Members Okieslims Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 I am looking to start getting serious with my lyrics. As my playing ability increases, I find that I am just throwing meaningless collections of words in place over my music and wasting it. So I'm taking a break and going to approach writing from a completely different mind set. I'm starting to study the lyrics of some of the greatest writers. I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions for good but little known writers.. I'm going through some late scott walker stuff and I've connected with a few Daniel Johnston pieces... I want more of these types of writers that had a completely unique approach to writing... any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fingerpicker Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 You could spend months just on Dylan. Check out Desolation Row and Visions of Johanna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MDR Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 You can't go wrong by reading. Prose or poetry, fiction or non, it's all a huge resource. My attitude is that I learn from everything that I read (even if it's how not to write). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members speierg Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 Okie, you got me thinking with this question. I had a few names rattling around in my head, but then I decided to appeal to the allmighty Google. The following list was one (of several) that pulled up. I will BOLD the names of those that I have enjoyed personally as wonderful songwriters. Jackson Browne - I love the I'm Alive CD David Byrne (Talking Heads) Captain Beefheart Johnny Cash Nick Cave Kurt Cobain Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) Leonard Cohen Alice Cooper Elvis Costello Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips) Ian Curtis (Joy Division) Ray Davies (The Kinks) Mike Doughty (Soul Coughing) Nick Drake Drive-by Truckers (Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, Jason Isbell) Bob Dylan Steve Earle Richey Edwards (Manic Street Preachers) Mark Eitzel (American Music Club) Donald Fagan (Steely Dan) Neil Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House) John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival) John Hiatt Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead) Freedy Johnston Carole King Lemmy (Motorhead) John Lennon (The Beatles, solo) Stephen Malkmus (Pavement) Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel) Aimee Mann Barbara Manning Bob Marley Curtis Mayfield (The Impressions, solo) Paul McCartney (The Beatles, solo) Stephen Merritt (Magnetic Fields, 6ths, etc) Joni Mitchell Morrissey (The Smiths, solo) Jim Morrison (The Doors) Van Morrison Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) Randy Newman Andy Partridge (XTC) John Prine Lou Reed (The Velvet Underground, solo) Robbie Robertson (The Band) Smokey Robinson Ron Sexsmith Paul Simon Elliott Smith Patti Smith Bruce Springsteen - some of his earlier lyrics are quite good Stuart Staples (Tindersticks) Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) - for the far out, hard to understand stuff Sly Stone Richard Thompson - here's one that isn't that well known...BRILLIANT guitar player too...check out "Mirror Blue"...GREAT CD IMHO Pete Townshend (The Who) Jeff Tweedy (Uncle Tupelo, Wilco) Ronnie Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd) Tom Verlaine (Television) Tom Waits Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) Paul Westerberg (The Replacements) Lucinda Williams Stevie Wonder Thom Yorke (Radiohead) Neil Young Warren Zevon Many of the artists on the list I have listened to and enjoyed, but have not really studied their music as great songwriters per se. Here are some others that I have enjoyed tremendously over the years: David Wilcox Glen Phillips (of Toad the Wet Sprocket fame) Edwin McCain Sting - also an excllent musician/arranger Marc Cohn Shawn Colvin OK...that's about all my brain can produce at the moment. Many of these are more mainstream than you may have been asking for, but perhaps this will prime the pump and get others to throw some names out for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rhino55 Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 good question... John PrineSteve EarlKris KristoffersonLucinda WilliamsJohn MartynLowell GeorgeIan MooreConor OberstTaj MahalBenjamin Gibbard Wayne Coyne This might be too in the mainstream radar. Let me know cause I could go more obscure if you'd like EDIT: I was trying not to put in repeats but since I already did I'll second Jason Isbell, Jeff Tweedy, Robbie Robertson, and Carol King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chicken Monkey Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 Prolly not obscure enough for you, but Randy Newman was unusual in that he avoided love as a song topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 I don' think I saw these listed yet: Gillian WelchGram ParsonsSamuel Bean (aka Iron & Wine)Andrew BirdAndy Pratt Guy ClarkRory GallagherTownes Van ZandtMarty Robbins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 Chuck Berry ... he really can tell a story with his lyrics. I'd also go back and carefully listen to those songs that turned you on to music in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matximus Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 I am looking to start getting serious with my lyrics. As my playing ability increases, I find that I am just throwing meaningless collections of words in place over my music and wasting it. So I'm taking a break and going to approach writing from a completely different mind set.I'm starting to study the lyrics of some of the greatest writers. I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions for good but little known writers.. I'm going through some late scott walker stuff and I've connected with a few Daniel Johnston pieces... I want more of these types of writers that had a completely unique approach to writing...any suggestions? Great Wordsmith Songwriters who aren't as famous as they should be: Stephen Merrit of Magnetic Fields. Rhett Miller of Old 97's Jill Sobule (of I kissed a Girl Fame) Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne Great Lyric Writers that are Justly Famous Yet Deserving Further Study Eminem (genius at slanting Rhymes)Jeff Tweedy (American Aquarium drinker? Yikes)Leonard Cohen Bernie Taupin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A Happy Crowd Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 Great call on Jarvis Cocker. I always forget about him when I think of good lyricists, but he's really quite clever. They may not be too obscure, but I would add Robert Smith (the Cure), David Bazan (Pedro the Lion), and the guy from Frightened Rabbit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matximus Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 