Only love can steer you right.
I bring laughter, I bring music,
I bring joy and I bring tears.
I will soothe your primal fears.
Throw off those chains of reason
And your prison disappears."

The cities were abandoned,
And the forests echoed song.
They danced and lived as brothers;
They knew love could not be wrong.
Food and wine they had aplenty
And they slept beneath the stars.
The people were contented
And the gods watched from afar.
But the winter fell upon them
And it caught them unprepared,
Bringing wolves and cold starvation,
And the hearts of men despaired.

III. Armageddon: The Battle of Heart and Mind

The universe divided
As the Heart and Mind collided,
With the people left unguided
For so many troubled years.
In a cloud of doubts and fears,
Their world was torn asunder into hollow
Hemispheres.

Some fought themselves, some fought each other,
Most just followed one another
Lost and aimless like their brothers
For their hearts were so unclear
And the truth could not appear
Their spirits were divided into blinded
Hemispheres.

Some who did not fight
Brought tales of old to light.
"My Rocinante sailed by night
On her final flight."
To the heart of Cygnus' fearsome force
We set our course
Spiralled through that timeless space
To this immortal place.

IV. Cygnus: Bringer of Balance

I have memory and awareness,
But I have no shape or form.
As a disembodied spirit,
I am dead and yet unborn.
I have passed into Olympus
As was told in tales of old,
To the city of Immortals,
Marble white and purest gold...

I see the gods in battle rage on high...
Thunderbolts across the sky...
I cannot move, I cannot hide...
I feel a silent scream begin inside...

Then all at once the chaos ceased
A stillness fell, a sudden peace
The warriors felt my silent cry
And stayed their struggle, mystified.

Apollo was atonished;
Dionysus thought me mad.
But they heard my story further
And they wondered, and were sad.

Looking down from Olympus
On a world of doubt and fear,
Its surface splintered
Into sorry Hemispheres.

They sat a while in silence,
Then they turned at last to me:
"We will call you Cygnus,
The god of Balance you shall be."

V.The Sphere: A Kind of Dream

We can walk our road together
If our goals are all the same.
We can run alone and free
If we pursue a different aim.
Let the Truth of Love be lighted,
Let the Love of Truth shine clear. Sensibility,
Armed with sense and liberty,
With the Heart and Mind united in a single
Perfect
Sphere.

[Slow Play Ray]

I take from your example we are speaking lyrically only?

[Phoenix1010]

Notorious BIG

He writes some of the greatest story-songs ever. Here is one of my favorites...

Somebody Got to Die
Verse One:
I'm sittin in the crib dreamin about Leer jets and coupes
The way Salt shoops and how they sell records like Snoop
Oops!
I'm interrupted by a doorbell
3:52, who the hell
Is this?
I gets up quick
Cocks my [censored]
Stop the dogs from barkin
Then proceed to walkin
Its a face that I seen before
My nigga Sing, we used to sling on the 16th floor
Check it
I look deeper
I see blood up on his sneakers
And his fist gripped a chrome four-fifth
So I dip
Nigga, is you creepin or speakin?
He tells me C-Rock just got hit up at the beacon
I opens up the door, pitiful
Is he in critical?
Retaliation for this one won't be minimal
Cuz I'm a criminal
Way before the rap [censored]
Bust the gat [censored]
Puff won't even know what happened,
If it's done smoothly
Silencers on the Uzi
Stash in the hooptie
My alibi, any cutie
With a booty that done [censored] Big Pop
Head spinnin, reminiscin bout my man C-Rock
Chorus: repeat 2X
Somebody's got ta die
If I go, you got ta go
Somebody's got to die
Let the gunshots blow
Somebody's got to die
Nobody got ta know
That I killed yo ass in the mist, kid
Verse Two:
Fillin clips he explained our situation
Precisely, so we know exactly what we facin
Some kid named Jason
In a highway station, raggin
Was braggin
About how much loot and crack he stackin
Rock had a grip so they formed up a clique
Small crew
'Round the time I was locked up with you
True indeed
But yo nigga let me proceed
Don't fill them clips too high
Give them bullets room to breathe
Damn where was I?
Yeah
One night in town
Blew the [censored] up
D-Rock went home
And Jay got stuck the [censored] up
Hit 'em twice
Got 'em right for the virgin white
Pistol whipped his kids
And taped up his wife
He said "Yo Rock, set em up", no question
Wet em up no less
Than 50 shots in his direction
How many shots?
Man nigga, I seen mad holes
What kinda gats?
Hitch links, Cocks, and Calicoles
But [censored] that
I know where all them niggas rest at
In the buildin hustlin
And they don't be strapped
Supreme in black
Is downstairs, the engine runnin
Find a bag to put the guns in
And c'mon if yo comin
Chorus
Verse Three:
Exchanged hugs and pounds before the throw down
How its gonna go down
Lay these niggas low-down
Slow down
[censored] all that plannin [censored]
Run up in they cribs
And make em catch the man n [censored]
See niggas like you do ten year bids
Miss the niggas they want
And murder innocent kids
Not I
One niggas in my eye
That's Jason
Ain't no slugs gonna be wasted
Revenge I'm tastin at the tip of my lips
I can't wait to feel my clip in his hips
Pass the chocolate
Thai
Sing ain't lie
There's Jason with his back to me
Talkin to his faculty
I start to get a funny feelin
Put the mask on in case his niggas start squealin
Scream his name out
Squeeze six, nothin shorter
Nigga turned around holdin his daughter
What the [censored]?

[CallMeIshmael]

Bob Dylan... (with Reed not far behind)

Shelter from the storm: (FWIW... am I the only person who likes the version of this on hard rain better than the album??)

I was in another lifetime one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness a creature void of form
"Come in" she said
"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

And if I pass this way again you can rest assured
I'll always do my best for her on that I give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death and men who are fighting to be warm
"Come in" she said
"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Not a word was spoke between us there was little risk involved
Everything up to that point had been left unresolved
Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm
"Come in" she said
"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

I was burned out from exhaustion buried in the hail
Poisoned in the bushes and blown out on the trail
Hunted like a crocodile ravaged in the corn
"Come in" she said
"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Suddenly I turned around and she was standing there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns
"Come in" she said
"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Now there's a wall between us something there's been lost
I took too much for granted got my signals crossed
Just to think that it all began on a long-forgotten morn
"Come in" she said
"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Well the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount
But nothing really matters much it's doom alone that counts
And the one-eyed undertaker he blows a futile horn
"Come in" she said
"I'll give you shelter from the storm".
I've heard newborn babies wailing like a mourning dove
And old men with broken teeth stranded without love
Do I understand your question man is it hopeless and forlorn
"Come in" she said
"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

In a little hilltop village they gambled for my clothes
I bargained for salvation and they gave me a lethal dose
I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn
"Come in" she said
"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

Well I'm living in a foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor's edge someday I'll make it mine
If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born
"Come in" she said
"I'll give you shelter from the storm".

