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Dom W's avatar
Dom W

Dallas Green, of Alexisonfire and City and Colour, is my pick for best song writer. He taps into mental fragility without delving into self-pity, and crafts excellent melodies around his lyrics. His City and Colour work is particularly good at exploring emotion, particularly around self-worth and relationships, and I think the song that highlights some of his best lyrics is Hope for Now. This includes two lines which cut deep:

How can I instil such hope / But be left with none of my own?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcCFxIsJ2uw

Horror and Cats's avatar
Horror and Cats

In the lyric/mantra chat, I talked about Delta Rae--specifically the lyric "jealous is the night when the morning comes, but it always comes."

I love basically every song Delta Rae has put out, but the songs which stand for something are my favorites. All Good People and Hands Dirty are incredible.

My favorite line in All Good People.

"I watched from my window, as they gunned down unarmed men, Tried to say it's not my problem, it couldn't happen to my friends, But the truth is they're my brothers, and they're my countrymen, And if we lose our better angels, we won't get them back again"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKAz7El20A0

My favorite line in Hands Dirty.

"And I have seen the other side of the mountain, Where every queen will be afforded her throne, And I will stand beside my sisters, and all persistent resisters, They'll say "I knew it would come true," And I'll say "darlin', me too"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLP3-6C_Egw

mar1gold 's avatar
mar1gold

I would definitely say Mitski - her lyricism is so beautiful and i would argue you could publish it as poetry.The lyrics for “last words of a shooting star” perfectly encapsulates her song-writing ability - so i’m gonna do a bit of a deep dive into this whole song

CW for talks of suicide and death in general from here <3

All of this turbulence wasn’t forecasted

Apologies from the intercom

And I am relieved that I’d left my room tidy

They’ll think of me kindly

When they come for my things

They’ll never know how I’d stared at the dark in that room

With no thoughts like a blood-sniffing shark

And while my dreams made music in the night

Carefully I was going to live

You wouldn’t leave 'til we loved in the morning

You’d learned from movies how love ought to be

And you’d say you love me and look in my eyes

But I know through mine you were looking in yours

And did you know the liberty bell is a replica

Silently housed in its original walls?

And while its dreams played music in the night

Quietly, it was told to believe

I always wanted to die clean and pretty

But I’d be too busy on working days

So I am relieved that the turbulence wasn’t forecasted

I couldn’t have changed anyways

I am relieved that I’d left my room tidy

Goodbye

So for context this is meant to be read in the context of a letter Mitski is writing as a goodbye to life in general - very dark but it’s a really beautiful, tender song <3

So the song starts out in a plane and I think the starkness of the two lines really stand out here. “Apologies from the intercom” seems a bit unemotional and formal for the rest of the song implying the speaker is about to crash and die. It sets a tone of despondence that lingers for the rest of the song. The speaker is so detached from the act of dying that you can imply that she is very depressed in general.Straight away, the first thing the speaker thinks about is if her room is “tidy’. This reflects a recurring theme of Mitski including references to wanting to have a 'clean” seeming exterior. This could be linked to her shame in feeling this way in general.

However, I do think it is a nod to her songs that discuss race more obviously. Mitski is constantly referring to feeling like this strange outcast, which is closely linked to how she is treated because of her race in America. There is a need to manage the external perceptions of her to be thought of 'kindly’.

Then the guitar and tone of the song shifts in the second stanza. This is the speaker being incredibly vulnerable with us. “I’d stared at the dark in that room” implies some sort of depressive episode. The fact she compares herself to “a blood-sniffing shark” displays the feelings of alienation she is feeling. She is not only another animal, but a cold-blooded creature. A shark is an interesting animal to pick here as it’s generally a very negatively regarded animal. This just works to reinforce our understanding of the speaker’s depressive state and how lowly she is thinking of herself and the world.In the third stanza there is a glimpse of hope “You wouldn’t leave 'til we loved in the morning’, but then this is shattered when we realise that this act of the speaker being 'loved” is an artificial one. This “love” was just learnt from “movies’, implying that it’s artificial and inauthentic. The second use of the word 'love” is only tarnished by this realisation. Finally, the speaker states

And you’d say you love me and look in my eyes But I know through mine you were looking in yours

We realise that this “love” was coming from a place of selfishness. The fact that the speaker “know[s]” instead of thinks or feels creates a sense of concreteness to this statement. The speaker knows this person is wholly vain and insincere. But, this whole letter is dedicated to them? This is the person who is going to read the speaker’s only goodbye. This only further highlights the desolation in this song, as nobody who will actually sincerely care if the speaker is dead. I would argue that this is more of a testament to depression more generally. You can end up feeling like nobody really cares, and that what makes the lyrics of this song so hard-hitting.. they’re very real.