And just for fun - here's a list of fabulously (and fairly) bad Lyricists that never-the-less write awesome songs. There are important lessons here too in their throw-it-at-the-wall-and-see-what sticks approach. Also shows that great songs don't need great lyrics. Mark Bolan, T. Rex. Noel Gallagher, OasisBilly Corgan, Smashing PumpkinsLuke Steele, Sleepy JacksonRufus Wainright J. Mascis, Dinosaur Jr. Chris Martin, Coldplay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted July 8, 2009 Moderators Share Posted July 8, 2009 Chuck Berry ... he really can tell a story with his lyrics.I'd also go back and carefully listen to those songs that turned you on to music in the first place. I'm reading the long list of great writers as I peruse this thread and I'm thinking: Chuck Berry. Everybody forgets how great Chuck Berry's lyrics are. And then... Mr. Stack. You know, dontcha? Fer instance, just a single verse of Nadine. I saw her from the corner when she turned and doubled backAnd started walkin toward a coffee colored cadillacI was pushin through the crowd to get to where shes atAnd I was campaign shouting like a southern diplomat... Nadine! Honey is that you? Coffee colored Cadillac? That's freaking great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dparr Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 Check out Bruce Cockburn. [YOUTUBE]sAcqr3MYMmM[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 Or Berry's "Memphis"...really a great little song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Okieslims Posted July 8, 2009 Author Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 "American aquarium drinker" - I always loved that line. It drums up an image of a tourist drinking from one of those giant fish bowl mixers you get in Hawaii. But the way he says it makes it seem like it's all mixer and no Hawaii. I actually caught myself emulating Tweedy for a spell.. not that that is a bad thing, but it was way way too similar.. I would have been called on it..lol.so I junked 4 really good songs. Thanks for list guys. I'm going to start wading through it. I am just going to immerse myself in lyrics for a while and see if they don't rub off on me. Great Wordsmith Songwriters who aren't as famous as they should be: Stephen Merrit of Magnetic Fields. Rhett Miller of Old 97's Jill Sobule (of I kissed a Girl Fame) Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne Great Lyric Writers that are Justly Famous Yet Deserving Further Study Eminem (genius at slanting Rhymes)Jeff Tweedy (American Aquarium drinker? Yikes)Leonard Cohen Bernie Taupin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Okieslims Posted July 8, 2009 Author Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 Also, I haven't seen Ben Folds mentioned. His lyrics are always good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted July 8, 2009 Moderators Share Posted July 8, 2009 Neil Finn. His Crowded House stuff kills me Hole in the River Theres a hole in the river where my auntie liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyLeft her car by the river left her shoes besideThrough the thorns and the bushes I hope she was... Dreaming of gloryMiles above the mountains and plainsFree at last We were touched by a cold wind, my father and IThe sound of desperate breathing... her fear inside us allShe was coming to see him but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no return Dreaming of gloryMiles above the mountains and plainsFree at last Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Okieslims Posted July 8, 2009 Author Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 Had to start with Blues list.. right away.. I think I am in love with Gillian Welch.. she must be singing about Oklahoma.. we're known for our red clay Brilliant song..I can't believe I have never heard of her. [YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE] Also- Speirg .. Jackson Brown is amazing. Thanks for the suggestions. "These Days" is a song that hits home with me big time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 I came to her late, too, if that's a consolation. I'd heard about her forever, and her her occasionally. I wasn't really drawn to her voice at first but one day I put on one of her albums in Rhapsody and within a couple songs I was totally hooked. She seems really real. How about this: though I've been a big fan of hers for maybeclose to two years now, I think the video above is the first one I've seen by her. I really need to get over to YouTube more. I like the fact she makes her BF work so hard on guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Okieslims Posted July 8, 2009 Author Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 Yeah.. that's the first time I have ever seen a guy put on a capo mid song.. He's covering a lot of ground to thickin up the sound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members oolceeoo Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 Laura Nyro!!!! I love her! Even though she died in 1997, she was amazing! I got a song book of hers and I'm learning "Save The Country". And Gibsom Street with the horns, so powerful!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eddieboston2 Posted July 8, 2009 Members Share Posted July 8, 2009 Josh RitterT.K. Major Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted July 9, 2009 Members Share Posted July 9, 2009 :cop:Sucking up to moderators will not be tolerated! But is nonetheless greatly appreciated. I certainly fit the little known qualification. Why, I tried to look myself up and I don't even have a Wikipedia page. (And don't qualify for one, any way I can think of, not that, you know, I think about that stuff.) Laura Nyro!!!! I love her! Even though she died in 1997, she was amazing! I got a song book of hers and I'm learning "Save The Country". And Gibsom Street with the horns, so powerful!!!! She was a great writer and a unique, flavorful singer. _____________ I wasn't familiar with Josh Ritter, but how can you resist this bio opening (from his Wikipedia page): Ritter was born in Idaho, in 1976, to two neuroscientists. At age 14, after hearing a copy of Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jabney Posted July 9, 2009 Members Share Posted July 9, 2009 The lyrics of the 'Standards' by lyricists such as E.Y. 'Yip' Harburg, Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, etc. are worth studying. And not nearly as old fashioned as you might think. best, john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Okieslims Posted July 9, 2009 Author Members Share Posted July 9, 2009 You know the cool thing about this thread.. I'm getting to know a lot of artists by their lyrics before I hear them. I am looking up lyrics and deciding if I like them.. Thats getting me into some people that I might not have given a chance otherwise.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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