[chaas4747]

James Taylor
Fire and Rain.
Carolina in My Mind.
Oh pretty much everything he wrote was awesome.

Fire and Rain Lyrics
Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Susanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way

woh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

I’ve been walking my mind to an easy time
My back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it’ll turn your head around
Well, there’s hours of time on the telephone line
To talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground.

woh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time again, now

Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around, now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you fire and rain

[Willluck]

Tool is my favorite (Danny Carry drums are great, and of course MJK), I like Led Zeppelin's songs a lot too, Frank Zappa kicks ass at writing lyrics (plus guitar rifs/solos). My favorite is still Tool

lyrics to Tool's Thrid Eye (aEnima):
Dreaming of that face again.
It's bright and blue and shimmering.
Grinning wide
And comforting me with it's three warm and wild eyes.

On my back and tumbling
Down that hole and back again
Rising up
And wiping the webs and the dew from my withered eye.

In... Out... In... Out... In... Out...

A child's rhyme stuck in my head.
It said that life is but a dream.
I've spent so many years in question
to find I've known this all along.

"So good to see you.
I've missed you so much.
So glad it's over.
I've missed you so much
Came out to watch you play.
Why are you running?"

Shroud-ing all the ground around me
Is this holy crow above me.
Black as holes within a memory
And blue as our new second sun.
I stick my hand into his shadow
To pull the pieces from the sand.
Which I attempt to reassemble
To see just who I might have been.
I do not recognize the vessel,
But the eyes seem so familiar.
Like phosphorescent desert buttons
Singing one familiar song...

"So good to see you.
I've missed you so much.
So glad it's over.
I've missed you so much.
Came out to watch you play.
Why are you running away?"

Prying open my third eye.
So good to see you once again.
I thought that you were hiding.
And you thought that I had run away.
Chasing the tail of dogma.
I opened my eye and there we were.

So good to see you once again
I thought that you were hiding from me.
And you thought that I had run away.
Chasing a trail of smoke and reason.

Prying open my third eye.

This song kicks so much ass, if you disagree go ahead flame away.

[Phoenix1010]

Good one. I would have gone with H though.

[PoBoy321]

Yeah...I like it when the girls stop by.. In the summer
Do you remember, Do you remember?
...when we met..That summer??

[Chorus]

New Kids On The block,had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick.
And I think it's fly when girls stop by for the summer,for the summer
I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch,
I'd take her if I had one wish,
But she's been gone since that summer..
Since that summer

[Verse 1]

Hip Hop Marmalade spic And span,
Met you one summer and it all began
Your the best girl that I ever did see,
The great Larry Bird Jersey 33
When you take a sip you buzz like a hornet
Billy Shakespere wrote a whole bunch of sonnets
Call me Willy Whistle cause I can't speak baby
Sumthin in your eyes went and drove me crazy
Now I can't forget you and it makes me mad,
Left one day and never came back
Stayed all summer then went back home,
Macauly Culkin wasn't Home Alone
Fell deep in love,but now we ain't speakin
Michael J Fox was Alex P Keaton
When I met you I said my name was Rich
You look like a girl from Abercrombie and Fitch

[Chorus]

New Kids On The block,had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick.
And I think it's fly when girls stop by for the summer,for the summer
I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch,
I'd take her if I had one wish,
But she's been gone since that summer..
Since that summer

[Verse 2]

Cherry Pez,cold crush,rock star boogie
Used to hate school so I had to play hookie,
Always been hip to the B-boY Style
Known to act wild and make girls smile,
Love New Edition and the Candy Girl
Remind me of you because you rock my world
You come from Georgia where the peaches grow
They drink lemonade and speak real slow
You love hip hop and rock n roll
Dad took off when you were 4 years old
There was a good man named Paul Revere
I feel much better baby when you're near
You love fun dip and cherry Coke,
I like the way you laugh when I tell a joke
When I met you I said my name was Rich
You look like a girl from Abercrombie and Fitch

[Repeat Chorus]

Bridge In the summertime girls got it goin on,
Shake and wiggle to a hip hop song
Summertime girls are the kind I like,
I'll steal your honey like I stole your bike

[Verse 3]

Bugaloo shrimp and pogo sticks
My mind takes me back there oh so quick
Let you off the hook like my man Mr. Lipit
Think about that summer and I bug,cause I miss it
Like the color purple,macaroni and cheese,
Ruby red slippers and a bunch of trees
Call you up but whats the use
I like Kevin Bacon,but I hate Footloose
Came in the door I said it before,I think I'm over you
but I'm really not sure
When I met you I said my name was Rich
You look like a girl from Abercrombie and Fitch
repeat Chorus

[Bridge]

In the summer girls come and summer girls go
Some are worth while and some are so so,
Summer girls come and summer girls go
Some are worth while and some are so so,
Summertime girls got it goin on
Shake and wiggle to a hip hop song
Summertime girls are the kind I like
I'll steal your honey like I stole your bike

[Repeat Chorus]

[istewart]

LFO pwns.

[PoBoy321]

I'm pretty sure they're from the "Elevator magnet poetry" school of songwriting.

[Willluck]

They are all great, H. is definately one on the top of the list, Third Eye (live) is my absolute favorite though. Hey do you have any idea when the new album is coming out? I hear they still need to record, but they aren't giving any hints as to when they will be done.

[Willluck]

Rush is great!

[AlmightyJay]

Vincent Cavanagh, lead singer of Anathema. Maybe not the best ever, but he's my favorite, just beating out Roger Waters. Honorable mentions are Maynard James Keenan and Mike Patton.

Temporary Peace

Deep inside the silence
Staring out upon the sea
The waves washing over
Half-forgotten memory
Deep within the moment
Laughter floats upon the breeze
Rising and falling
Dying down within me

And I swear I never knew, I never knew
How it could be
And all this time, all I had inside
Was what I couldn't see
I swear I never knew, I never knew
How it couldn't be
And all the waves washing over
All that hurts inside of me

Beyond this beautiful horizon
Lies a dream for you and I
This tranquil scene is still unbroken
By the rumors in the sky
But there's a storm closing in
Voices crying on the wind
The serenade is growing colder
Breaks my soul that tries to sing
And there's so many, many thoughts
When I try to go to sleep
But with you I start to feel
A sort of temporary peace
There's a drift in and out..

