Favorite Rock Lyricists of All Time?

Best answer goes to the answer that is most well-explained.

Mine are:

Bob Dylan's lyrics are powerful and can range from protests to vague stories. He's just a fun guy to listen to, especially combining those lyrics with a folk-rock sort of genre. Dylan can open people's minds to new ideas and concepts with his lyrics.

John Lennon recorded all his thoughts and feelings about the world down on paper, especially during his solo career. Songs like "Imagine" or "Ballad of John and Yoko" or "Give Peace a Chance" really expressed his life and thoughts.

Pete Townshend was a basic lyricist, but he was the mastermind behind the first rock opera. With simple lyrics that flowed together to form a story, along with great music, the rock opera definitely was a success.

Roger Waters's lyrics really make me think. For me, they're hard to understand, but I like it that way. I want to be challenged by unknown concepts. Waters's lyrics are perfect for this.

Favorite Rock Lyricists of All Time?opera.com

Wow! You seem to know a lot about music.

To me there is no easy answer to this question. Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Pete Townsend, and Roger Waters are all amazing lyricists. It depends greatly on what is best to you; a very relative question.

Out of those 4, John Lennon is the best writer as far as I'm concerned. He is not even one of the artists that I have seen in concert, unfortunately. Wrapping inspiring lyrics around the ground-breaking time in the world was/is inspirational to say the least. How do you go from the largest band in the world to representing yourself, naked, in your own thoughts, to the rest of society?

I would love to go on, but I have to get some sleep!

Take care and please keep writing about music.

Favorite Rock Lyricists of All Time?amc theatre opera theater

Chuck Berry
Neil Peart
Robert Plant's voice was just so great, and some of his lyrics were very creative. Page wrote a lot of them, but Plant was a great singer.

Geddy Lee's voice also went along well with the sound of his voice, and Neil Peart's Lyrics were awesome. some of the best songs ever were made because of those lyrics and that voice.
Jim Nabors.
Besides the one's you said, how about Freddie Mercury? I like his lyrics and his voice a lot, and that's more than I can say for Bob Dylan.

Anthony Kiedis can write a good song. Listen to the lyrics of Under the Bridge. Awesome........
Fish - former singer for Marillion, solo since '88

He can lyrically paint a picture or set a mood like no other. I would recommend starting with "Misplaced Childhood". Check out the lyrics online and judge for yourslef. Also check out his Myspace page. His blogs are frequent and sometimes lengthy, but very engrossing.
My personal favorite is Trent Reznor. He puts so much of himself into his lyrics that it hits that much harder when you can relate, because it's like someone saying the things in your head better than you can relay them yourself ...

... or at least, that's how I see it.
Damn you just stole my idea :)

John Lennon

Mister Townsend

Rodger Waters.
John Lennon - overall.

Then comes : Roger Waters and Syd Barret from Pink Floyd

Axl Rose from Guns 'n' Roses

Scott Stapp from Creed

and Bob Dylan maybe...
Neil Fallon of Clutch
I will choose these lyrics:

"Its my live" and "Have a nice day" by Bon Jovi

"Rock you like a Huricane", "Wind of change" and many more by Scorpions

"With or without you" and "It's a beautiful day" by U2

"The Final Countdown" by Europa

"Message in a bottle" by Police

"Bico" by Genesis

"We will Rock you" and "We are the Champions" by Queen

"My Immortal" and "Bring me to life" by Evanescence

"Goodbye my lover" by James Blunt
Personally I have to say that Maynard James Keenan is my favorite lyricist ever. not only does he add an immense amount of meaning to his words but he's probably the only person out there that I know of that decided to use the Fibonacci Sequence. which is just awesome.

His lyrics always make me think. and I hear something new that he did every time I hear a song.
Chris Carrabba

and

Arthur "Ace" Enders
Joe Strummer

enough said!
alll of anti flag

jim morrison

the ramones
Your are pretty good. Especially agree with the top two. How about Chuck Berry, Doc Pomus %26amp; Mort Schuman, Lieber %26amp; Stoller, Joe Strummer, John Fogerty, Paul Simon, Jagger/Richards, Buddy Holly?