Amazing Lyricists

Oh my gosh. How could I forget Dave McPherson?!

I met this bloke today, and he looked at me in a very strange way
I did nothing, but smile politely.
He st-st-stuttered over words he was trying to say.
He gave me the evil eye, revealed the fangs behind his smile, oh my,
A yellow grin never shone so wicked.

I wondered, what is his problem?
Is it my stupid hat or my annoying accent?
I know some people feel that way, but this guy did not even give me chance.
I thought nothing of it, but then the same thing happened to me the very next weekend.
What could it be?

And this too...

I met this prick today, he laughed at me silently.
It seems there's quite a lot of these. Bitter people, thick as treacle.
Why dont you get it into your thick skull,
The hole in your heart will have to be filled else where.
If its even still worth filling.

I know that you think that you've had it hard
But we've all got problems, fickle problems to deal with.
But they're only problems, problems always have solutions. Easy.
Easy-come-easy-go. Same old songs and a different show's all I know
Or so you think.

Page claim for the legend that is Dave ;D

Billie Joe Armstrong just has the amazing way with words. He puts so much emotion into his lyrics.

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Ring out the bells again
Like we did when spring began
Wake me up when September ends

Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are

As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends

And, he also makes it very easy to understand what he's trying to say, relate to how he feels, and isn't afraid to speak his mind.

I'm the son of rage and love
The Jesus of Suburbia

Shawn Harris (The Matches) is a genius when it comes to writing lyrics. He writes the most brilliant metaphors and similes, just the most beautiful imagery. And though some of his lyrics may seem like nonsense they’re actually very clever. They’re just not very obvious so one’ll have to put some effort into figuring them out at times.

Shrill notes begin the grim violin
then from the silence a violence of sirens orchestrate the score
to which one more corpse is left quiet.
How we become the hollows of drums, the rests between notes, the hollers that never reach throats.
"Friends" in quotes, they're not calling

Please don't give up, dear you,
I'm but the sliver moon sliding through.
When you belong to a song, salty eyes,
you belong.

Do please believe, however naïve.
Let me drag you along by the tongue at the top of your lungs
and belong, salty eyes.
From Salty Eyes.

Maybe a saint is just a dead prick with a good publicist?
Maybe tomorrows statues are insecure without their foes?
Go ask the frog what the scorpion knows.

While you build your mountain but to build a mountain,
I thought you all know, you gotta dig a hole.
Thought everybody knows we're digging holes
in solemn marble roads.

And maybe ethanol is methadone for oil addiction?
Maybe we'll all go green in desert shades of camouflage?
Go ask the bloodhounds did they find the mirage.
From To Build A Mountain

Justin Pierre (Motion City Soundtrack) is an amazing lyricists. He’s great at making rhymes and alliterations and he just has this unconventional writing style that I love.

Hello there, how ya doin'? I've got all these thoughts just floating through my brain.
They bump and they collide and cause a flurry of confusion and it's
gettin' on my nerves.

I try to hold myself together, fighting off this mental weather
when I can. (Sometimes I do.)
But this shit storm's never-ending and the atmospheric pressure's calling for rain.

This is what I've got going on.
This is where I belong tonight.
From Where I Belong

And we feel like rain
when the words all sound the same
in the lifeless corners of this empty frame.
Though we feel let down
by the same old autumn breathing.
Winter’s curse is just around the bend.
With our hands all tied
to the blades of their design
we are armed and ready to commit this crime.
From Feel Like Rain

Mark (The Unseen) writes great lyrics as well. He writes things worth thinking about.

Stumble and fail or reach the sky.
You’ll never know unless you try.
Dealt misery while some are blessed.
Who measures failure, what is successe?
From On The Other Side

Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach) is brilliant as well. He’s good with rhymes and rhythm and more simplistic but spot on metaphors.

I surrender, I know I've been a pretender.
You can have this guilt, this misery, I wear so well.
I wave my flag, I sound the alarm,
somebody stop me before I do any harm.

