Pick three lyricists . . .

[Charlie Bernstein]

Gerry Goffin - he was often the lyricist on his collaborations with wife Carole King
Brian Wilson
Hal David

Don't know Hal. I'll check him out. . . . Oh! He's Burt's buddy. Always wondered whether Burt wrote the words, too. Now I know. Thanks!

That reminds me. I started learning "Mexican Divorce" a while back and got sidetracked. Good reminder.

 

[brookdalebill]

"Two Princes" by Spin Doctors

I'll spare you all posting those horrible painful lyrics.

Find them on the Googles if you dare

I actually like that one!


The, uh, lyrics on Good Morning Starshine, from Hair, by Oliver are particularly heinous, IMO.
The chorus is the worst part.
I actually like the melody.
Truly hurl-worthy!

 

[tah1962]

Dan Fogelberg
Jackson Browne
Duncan Sheik

 

[RodeoTex]

I assume these people write most of their own stuff:

Brad Paisley
Kevin Fowler
James McMurtry

 

[brookdalebill]

Robert Hunter
Lyle Lovett
Freddy Powers

 

[kbold]

These 3 have already been mentioned (but not together).

Leonard Cohen ('cause he's the master)
Elvis Costello (clever lyrics and wordplay)
Nick Cave (great storyteller)

But I want to cheat and have 4: so, also James Blunt

 

[brookdalebill]

John Martyn
Cole Porter
Cindy Walker

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I assume these people write most of their own stuff:

Brad Paisley
Kevin Fowler
James McMurtry

Glad to see McMurtry show up. He sets a high mark!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Robert Hunter
Lyle Lovett
Freddy Powers

Bob's The Man. Who else would come up with:

Lost my boots in transit, baby, pile of smokin' leather,
nailed a retread to my feet, and prayed for better weather.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

John Martyn
Cole Porter
Cindy Walker

Cole had it all.

Didn't know John, so I Googled some of his videos. Really couldn't make out many of the words, but any D-55 slinger is A-OK in my book.

Didn't recognize Cindy's name, but we all know You Don't Know Me. Great tune. But what knocked me out was one I'd never heard: Take Me In Your Arms (And Hold Me). What a scorcher!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Robert Hunter
Lyle Lovett
Freddy Powers

Had to Google Freddy. Great stuff. Any friend of Merle . . . .

 

[brookdalebill]

Joni Mitchell
Kacey Musgraves
Jann Arden

 

[brookdalebill]

J.D, Souther
Warren Zevon
Smokey Robinson

 

[Ecadad]

I would have to have to separate groups.

For personal meaningful songs:

• Bob Dylan
• Bruce Springsteen
• Paul Simon

For pop songs:

• Paul McCartney
• Taylor Swift
• Max Martin

 

[P Thought]

I wouldn't trouble them with my lyrics unless they asked to see them, but I'd like to talk with them about their songs. Three women:

--Lucinda Williams. I love her songs. We're the same age. Her dad was a poet whom I'd heard of before, and he died from dementia (reflected in her songs) at about the same time my dad did.

--Dolly Parton. Man, she's written a lot of songs. I saw her just this morning on the old Porter Wagoner Show.

--Iris Dement. I remember her from A Prairie Home Companion. She seems to be a down-to-earth person, and her songs are quirky and funny sometimes.

Among men my three chooses would be Guy Clark, Paul Simon, and John Prine.

 

[Mark E Rhodes]

Johnny Mercer
Robbie Robertson
Willie Nelson

(Lot of other favorites, including Randy Newman and Leonard Cohen, but these are my three as of right now.)