[shadow29]

I'm sure everyone knows this song, but not everyone knows the lyricist. Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah:

[ QUOTE ]
Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew her
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

[/ QUOTE ]



How about Elvis Costello, When I Was Cruel no. 2:

[ QUOTE ]
I exit through the spotlight glare
I stepped out into thin air
Into a perfume so rarefied
"Here comes the bride"

Not quite aside, they snide, "She's number four"
"There's number three just by the door"
Those in the know, don't even flatter her,
they go one better
"She was selling speedboats in a tradeshow when he met her"

Look at her now
She's starting to yawn
She looks like she was born to it
But it was so much easier
When I was cruel

She reaches out her arms to me
Imploring: "Another melody?"
So she can dance her husband out on the floor
The captains of industry just lie there where they fall

In eau-de-nil and pale carnation creation
A satin sash and velvet elevation
She straightens the tipsy head-dress of her spouse
While hers recalls a honey house

There'll be no sorrows left to drown
Early in the morning in your evening gown
But it was so much easier
When I was cruel

The entrance hall was arranged with hostesses and ushers
Who turned out to be the younger wives nursing schoolgirl crushes
Parting the waves of those few feint friends
Fingers once offered are now too heavy to extend

The ghostly first wife glides up on stage whispering to raucous talkers
Spilling family secrets out to flunkeys and castrato walkers
See that girl,
Watch that scene
Digging the "Dancing Queen"

Two newspaper editors like playground sneaks
Running a book on which of them is going to last the week
One of them calls to me
And he says, "I know you"
"You gave me this tattoo back in '82"
"You were a spoilt child then with a record to plug"
"And I was a shaven headed seaside thug"
"Things haven't really changed that much"
"One of us is still getting paid too much"

There are some things I can't report
The memory of his last retort
But it was so much easier
When I was cruel

Look at me now
She's starting to yawn
She looks like she was born to it
Ah, but it was so much easier
When I was cruel

[/ QUOTE ]



Counting Crows (Adam Duritz) St. Robinson In His Cadillac Dream:

[ QUOTE ]
Staring out of his window as the world rushes by
Arthur Robinson closes the glass and replies,
"I dream of Ballerinas but I don't know why
but Ive seen Cadillacs sailing

I was born on the shores of Chesapeake Bay
But Maryland and Virginia have faded away
And I keep thinking tomorrow is coming today
So I am endlessly waiting

And the comet is coming between
Me and the girl could make it all clean
Out there in the shadow of a modern machine
Walks St. Robinson in his Cadillac dream.

Carrie's down in her basement all toe shoes and twinned
With the girl in a mirror who spins when she spins
From where you think you'll end up to the state that you're in
Your reflection approaches and then recedes again
yeah

And the comet is coming between
Me and the girl who could make it all clean
Out there in the shadow of the modern machine
Walks St. Robinson in his Cadillac dream.

I have dreamed of a black car that shimmers and glides
Down the length of the evening to the carnival side
In a house where regret is a carousel ride
We are spinning and spinning and spinning and now...

There's a hole in the ceiling down through which I fell
There's a girl in a basement coming out of her shell
And there are people who will say that they knew me so well...
I may not go to heaven
I hope you go to hell

And the comet is coming between
Me and the girl who could make it all clean
Out there in the shadow of a modern machine
Walks St. Robinson in his Cadillac dream
in his dream
st. Robinson in his dream
some people are never quite what they seem
oh come on baby, come on darlin', come on.....
lets just get into my car and drive.......
come on lets just get into my car and drive..
just dont always do the same thing over and over

[/ QUOTE ]

[whiskeytown]

I've said it before, I'll say it again...

Townes Van Zandt

Here's his song I'm gonna cover for my solo album.

Well, won't you lend your lungs to me?
Mine are collapsing
Plant my feet and bitterly breathe
Up the time that's passing.
Breath I'll take and breath I'll give
Pray the day ain't poison
Stand among the ones that live
In lonely indecision.

Fingers walk the darkness down
Mind is on the midnight
Gather up the gold you've found
You fool, it's only moonlight.
If you try to take it home
Your hands will turn to butter
You better leave this dream alone
Try to find another.

Salvation sat and crossed herself
Called the devil partner
Wisdom burned upon a shelf
Who'll kill the raging cancer
Seal the river at its mouth
Take the water prisoner
Fill the sky with screams and cries
Bathe in fiery answers

Jesus was an only son
And love his only concept
Strangers cry in foreign tongues
And dirty up the doorstep
And I for one, and you for two
Ai'nt got the time for outside
Just keep your injured looks to you
We'll tell the world we tried

----------------------------------------------
His most well known are "If I needed you" (sung by Julia Roberts in the movie Stepmom) and Poncho and Lefty (Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson) - but this one is right up there too...

Tecumseh Valley

The name she gave was Caroline
the daughter of a miner
her ways were free
and it seemed to me
that sunshine walked beside her

She came from Spencer
across the hill
she said her pa had sent her
'cause the coal was low
and soon the snow
would turn the skies to winter

She said she'd come
to look for work
she was not seeking favors
and for a dime a day
and a place to stay
she'd turn those hands to labor

But the times were hard, Lord,
and the jobs were few
all through Tecumseh valley
but she asked around
and a job she found
tending bar at Gypsy Sally's

She saved enough to get back home
when spring replaced the winter
but her dreams were denied
her pa had died
the word come down from Spencer

So she turned to whorin' out on the streets
with all the lust inside her
and it was many a man
returned again
to lay himself beside her

They found her down beneath the stairs
that led to Gypsy Sally's
in her hand when she died
was a note that cried
fare thee well... Tecumseh valley

The name she gave was Caroline
the daughter of a miner
her ways were free
it seemed to me
that sunshine walked beside her

[Willluck]

I thought Rufus Wainright wrote the first one.

[shadow29]

[ QUOTE ]
I thought Rufus Wainright wrote the first one.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hope you're kidding.

Wainwright did not write Hallelujah. I don't recall when Cohen first released Hallelujah, but I found it as early as 1984 on his "Various Positions" album. Wainwright covered the song (as did Bono, Jeff Buckley, and John Cale, among others).

[rmarotti]

[ QUOTE ]
Bob Dylan... (with Reed not far behind)

Shelter from the storm: (FWIW... am I the only person who likes the version of this on hard rain better than the album??)

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. I agree with you about Hard Rain. Whoever said Townes can make a convincing case, but Dylan wins in the end.

[Slacker13]

[ QUOTE ]
Neil Peart - RUSH

He writes some of the greatest story-songs ever. Here is my favorite...

[/ QUOTE ]

Rush is still my all time favorite band. 2112 kicks ass. I may have to agree with you on Neil Peart. I also think Jim Morrison is up there, especially for his time.

[bernie]

Other than the more 'known' names, there are many songwriters that aren't in the limelight but are very prolific and good.

Linda (?) Perry from 4nonblondes is one. She has credits all over the place.

Better knowns:

Carol King (older version of Perry, imo)

Prince (he is/was one prolific M.F'er) Ever seen his credit list? It's about 20 pages long.

I like Praga Kahn: Lords of Acid.

He says so much in the song I Sit On Acid that it only needs 1 line repeated:

I want to sit on your face!