I surrender, I know I've been a pretender.
I'm living a dead life; I'm staring into the headlights
of a getaway car that'll take me out of my mind tonight.
Crash and burn, S.O.S., somebody help me get out of this mess of a dead life,
I'm burning under the spotlight.
From My Heart is a Fist

Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day etc), of course. After all, the part I picked from BOBD is one major reason I got so interested in psychology. I think he’s just talented at writing about symptoms in a subtle way. If you’re into psychology you could pretty much make diagnoses based on some of the lyrics and if you don’t know much about it you’ll see the lyrics differently but they’ll still make sense and get the same message across, just on another level/in another way. That’s talented, in my opinion.

I read the graffiti in the bathroom stall,
like the holy scriptures of a shopping mall,
and so it seemed to confess.
It didn't say much but it only confirmed
that the centre of the earth is the end of the world.
And I could really care less.
From Jesus of Suburbia, II City of the Damned.

I'm walking down the line
that divides me somewhere in my mind
on the borderline of the edge
and where I walk alone.
Read between the lines of what's fucked up
and everything's alright.
Check my vital signs to know I'm still alive
and I walk alone.
From Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

And even though this post is long I'll be back with more later. :XD

Ryan Ross
A daydream spills from my corked head
And breaks free of my wooden neck
Left to nod over sleeping waves

Like bobbing bait for bathing cod
Floating flocks of candled swans
Slowly drift across wax ponds
:cheese:

And of course Billy Corgan
Last chance to make believe in always and all it seems
Train wrecks hide underneath your umbrella
Set the frame destiny on this first name soliloquy
Tired symphonies play downward.
>_>
Those are some of my favorite bits but those two make me want to kill myself because I'll never be able to write anything like that.

oh um...

Gerard Way

We could be perfect one last night
And die like star-crossed lovers when we fight
And we can settle this affair
If you would shed your yellow take my hand
And then we'll solve the mystery of laceration gravity
This riddle of revenge please understand it has to be this way

Stand up fucking tall
Don't let them see your back
And take my fucking hand
And never be afraid again

and Frank Iero

Lyrics in my avatar. XD

Billie Joe Armstrong. That man is one of the best modern songwriters around (in my opinion). Particularly the lyrics on American Idiot - holy shit, the way that man can twist words is amazing. Some lyrics you think "Oh yeah, it means that" but then it has an entirely deeper meaning that you never could have thought of straight away.

Jesus of Suburbia is a masterpiece.

Joe Strummer. He can have light hearted or deep, questioning and frightening lyrics. They can have humour or they can't. Everything about his lyrics makes me want to jump and fight. He wasn't preachy at all - he was saying what he said for a reason.

Bob Dylan would have to be probably the best songwriter of all time. Even if you don't like his music, c'mon, those lyrics are amazing. They tell stories or are simply beautiful poems; I'll never understand how he could do it. He could say things which unbelieveable subtlety. A lot of lyricists say "The tears ran down my face" but Bob Dylan could say it with a powerful metaphor that was just... argh.

I been meek And hard like an oak
I seen pretty people disappear like smoke.
Friends will arrive, friends will disappear,
If you want me, honey baby,
I'll be here.

Like your smile And your fingertips
Like the way that you move your lips.
I like the cool way you look at me,
Everything about you is bringing me
Misery.

wiL Francis
This nightmare won't last long,
Are you scared to sing this song?
I'm right there,
By your side,
Tonight we've got a chance

It's all just a bad dream now

I keep forgetting amazing talent that deserves to be mentioned!

Damien Rice

There's still a little bit of your taste
In my mouth
There's still a litle bit of you laced
With my doubt
It's still a little hard to say
..what's going on

There's still a little bit of your ghost
Your weakness
There's still a little bit of your face
I haven't kissed
You step a little closer each day
And I can't say what's going on

Stones taught me to fly
Love, it taught me to lie
Life, it taught me to die
So it's not hard to fall
when you float like a cannonball

Ferosha Coutura:

Oh, and OF COURSE, William Beckett.
Why I didn't mention him before, I have no idea.

Unlike the way you've become "city feature", you'd love to let them rip you apart until you feel clean, but when it's over he won't take back what is left.
I can see how the speed, and the sting, and the wings of the plane home make you nervous.
Oh, Mr. Shoddy Content, swept all your dignity under the covers, she'll be lying, keeping secrets, keeping quiet.
Now you understand what it's like to dive.
Take it back, taken back, she forgets you.
Now she pleads "Forgive me again, it's the last time I will..."