In the fourth stanza, the speaker tells usI think Mitski is using this fact as an unspoken metaphor to herself here. The true self is “silently housed” inside of a more acceptable “replica’. This once again highlights the speaker’s concern over how she is perceived externally. However, these lines display the sadness of this concern, as she is forever trapped within her own 'replica’. This sadness is only added to when we realise that the original 'liberty bell” (which represents the speaker) was “quietly” 'told to believe’. The fact that this is effectively a suicide note implies that this tiny slither of hope is no longer present. These dreams were only given a quiet and subdued hope, but even that isn’t given anymore.

The last stanza picks up in pace a little, and Mitski’s voice (probably still subdued compared to most songs) increases in urgency.“I always wanted to die clean and pretty” is the first and only explicit mention of death Mitski uses. Once again we see the speakers worry about her external perceptions of herself. The use of “clean” in conjunction with “pretty” implies that clean=pretty. This displays how the speaker has imposed very strict standards to herself. She has no beauty until she is 'clean’.'I’d be too busy on working days’ highlights Mitski’s dissatisfaction with her work and the music industry as a whole (see working for the knife). This ties this song back to her in a really discrete way but it makes it very vulnerable. She can’t really use the “it’s just a character” get-out clause.

The repetition of “I am relieved that I’d left my room tidy” creates a sense of circularity to the song. I think this was mostly done to display how short a “moment” this song is if that makes sense. The final “goodbye” creates a definitive end to the song and the guitar decisively cuts off after a few more chores. This abrupt end to the song almost feels like a glimpse into vulnerability cut short. Your heart kinda drops to your stomach when you hear the end because it’s so so final - kinda like life…Sorry for the ramble - i just find this stuff interesting! A lot of it is completely my own opinion and everyone has different interpretations!

Shovel's avatar
Shovel

So this song was released 24 years ago but the actual lyrics are amazing. And so so really with what is going on in the world.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Californication.

Psychic spies from China try to steal your mind's elation

And little girls from Sweden dream of silver screen quotation

It's the edge of the world and all of Western civilization

The sun may rise in the East, at least it settled in a final location

Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging

Celebrity skin, is this your chin, or is that war you're waging?

Space may be the final frontier, but it's made in a Hollywood basement

And Cobain, can you hear the spheres singing songs off Station To Station?

And Alderaan's not far away,

Born and raised by those who praise control of population

Like these lyrics are so real and on touch with what is happening in the world. To think this masterpiece was release in 1999 and holds so much weight to this day. You have to applaud it

JS
Jorge Soares

For me I cant choose other than Portishead and Beth Gibbons. I love the lyrics, the way she sings, and strength she put on words.

This last/first solo album its a must, and more I ear more I can see subtil sounds and words.

My favorite song its Rewind:

"Now that we have had our fun

Time to recognize the damage done

Feeling the fall of the beautiful

Opened our eyes and it's begun"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq-tnd8dyjM

antibird's avatar
antibird

Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel, without a doubt. What a travesty that Neutral Milk Hotel haven't released any music since "In the Aeroplane over the Sea" and yet how special it is that they released one perfect album and then disappeared.

"What a beautiful face I have found in this place that is circling all around the sun."

"But for now we are young let us lay in the sun and count every beautiful thing we can see"

It's actually to hard to pick specific lyrics. Just go listen to the album! https://open.spotify.com/album/0vVekV45lOaVKs6RZQQNob

Makster's avatar
Makster

MF Doom was one of the best lyricists out there but sadly he had passed 4 years ago in my home town. I'm not a big fan of rap or hip hop but the image of a rapper, well respected in the game and yet elusive in his limited releases and face obscured by a Dr Doom Mask or Gladiator mask intrigued me to cue up a few of his songs on my Spotify.