'nuff said. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

b

[disjunction]

Springsteen's may not be the best songwriter ever, but he is my favorite. "Thunder Road", "The Line", "If I should Fall Behind" are some of my favorites.

Below is "Counting on A Miracle", from The Rising album. It's an example of how he achieves his effect even without crazy-good metaphors, and with lyrics that must have been hurried. Just with raw emotion in the words. I cry everytime I think of it (September 11th related):

It's a fairytale so tragic
There's no prince to break the spell
I don't believe in magic
But for you I will, for you I will
If I'm a fool, I'll be a fool
Darlin' for you

I'm countin' on a miracle
Baby I'm countin' on a miracle
Darlin' I'm countin' on a miracle
To come through

There ain't no storybook story
There's no never-ending song
Our happily ever after Darlin'
Forever come and gone
I'm movin' on
If I'm gonna believe
I'll put my faith
Darlin' in you

I'm countin' on a miracle
Baby I'm countin' on a miracle
Darlin' I'm countin' on a miracle
To come through

Sleeping beauty awakes from her dream
With her lover's kiss on her lips
Your kiss was taken from me
Now all I have is this

Your kiss, your kiss, your touch, your touch
Your heart, your heart, your strength, your strength
Your hope, your hope, your faith, your faith
Your face, your face, your love, your love
Your dream, your dream, your life, your life


I'm runnin' through the forest
With this wolf at my heels
My king is lost at midnight
When the tower bells peal
We've got no fairytale ending
In God's hands our fate is complete
Your heaven's here in my heart
Our love's this dust beneath my feet
Just this dust beneath my feet
If I'm gonna live
I'll lift my life
Darlin' to you
Darlin' to you

[Zygote]

tool is awesome. drums are amazing. good post.

[TStoneMBD]

Best writer: We Might Be Giants

This song is a metaphor depicting the struggle of those who have been suppressed by governments through centures. It shows the strength of mankind and its ability to overcome adversity. Brilliance.


IE: Partical Man

Particle man, particle man
Doing the things a particle can
What's he like? It's not important
Particle man

Is he a dot, or is he a speck?
When he's underwater does he get wet?
Or does the water get him instead?
Nobody knows, Particle man

Triangle man, Triangle man
Triangle man hates particle man
They have a fight, Triangle wins
Triangle man

Universe man, Universe man
Size of the entire universe man
Usually kind to smaller man
Universe man

He's got a watch with a minute hand,
Millenium hand and an eon hand
When they meet it's a happy land
Powerful man, universe man

Person man, person man
Hit on the head with a frying pan
Lives his life in a garbage can
Person man

Is he depressed or is he a mess?
Does he feel totally worthless?
Who came up with person man?
Degraded man, person man

Triangle man, triangle man
Triangle man hates person man
They have a fight, triangle wins
Triangle man

[M2d]

Queen Julia Kapi'olani

Ka Ipo Lei Manu - Queen Kapi`olani

He mana`o healoha
No ka ipo lei manu

He manu ku`u hoa
Noho mai i ka nahele

`I`iwi o uka
Polena i ka ua

Elua maua
I ka po ua nui

Ua o Hanalei
Anu au ma`e`ele

Ua anu ho`i au
I ka ua noe anu

Na hau o Ma`ihi
`Au ana i ke kai

Na ulu o wehi
Punohu mai ana

Ke `ala o ka hala
Hala o mapuana

Onaona i ka ihu
Ke `ala pua loke

Hone `ana i ka mana`o
E naue ku`u kino

Ko hiki `ana mai
Hau`oli ku`u mana`o

Ha`ina ka puana
No kalani heleloa

english

I have a feeling of love
For my cherished sweetheart

My companion is a bird
Who dwells in the forest

The `i`iwi bird of the uplands
Appears yellow in the rain

The two of us
In the night of great rain

The rain of Hanalei
I'm numb with the cold

I'm also cooled
In the cold misty rain

The hau of Ma`ihi
Swimming in the sea

The vegetation
Spreading out

The fragrance of the hala
Is borne on the wind

Sweetly scented
Is the fragrance of the rose

A sweetly recurring thought
Urges my body to travel

I am made happy
By thoughts of your arrival

Tell the refrain
My chief is gone forever

background story:
Source: Researched and translated by Lehua Kalima - In Hawaiian poetry, the sweetheart is personified as the `i`iwi bird. Julia Kapi`olani, the shy and retiring widow of Chief Bennett Namakeha, was one of the most beautiful women of her time and married High Chief David Kâlakaua, Dec. 1863, who was elected king in 1874. A devout christian with high morals, her motto was "Kulia I Ka Nu`u (Strive for the Highest)". Beloved by her people, distinguished by her charitable deeds, two missions close to her heart stood out: (1) she always raised money for the leper settlement in Kalaupapa to improve their living conditions, and (2) perpetuation of the Hawaiian Race. She wanted to establish a hospital for underprivileged Hawaiian women to have the best care for mothers and babies. Attending Queen Victoria's Jubilee celebration, 1887, in London, Kapiolani made many visits to hospitals and foundling homes and returned to Hawaii with much enthusiam and exciting plans for her hospital. She raised $8000 and her most cherished dream was realized when Kapiolani Maternity Home opened June 14, 1890, on the site of the former home of Princess Kekaulike. Queen Kapi`olani composed this song for her husband after he left Hawaii for the mainland aboard the Charleston, Nov, 1890. Under great political stress, his doctors thought a change of climate would benefit his failing health. He arrived in San Francisco, Dec 4 and took up residence at the Palace Hotel. He toured southern California and returned to San Francisco the middle of January for medical attention. January 20, 1891, the King died at the Palace Hotel. His last words were "Tell my people I tried". He never heard this haunting love song. Copyright 1935, Miller Music Inc

[Willluck]