Never pass of your guilt lines, just wear them like a noose on your neck, I'll help you keep it tied tight.
You're the worst actor that I've ever seen but if this script called for liars, you'd play the lead.

Favourite lines from a TAI song ever. I don't care if they hardly even acknowledge that song/album's existance anymore, it will still always be one of my favourites.

And of course, other various lines.

Hold you head high, heavy heart.

Take the pain out of love and love won't exist.

The only thing worse for you than you is me.
The only thing worse for you than you is me.
The life that I've chosen to live will take your heart and swallow it
The only thing worse for you than you is to make you wait for me.
And that's why we will never meet.

With all the people we need to love and hate,
Everybody makes the same mistakes
Divided by these walls,
Together we are lost

There's a fine line between what is justified or just obscene.

I'm running.
Our time is almost, our time is almost here.
This isn't like us anyways.
Our time is almost here.

Yes, that man is my hero.

Agreed.

And I'd also go with Ryan Ross, Folkin Around
Allow me to exaggerate a memory or two
Where summer's lasted longer than
Longer than we do
When nothing really mattered
Except for me to be with you
But in time we all forgot and
We all grew

Your melody sounds as sweet
As the first time it was sung
With a little bit more character for show
And by the time your father's heard
Of all the wrong you've done
Then I'm putting out the lantern
Find your own way back home

Well, Lee Ann Womack obviously didn't write the song I Hope You Dance, but that song has the most mesmerizing lyrics to me (atm). I'm not sure why...but it's such a good song.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances but they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice the sit it out or dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance

:cute: I HOPE YOU STILL FEEL SMALL WHEN YOU STAND BESIDE THE OCEEEEEEEEAN

I'd have to go with Conor Oberst on this one.
The man's lyrical prowess is tough to match.

But once you knew a girl and you named her Lover,
And danced with her in kitchens through the greenest summers
But autumn came, she disappeared,
You can't remember where she said she was going to
But you know that she's gone, because she left you a song, that you don't wanna sing

Also, Jack White is pretty amazing.

Well, Americans:
What, nothin' better to do?
Why don't you kick yourself out?
You're an immigrant too.

Who's usin' who?
What should we do?
Well you can't be a pimp and a prostitute too.

I could honestly full up this post with countless AFI and Blaqk Audio songs, but in the interests of no spamming, I shall just say how abolsutely amazing Davey Havok is as a lyricist.

My Signature obviously. :)

AFI - Silver and Cold
Your sins into me
Oh, my beautiful one
Your sins into me
As a rapturous voice escapes, I will tremble a prayer
And I'll beg for forgiveness
(Your sins into me) Your sins into...
(Your sins into me) Your sins into me
Oh, my beautiful one

AFI - Girls Not Grey
(What follows) me as the whitest lace of light
(Will swallow whole) just begs to be imbrued?
(What follows) has lead me to this place
where I belong, with all erased
What follows

And I don't think he's been mentioned on here yet but, Stephen Christian from Anberlin is a brilliant writer/singer/lyricist. He is just an amazing talent, there is no question.

ANBERLIN - Godspeed
Burning down neverland (scatter the ashes)
White lines black tar the matches
Is this another death by misadventure
Tell me what you got, what you really got (hey hey!)
We’ll rest in our graves,
Lexington course your veins
Sleepers can't just wake the dead
When needles and lovers collapse on guilty beds

ANBERLIN - Alexithymia :)
Don't try to wake me up
Even if the sun really does come out tomorrow
Don't believe anything you say
Anymore, in the morn, in the morning
Bricks to this old house are breaking
Steel would have weathered but now forlorning
It's alarming how loud the silence screams
No warn, no warn, no warning
Addictions fill the table where the family used to sit
And conversate
Conversate to the sounds
To the sounds of a record player
With it's jumping needle and the lights that grow dim over time

And who can forget the breath taking Adam Lazzara.