[ QUOTE ]
Queen Julia Kapi'olani

Ka Ipo Lei Manu - Queen Kapi`olani

He mana`o healoha
No ka ipo lei manu

He manu ku`u hoa
Noho mai i ka nahele

`I`iwi o uka
Polena i ka ua

Elua maua
I ka po ua nui

Ua o Hanalei
Anu au ma`e`ele

Ua anu ho`i au
I ka ua noe anu

Na hau o Ma`ihi
`Au ana i ke kai

Na ulu o wehi
Punohu mai ana

Ke `ala o ka hala
Hala o mapuana

Onaona i ka ihu
Ke `ala pua loke

Hone `ana i ka mana`o
E naue ku`u kino

Ko hiki `ana mai
Hau`oli ku`u mana`o

Ha`ina ka puana
No kalani heleloa

english

I have a feeling of love
For my cherished sweetheart

background story:
Source: Researched and translated by Lehua Kalima - In Hawaiian poetry, the sweetheart is personified as the `i`iwi bird. Julia Kapi`olani, the shy and retiring widow of Chief Bennett Namakeha, was one of the most beautiful women of her time and married High Chief David Kâlakaua, Dec. 1863, who was elected king in 1874. A devout christian with high morals, her motto was "Kulia I Ka Nu`u (Strive for the Highest)". Beloved by her people, distinguished by her charitable deeds, two missions close to her heart stood out: (1) she always raised money for the leper settlement in Kalaupapa to improve their living conditions, and (2) perpetuation of the Hawaiian Race. She wanted to establish a hospital for underprivileged Hawaiian women to have the best care for mothers and babies. Attending Queen Victoria's Jubilee celebration, 1887, in London, Kapiolani made many visits to hospitals and foundling homes and returned to Hawaii with much enthusiam and exciting plans for her hospital. She raised $8000 and her most cherished dream was realized when Kapiolani Maternity Home opened June 14, 1890, on the site of the former home of Princess Kekaulike. Queen Kapi`olani composed this song for her husband after he left Hawaii for the mainland aboard the Charleston, Nov, 1890. Under great political stress, his doctors thought a change of climate would benefit his failing health. He arrived in San Francisco, Dec 4 and took up residence at the Palace Hotel. He toured southern California and returned to San Francisco the middle of January for medical attention. January 20, 1891, the King died at the Palace Hotel. His last words were "Tell my people I tried". He never heard this haunting love song. Copyright 1935, Miller Music Inc


My companion is a bird
Who dwells in the forest

The `i`iwi bird of the uplands
Appears yellow in the rain

The two of us
In the night of great rain

The rain of Hanalei
I'm numb with the cold

I'm also cooled
In the cold misty rain

The hau of Ma`ihi
Swimming in the sea

The vegetation
Spreading out

The fragrance of the hala
Is borne on the wind

Sweetly scented
Is the fragrance of the rose

A sweetly recurring thought
Urges my body to travel

I am made happy
By thoughts of your arrival

Tell the refrain
My chief is gone forever

[/ QUOTE ]
BOOOOOOH!!!!!!!!!!

[usmfan]

TVZ is certainly near if not at the top. Tecumseh Valley is just an awesome song. I first heard it when Nanci Griffith covered it.

[Yeti]

Bruce Springsteen - The River

Amazing song. Go download it.

[shadow29]

[ QUOTE ]
Bruce Springsteen - The River

Amazing song. Go download it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a big fan of thunder road, myself.

[bort411]

You are correct. Though my favorite version of this song is the alternate take found on the Jerry Maguire soundtrack, among other places.

[jba]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Bob Dylan... (with Reed not far behind)

Shelter from the storm: (FWIW... am I the only person who likes the version of this on hard rain better than the album??)

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. I agree with you about Hard Rain. Whoever said Townes can make a convincing case, but Dylan wins in the end.

[/ QUOTE ]

agreed about dylan. No doubt the hard rain version is better.

However the correct answer is:

[ QUOTE ]

She lit a burner on the stove and offered me a pipe
"I thought you'd never say hello," she said
"You look like the silent type."
Then she opened up a book of poems
And handed it to me
Written by an Italian poet
From the thirteenth century.
And every one of them words rang true
And glowed like burnin' coal
Pourin' off of every page
Like it was written in my soul from me to you,
Tangled up in blue.


[/ QUOTE ]

[Phoenix1010]

[ QUOTE ]
We Might Be Giants

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not a huge fan, but I always thought it was "They Might Be Giants." I could be wrong.

[rmarotti]

I was only agreeing with the songwriter part, not that it's the best song he wrote. Though both of the Dylan songs previously mentioned are strong contenders, the clear answer to "What is Dylan's best song" is "Boots of Spanish Leather".

[ QUOTE ]
Well, if you, my love, must think that-a-way,
I'm sure your mind is roamin'.
I'm sure your heart is not with me,
But with the country to where you're goin'.

So take heed, take heed of the western wind,
Take heed of the stormy weather.
And yes, there's something you can send back to me,
Spanish boots of Spanish leather.

[/ QUOTE ]

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
She lit a burner on the stove and offered me a pipe
"I thought you'd never say hello," she said
"You look like the silent type."
Then she opened up a book of poems
And handed it to me
Written by an Italian poet
From the thirteenth century.
And every one of them words rang true
And glowed like burnin' coal
Pourin' off of every page
Like it was written in my soul from me to you,
Tangled up in blue.


[/ QUOTE ]

FWIW, I would like to point out that this was the song I choose shelter over. Those are my top 2 fav. Dylan songs lyrically.

[whiskeytown]

Steve Earle one time said "Townes Van Zandt is the greatest songwriter in the world and I'll stand on top of Bob Dylan's coffeetable in my cowboy boots and say so"

Townes said he knew Bob and his bodyguards and that they weren't gonna let him anywhere near Bob's coffeetable.

However, I would point out that in the past, during his live concerts, Bob Dylan has covered Townes Van Zandt songs - if that doesn't say something about how BOB feels, I don't think anything does.

RB

[nothumb]

Kudos to whiskeytown for the TVZ remarks. He is one of the greats.

Others that have not been mentioned:

Tom Waits (most notable so far that I haven't heard)
Warren Zevon.

My favorite punk songwriter is Frankie Stubbs of Leatherface. Lately I've been noticing that Leatherface sound kind of like the Smiths would have sounded if Morissey had owned a pair of balls or cared about anyone but himself.

NT

[PokerGodess]

...not even close

[Victor]

wheres that kenny rodgers song?

[andyfox]

I'm going to see him at the Hollywood Bowl this summer. When I first saw him, a hundred years ago, we had the same hairstyle. Unfortunately, we do now too.

[bort411]

Some honorable mentions:

Mark Knopfler:

Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms

Lou Reed:

I’ll take manhattan in a garbage bag
With latin written on it that says
It’s hard to give a [censored] these days
Manhattan’s sinking like a rock
Into the filthy hudson what a shock
They wrote a book about it
They said it was like ancient rome

[CallMeIshmael]

Favourite/best songwriters of the past 10 years?


I lean to Jeff Mangum, but Jeff Tweedy is close.

[purnell]

Umm.. I hate to be a sissy, but I think this is one of those cases where there can be no clear winner. Everybody mentioned so far deserves mention, and I'm just gonna add one:

John Prine:


Jesus: the missing years:

It was raining, it was cold
west bethlehem was no place for a twelve year old
so he packed his bag and he headed out
to find out what the world was about

he went to france, he went to spain
he found love and he found pain
he found stores, so he started to shop
but he had no money so he got in trouble with a cop

kids in trouble with the cops from isreal didn't have no home
so he cut his hair and moved to rome
it was there he met his irish bride
they rented a flat on the lower east side

Of Rome

Italy that is,...music publishers...bookbinders...bible belters...
swimmin' pools, orgies...and lotsa pretty italian chicks

Charlie bought some popcorn, billy bought a car
someone almost bought the farm but they didn't go that far
things shut down at midnight
'least 'round here they do
'cause we all reside down the block inside of
twenty-three skidoo.


Wine was flowin', so were beers
so jesus found his missin' years
he went to a dance and said "this don't move me"
so he hiked up his pants and he went to a movie

on his thirteenth birthday he saw rebel without a cause
he went straight on home and invented santa claus
who gave him a gift, and he responded in kind
gave the gift of love and went out of his mind

you see, uh, him and the wife wasn't gettin' along
so he took out his guitar and he wrote a song
called "the dove of love fell off the perch"
but he couldn't get a divorce from the catholic church

'least not back then anyhow

jesus was a good guy, he didn't need this [censored]
so he took a pill with a coca cola and he swallowed it
he discovered the beatles, and he recorded with the stones
once he even opened up a three-way package for ol' george jones


Charlie bought some popcorn, billy bought a car
someone almost bought the farm but they didn't go that far
things shut down at midnight
'least 'round here they do
'cause we all reside down the block inside of
twenty-three skidoo.

The years passed by like sweet little days
with babies cryin' pork chops and beaujolais
when he woke up he was seventeen
but the world was angry, the world was mean

why the man down the street, and the kid on the stoop
all agreed that life stank, and the world smelled like poop
baby poop that is... the worst kind

so he grew his hair long and threw away his comb
headed back to jerusalem to find mom and dad and home
but when he got there the cupboard was bare
except for an old black man with a fishin' rod
he said "whatcha gonna be when you grow up"

jesus said "GOD"

"oh my god what have i got myself into
i'm a human corkscrew and all my wine is blood
they're gonna kill me mama, they don't like me bad"

so jesus went to heaven and he went there awful quick
all them people killed him and he wasn't even sick
so come and gather 'round me my contemporary peers
and i'll tell y'all a story... of jesus the missing years

Charlie bought some popcorn, billy bought a car
someone almost bought the farm but they didn't go that far
things shut down at midnight
'least 'round here they do
'cause we all reside down the block inside of
twenty-three skidoo.

[Chairman Wood]

The easy answer to this question is Bob Dylan. Hands done, no questions asked. There are so many songs to choose from. I dunno. I love Springsteen and he has been mentioned in this thread but I think they picked the wrong songs. The best song he ever wrote is Racing in the Streets.

I got a sixty-nine Chevy with a 396
Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor
She's waiting tonight down in the parking lot
Outside the Seven-Eleven store
Me and my partner Sonny built her straight out of scratch
And he rides with me from town to town
We only run for the money, got no strings attached
We shut 'em up and then we shut 'em down

Tonight, tonight the strip's just right
I wanna blow 'em off in my first heat
Summer's here and the time is right
For racin' in the street

We take all the action we can meet
And we cover all the northeast state
When the strip shuts down we run 'em in the street
From the fire roads to the interstate
Some guys they just give up living
And start dying little by little, piece by piece,
Some guys come home from work and wash up,
And go racin' in the street

Tonight, tonight the strip's just right
I wanna blow 'em all out of their seats
Calling out around the world, we're going racin' in the street.

I met her on the strip three years ago
In a Camaro with this dude from L.A.
I blew that Camaro off my back,
and drove that little girl away,
But now there's wrinkles around my baby's eyes
And she cries herself to sleep at night
When I come home the house is dark
She sighs, "Baby did you make it all right,"
She sits on the porch of her Daddy's house
But all her pretty dreams are torn,
She stares off alone into the night
With the eyes of one who hates for just being born
For all the shut down strangers and hot rod angels,
Rumbling through this promised land
Tonight my baby and me, we're gonna ride to the sea
And wash these sins off our hands.

Tonight, tonight the highway's bright
Out of our way, mister, you best keep
'Cause summer's here and the time is right
For racin' in the street.

[Chairman Wood]

Oh and here's another by Bruce. This is the only song that I've actually cried the first time I heard it.

My name is Joe Roberts I work for the state
I'm a sergeant out of Perrineville barracks number 8
I always done an honest job as honest as I could
I got a brother named Frankie and Frankie ain't no good

Now ever since we was young kids it's been the same come down
I get a call over the radio Frankie's in trouble downtown
Well if it was any other man, I'd put him straight away
But when it's your brother sometimes you look the other way

Yeah me and Frankie laughin' and drinkin'
Nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band
Played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"

I catch him when he's strayin' like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family well he just ain't no good

Well Frankie went in the army back in 1965
I got a farm deferment, settled down, took Maria for my wife
But them wheat prices kept on droppin' till it was like we were gettin'
robbed
Frankie came home in `68, and me, I took this job

Yeah we're laughin' and drinkin'
Nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band
Played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"

I catch him when he's strayin' teach him how to walk that line
Man turns his back on his family he ain't no friend of mine

Well the night was like any other, I got a call `bout quarter to nine
There was trouble in a roadhouse out on the Michigan line
There was a kid lyin' on the floor lookin' bad bleedin' hard from his head
There was a girl cry'n' at a table and it was Frank, they said

Well I went out and I jumped in my car and I hit the lights
Well I musta done one hundred and ten through Michigan county that night
It was out at the crossroads, down `round Willow bank
Seen a Buick with Ohio plates. Behind the wheel was Frank

Well I chased him through them county roads
Till a sign said "Canadian border five miles from here"
I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his tail-lights disappear

Me and Frankie laughin' and drinkin'
Nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band
Played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"

[zephed56]

Jimmy Page.

[andyfox]

Leonard Cohen should at least be considered. Close your eyes and hear Judy Collins singing this:

Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half crazy
But that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
That you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.

And Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.

Now Suzanne takes your hand
And she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers
From Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey
On our lady of the harbour
And she shows you where to look
Among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed
There are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love
And they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that you can trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.

[jba]

another dylan contender:

[ QUOTE ]

Ain't it just like the night to play tricks when you're tryin' to be so quiet?
We sit here stranded, though we're all doin' our best to deny it
And Louise holds a handful of rain, temptin' you to defy it
Lights flicker from the opposite loft
In this room the heat pipes just cough
The country music station plays soft
But there's nothing, really nothing to turn off
Just Louise and her lover so entwined
And these visions of Johanna that conquer my mind


In the empty lot where the ladies play blindman's bluff with the key chain
And the all-night girls they whisper of escapades out on the "D" train
We can hear the night watchman click his flashlight
Ask himself if it's him or them that's really insane
Louise, she's all right, she's just near
She's delicate and seems like the mirror
But she just makes it all too concise and too clear
That Johanna's not here
The ghost of 'lectricity howls in the bones of her face
Where these visions of Johanna have now taken my place


Now, little boy lost, he takes himself so seriously
He brags of his misery, he likes to live dangerously
And when bringing her name up
He speaks of a farewell kiss to me
He's sure got a lotta gall to be so useless and all
Muttering small talk at the wall while I'm in the hall
How can I explain?
Oh, it's so hard to get on
And these visions of Johanna, they kept me up past the dawn