TAKING BACK SUNDAY - New American Classic
"We've got to get better," I said, "It's all in your head."
We could live through these letters or forget it all together
See the months they don't matter it's the days I can't take
When the hours move to minutes and I'm seconds away

Just ask the question come untie the knot
Say you won't care, say you won't care
Retrace the steps as if we forgot
Say you won't care, say you won't care
Try to avoid it but there's not a doubt
And there's one thing I can do nothing about.

Billy Corgan:
"... Pink ribbon scars that never forget,
I've tried so hard to cleanse these regrets.
My angel wings are bruised and restrained,
My belly stings..."

Richey Edwards:
"Life is lead weights, pendulum died
Pure or lost, spectator or crucified
Recognised truth acedia's blackest hole
Junkies winos whores the nation's moral suicide...

Serj Tankian.

Superstition taking all of us for a ride
Mines overtaken by the signs of the right
The bombs are falling overhead with no sight
While you are talking all detached so tell us

Where you're going to the bottom
Do you hear us, we are rotting
We're going down in a spiral to the ground
No-one, no-one's gonna save us now

PETER WENTZ.
Please put the doctor on the phone, cuz I'm not making any sense.
Blame everyone but me for this mess.
But my back has been breaking from this heavy heart.
We never seemed so far.
I'm hopelessly hopeful, you're just hopeless enough.
But we never had it, at all.
---
Things aren't the same anymore.
Some nights it gets so bad that I almost pick up the phone.

Anthony Kiedis
I thought about it and I brought it out
I'm motivated by the lack of doubt
I'm consecrated but I'm not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter

Right on the verge just one more dose
I'm traveling from coast to coast
My theory isn't perfect but it's close
I'm almost there why should I care
My heart is hurting when I share
Someone open up and let it show

I think anyone who can write meaningful lyrics and that people can relate to is amazing. Like, I've tried to write lyrics or just a meaningful poem or something and I miserably fail...
But I must say that my favorite lyricists are Gerard Way, M. Shadows, and Billie Joe Armstrong. They are amazing.

Dani Filth; the next Shakespeare!! at least before he sold out.

This wintry eve when the snow glistens deep
And sharpened turrets wed the jewelless skies
I shrug off the shroud of preternatural sleep
Enbroided by these words Malaresia scribed....

"Beauty slept and angels wept
For Her immortal soul
In this repose, all evil chose
To claim her for their very own"

Personal favorites of mine:

Andrew McMahon, Something Corporate/Jack's Mannequin

"You'll never scream so loud as I wanna scream with you."
"You don't do it on purpose, but you make me shake."
"I swear to God this mix could sink the sun, but it was you I was thinking of."

Alex Gaskarth, All Time Low

"She gets want she wants and she breaks what she gets / Get out while you can or she'll tear you to pieces."
"I'm sick and tired of writing songs about you."
"I guess I'll go home now."

William Beckett, The Academy Is...

"Would you believe me if I said I didn't need you / 'Cause I wouldn't believe you if you said the same to me."
"Unkempt and overcaffeinated, I walked the forty steps to the moon...I would follow you anywhere."
"Promise yourself that this isn't all we've got."

Bryce Avary, The Rocket Summer

"I am not into the idea of being without you / And I, I am not into the idea of living without you / No, this won't be a sad song."

Brian Molko.
Special Needs;

Remember me when you're the one who's silver screened
Remember me when you're the one you always dreamed
Remember me when whenever noses start to bleed
Remember me special needs

Just 19 and sucker's dream
I guess I thought you had the flavor
Just 19 and dream obscene
With six months off for bad behavior

Remember me when you clinch your movie deal
Think of me stuck in my chair that has four wheels
Remember me through flash photography and screams
Remember me special dreams

Ryan Ross. Duh.
I missed your skin when you were East/You clicked your heels and wished for me.

Rufus Wainwright.
All these poses of classical torture/Ruined my mind like a snake in the orchard.
I did go from wanting to be someone now/I'm drunk and wearing flip-flops on fifth avenue.

Pete Wentz.
Cross my heart and hope to die splinter from the headboard in my eye.
Photo-proofed kisses I remember so well.

Hum hallelujah/just off the key of reason.
I thought I loved you/it was just how you looked in the light.
A teenage vow in a parking lot/'til tonight do us part.
I sing the blues and swallow them, too.

Mort Dixon.
He wrote "Bye Bye Blackbird".