Inside the museums, Infinity goes up on trial
Voices echo this is what salvation must be like after a while
But Mona Lisa musta had the highway blues
You can tell by the way she smiles
See the primitive wallflower freeze
When the jelly-faced women all sneeze
Hear the one with the mustache say, "Jeeze
I can't find my knees"
Oh, jewels and binoculars hang from the head of the mule
But these visions of Johanna, they make it all seem so cruel


The peddler now speaks to the countess who's pretending to care for him
Sayin', "Name me someone that's not a parasite and I'll go out and say a prayer for him"
But like Louise always says
"Ya can't look at much, can ya man?"
As she, herself, prepares for him
And Madonna, she still has not showed
We see this empty cage now corrode
Where her cape of the stage once had flowed
The fiddler, he now steps to the road
He writes ev'rything's been returned which was owed
On the back of the fish truck that loads
While my conscience explodes
The harmonicas play the skeleton keys and the rain
And these visions of Johanna are now all that remain


[/ QUOTE ]

[pheasant tail (no 18)]

Bob was once asked in an interview if he thought that he was the greatest ever and , without hesitation, he replied "no, TVZ is"

[pheasant tail (no 18)]

Argument about best Dylan song ever deserves its own thread.

[2planka]

Can't argue against Dylan, but I'm surprised no one has mentioned Zevon yet.

Excitable Boy
Well, he went down to dinner in his Sunday best
Excitable boy, they all said
And he rubbed the pot roast all over his chest
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy

He took in the four a.m. show at the Clark
Excitable boy, they all said
And he bit the usherette's leg in the dark
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy

He took little Susie to the Junior Prom
Excitable boy, they all said
and he raped her and killed her, then he took her home
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy
After ten long years they let him out of the Home
Excitable boy, they all said
And he dug up her grave and built a cage with her bones
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy
----------------------------------------------------------

I'm also a big fan of Mike Patton

A Small Victory (Faith No More)
A hierarhcy
Spread out on the nightstand
The spirit of team
Salvation is another chance
A sore loser
Yelling with my mouth shut


A cracking portrait
The fondling of trophies
The null of losing
Can you afford that luxury? A sore winner
But I'll just keep my mouth shut


It shouldn't bother me
But it does


The small victories
The cankers and medallions
The little nothings
They keep me thinking that someday
I might beat you
But I'll just keep my mouth shut


It shouldn't bother me
But it does


IF I SPEAK AT ONE CONSTANT VOLUME
AT ONE CONSTANT PITCH
AT ONE CONSONANT RHYTHM RIGHT INTO YOUR EAR,
YOU STILL WON'T HEAR, YOU STILL WON'T HEAR

[youtalkfunny]

Anyone mention Billy Joel yet?

How about Lennon/McCartney?

[samjjones]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone mention Billy Joel yet?

How about Lennon/McCartney?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd venture to say "Yesterday" is probably the best pop song ever written.

[pc in NM]

[ QUOTE ]
Since we seem to be on a music theme lately...

<font color="brown">Who in your opinion is the greatest song writer? </font>

Please provide an example.

[/ QUOTE ]

Musically and lyrically, "Over the Rainbow" is the greatest...

Listen to the story (Hear Kapilow Discuss "Over the Rainbow") (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4499286) at this link

I think you'll agree that there is more to this song than you had ever imagined previously....

[KaneKungFu123]

holiday in cambodia

i forgot his name.

[Zeno]

Someone bet me to John Prime. He is in the top ten in my book.

Paul Simon is no slouch nor is Neil Young. Or Stills/Nash

How about some real old stuff - Cole Porter for example.

-Zeno

Edit: Forgot to add Jerry Jeff Walker and Kris Kerkerstoffferson (Sp?)

[cnfuzzd]

Some that deserve mentioning

zeno mentioned the csny combo, which is excellent

Crosby, Stills, Nash &amp; Young - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes Lyrics

It's getting to the point
Where I'm no fun anymore
I am sorry
Sometimes it hurts so badly
I must cry out loud
I am lonely
I am yours, you are mine
You are what you are
And you make it hard -

Remember what we've said and done and felt
about each other
Oh babe, have mercy
Don't let the past remind us of what we are not now
I am not dreaming.
I am yours, you are mine
You are what you are
And you make it hard-

Tearing yourself away from me now
You are free and I am crying
This does not mean I don't love you
I do, that's forever, yes and for always
I am yours, you are mine
You are what you are
And you make it hard-

Something inside is telling me that
I've got your secret. Are you still listening?
Fear is the lock, and laughter the key to your heart
And I love you.

I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
And you make it hard-
And you make it hard-

Friday evening, Sunday in the afternoon
What have you got to lose?
Tuesday mornin', please be gone I'm tired of you.
What have you got to lose?
Can I tell it like it is? Help me I'm sufferin'
Listen to me baby-Help me I'm dyin'
It's my heart that's a sufferin', it's a dyin'
That's what I have to lose
I've got an answer
I'm going to fly away
What have I got to lose?
Will you come see me
Thursdays and Saturdays?
What have you got to lose?

Chestnut brown canary
Ruby throated sparrow
Sing a song don't be long
Thrill me to the marrow
Voices of the angels ring around the moonlight
Asking me, said she so free
How can you catch the sparrow?
Lacy, lilting, lady, losing love, lamenting

Change my life, make it right
Be my lady.
Doo doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo

At the end of the Suite, Stephen Stills sings the following
Spanish lines:

Que linda me la traiga Cuba,
la reina de la Mar Caribe.
Cielo sol no tiene sangreahi,
y que triste que no puedo vaya,
Oh va, oh va, va.

Loosely translated that is:

How happy it makes me to think of Cuba,
the smiles of the Caribbean Sea,
Sunny sky has no blood, and how sad that
I'm not able to go
Oh go, oh go go

this is probably the most cliche csny song, but its still quite excellent. I would also recommend Helplessly Hoping and Sugar mountain.

I cant believe with all the druggies in here no one has come up with this one yet..

"Echoes"

Overhead the albatross hangs motionless upon the air
And deep beneath the rolling waves in labyrinths of coral caves
The echo of a distant tide
Comes willowing across the sand
And everything is green and submarine
And no one showed us to the land
And no one knows the wheres or whys
But something stirs and
Something tries
And starts to climb towards the light
Strangers passing in the street
By chance two separate glances meet
And I am you and what I see is me
And do I take you by the hand
And lead you through the land
And help me understand the best I can
And no one calls us to the land
And no one forces down our eyes
And no one speaks
And no one tries
And no one flies around the sun
Cloudless every day you fall
Upon my waking eyes
Inviting and inciting me to rise
And through the window in the wall
Comes streamin in on sunlight wings
A million bright ambassadors of morning
And no one sings me lullabies
And no one makes me close my eyes
So I throw the windows wide
And call to you across the sky.


Pink floyd, specificaly when it was Rogers and Gilmore, wrote some of the best lyrics of their time. Further proof

"Shine On You Crazy Diamond (I-V)"

Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom,
blown on the steel breeze.
Come on you target for faraway laughter,
come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome with random precision,
rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions,
come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!


peace

john nickle

[CallMeIshmael]

[ QUOTE ]
Pink floyd, specificaly when it was Rogers and Gilmore, wrote some of the best lyrics of their time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed.

I have always been quite in love with the fletcher memorial home (and yes... I am well aware that this was off of TFC!)

[wuwei]

Richard Thompson certainly deserves mention... I don't know of anyone who ranks higher when you combine song writing talents and mastery of their instrument (guitar, in this case).

--------------

Oh says Red Molly to James "That's a fine motorbike.
A girl could feel special on any such like"
Says James to Red Molly "My hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952.
And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme"
And he pulled her on behind and down to Boxhill they did ride

Oh says James to Red Molly "Here's a ring for your right hand
But I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man.
For I've fought with the law since I was seventeen,
I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine.
Now I'm 21 years, I might make 22
And I don't mind dying, but for the love of you.
And if fate should break my stride
Then I'll give you my Vincent to ride"

"Come down, come down, Red Molly" called Sergeant McRae
"For they've taken young James Adie for armed robbery.
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside.
Oh come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside"
When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left
He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
But he smiled to see her cry
He said "I'll give you my Vincent to ride"

Says James "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a 52 Vincent and a red headed girl.
Now Nortons and Indians and Greeves won't do,
Ah, they don't have a soul like a Vincent 52"
Oh he reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys
Said "I've got no further use for these.
I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swooping down from heaven to carry me home"
And he gave her one last kiss and died
And he gave her his Vincent to ride.

[gorie]

SURFIN' BIRD
(Frazier - White - Harris - Wilson)
THE TRASHMEN (GARRETT 4002, 1963)

A-well-a everybody's heard about the bird
B-b-b-bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a don't you know about the bird?
Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a...

A-well-a everybody's heard about the bird
Bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a don't you know about the bird?
Well, everybody's talking about the bird!
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird...

Surfin' bird
Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb... [retching noises]... aaah!

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow

Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-oom-oom-oom
Oom-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-a-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow
Papa-oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow
Oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow
Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow
Well don't you know about the bird?
Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word

Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
[repeat to fade]

[pryor15]

ira gershwin should absolutely be in this discussion:

Even though the wind is roaring
And the torrent keeps on pouring,
Somewhere you can always hear a robin singing.
He knows, though the skies are cloudy,
Soon the sunshine will say "Howdy";
He has always found it so.
Dear, let's learn from him-
Let's go on

Refrain 1

Singing, singing in the rain.
Don't mind the patte on the windowpane;
For if the robin sings on, so can we.
You see, the thing to do is
Dry that tear up - Smile and cheer up,
There's a rainbow overdue;
Why let a rainstorm be a Waterloo?
Just cuddle close and we'll go
Helter-skelter to our shelter,
Singing in the rain.

Verse 2

I was frightened for a minute;
But if you've a song, begin it-
I'll be brave and try to string along with you, dear.
And if I'm no Tetrazzini
Singing tunes by G. Puccini
Still, I'll do my best, I know,
And I promise that
I'll go on

Refrain 2

Singing, singing in the rain,
Nor mind the pitter-patter on the pane;
For if the robin sings on, so can we.
With you beside me, I'll be
Ever cheerful, never tearful.
You will see, I'll not complain;
I'll show the bird his song is not in vain.
Just hold me tight and we'll go
Hurry-scurry, not a worry,
Singing in the rain.


how willie nelson hasn't been mentioned yet is beyond me, but here's always on my mind.

Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
And maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have

If I made you feel second best
Girl I'm sorry I was blind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind

And maybe I didn't hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
And I guess I never told you
I'm so happy that you're mine

Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind

Tell me,
Tell me that your sweet love hasn't died
Give me, give me
One more chance to keep you satisfied
I'll keep you satisfied

[blatz]

Amazing choice. There's only 1 other song i like by him (I guess his wife sings it, I Wanna See the Bright Lights Tonight), but those two are absolutely awesome. Reading the lyrics, which I love, don't do it, though. He really delivers the song with his voice.

Surprized nobody has mentioned Tom Waits, hard to choose one example, but with him it's delivery too, his lyrics don't look as good on paper, but he fills the story in when he sings.

Invitation to the Blues

Well she's up against the register with an apron and a spatula,
Yesterday's deliveries, tickets for the bachelors
She's a moving violation from her conk down to her shoes,
Well, it's just an invitation to the blues

And you feel just like Cagney, she looks like Rita Hayworth
At the counter of the Schwab's drugstore
You wonder if she might be single, she's a loner and likes to mingle
Got to be patient, try and pick up a clue

She said "How you gonna like 'em, over medium or scrambled?",
You say "Anyway's the only way", be careful not to gamble
On a guy with a suitcase and a ticket getting out of here
It's a tired bus station and an old pair of shoes
This ain't nothing but an invitation to the blues

But you can't take your eyes off her, get another cup of java,
It's just the way she pours it for you, joking with the customers
Mercy mercy, Mr. Percy, there ain't nothing back in Jersey
But a broken-down jalopy of a man I left behind
And the dream that I was chasing, and a battle with booze
And an open invitation to the blues

But she used to have a sugar daddy and a candy-apple Caddy,
And a bank account and everything, accustomed to the finer things
He probably left her for a socialite, and he didn't 'cept at night,
And then he's drunk and never even told her that her cared
So they took the registration, and the car-keys and her shoes
And left her with an invitation to the blues

'Cause there's a Continental Trailways leaving local bus tonight, good evening
You can have my seat, I'm sticking round here for a while
Get me a room at the Squire, the filling station's hiring,
And I can eat here every night, what the hell have I got to lose?
Got a crazy sensation, go or stay? now I gotta choose,
And I'll accept your invitation to the blues

If by Greatest you mean most successful I think Paul McCartney still holds that title in the Guinness Book of World Records. [Bach sure has lasted the test of time.]

[augie00]

Paul McCartney/John Lennon - Yesterday

Everyone knows the words, ya'll don't need lyrics.

[blatz]

I take my choice back...i was drunk and read the topic as best singer/songwriter which is a totally different thing.

[craig r]

Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys.

craig

[2planka]

[ QUOTE ]
holiday in cambodia

i forgot his name.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys.

Doh... someone beat me to it.

Let's lynch the landlord is a good one, as is Too drunk to [censored].

[jba]

[ QUOTE ]
Paul McCartney/John Lennon - Yesterday

Everyone knows the words, ya'll don't need lyrics.

[/ QUOTE ]

solid