The guy is a god when it comes to lyrics and rhymes, dropping multi-syllable words to tie together lines such as:

One for the money, two for the better green 3, 4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine

All Outta Ale (The Prof Meets The SUPER VILLAIN, 2002)

Or:

Remember me God, clean timbs with emery board? He only came to save the game like a memory card

The Drop (Rae Dawn / Change the Beat, 2003)

Truly one of the most humble and talented rappers that is sorely missed to this day

Lanah Tyra's avatar
Lanah Tyra

One of the most meaningful lyrics can be found in anime openings. If we would hop back to the era of MSN messenger, you would know what anime I'm watching by looking at the lyrics quoted as my status message.

My favourite anime songwriter is Yuki Kajiura. She wrote many songs for well-known anime such as Sword Art Online, My-HIME, Fate/Zero and Gundam Seed Destiny. My favourite comes from a very much underrated anime: .hack//SIGN walked so Sword Art Online could run. And just as the story of the anime, the lyrics will also leave you thinking even after finishing the show. I was listening to this song on loop when studying for exams the whole night.

Yuki Kajiura - Key of the Twilight

Come with me in the twilight of a summer night for awhile
Tell me of a story never ever told in the past

Take me back to the land
Where my yearnings were born
The key to open the door is in your hand
Now fly me there

Fanatics find their heaven in never ending storming wind
Auguries of destruction be a lullaby for rebirth

Consolations, be there
In my dreamland to come
The key to open the door is in your hand
Now take me there

I believe in fantasies invisible to me
In the land of misery I'm searchin' for the sign
To the door of mystery and dignity
I'm wandering down, and searchin' down the secret sun

Come with me in the twilight of a summer night for awhile
Tell me of a story never ever told in the past

Take me back to the land
Where my yearnings were born
The key to open the door is in your hand
Now take me there to the land of twilight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_vFopBnaoY
Sinclair's avatar
Sinclair

Lee Hi

Music : Only

Her song basically have powerful meaning, its about someone who wanting an eternal love and spend together for the rest of their life. its quite sad and beautiful when we want somebody that always spend time together, its like we desperate to want something like that but hey, its everyone dream

Be my only one 이제는 숨기지 않고도 말할 수 있어 그렇게나 말하고 싶던 I say I love you

쉬고 싶은 밤에도 바쁘던 아침에도 그대 내게 쉴 곳을 마음속에 마련해요 내가 더 잘할게요 그 맘을 내게 나눠준다면

Eng Translation :

Be my only one I don’t have to hide it, I can say it The words I wanted to say so badly, I say I love you

On nights I want to rest, even on busy mornings Prepare a place in your heart for me to rest I’ll be better to you, if you will share that heart with me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmOVNVZEP9o

F
flutterfingerscrafts
Toretto 70's avatar
Toretto 70

Alphaville - Forever Young

The Lyrics is make me feel younger every I play it , and this best part make me think that we live only temporarily

So many adventures couldn't happen today So many songs we forgot to play So many dreams swinging out of the blue We'll let 'em come trueForever young I want to be forever young Do you really want to live forever? Forever, and ever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqZJysZCS_k

BeyondBelief's avatar
BeyondBelief

I've always thought Eminem is one of the greatest producers and writers from this generation. So much talent, great play on words, story telling, and just general musical genius. A one of a kind.

“Maybe it’s beautiful music I made for you to just cherish / But I’m debated, disputed, hated, and viewed in America / As a motherfuckin’ drug addict, like you didn’t experiment".

MadamClutter's avatar
MadamClutter

I know who I want to choose but I have to call them "one of" my favorites. It's difficult to pick one songwriter to beat them all, especially because the lyrics are what I cling to most in a song. I love the poetry of lyrics, they speak to me, help me deal with my own emotions and memories, they inspire me, calm me, and help to make the song personal to me.

I'm going to highlight Roger Waters during his time with Pink Floyd, and mainly his lyrical contributions to The Wall, Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. A lot of his lyrics seem to come from his personal experience or how he had perceived his experiences or those around him. Mental Health is either directly or metaphorically emphasized in so many of his songs, as well as the concept of life and how fleeting is, and those lyrics are ones I really connect with, as they make me feel seen and heard, and gift me words to explain what's happening to me inside. (Special shout out also to David Gilmour, his voice soothes me like no other, and his composition and lyrics also molded this band into "Greatness/Legend" status).

Some Songs/Lyrics that really have become part of my soul:

Comfortably Numb: There is no pain, you are receding

A distant ship, smoke on the horizon

You are only coming through in waves

Your lips move, but I can't hear what you're saying

When I was a child, I had a fever

My hands felt just like two balloons

Now I've got that feeling once again

I can't explain, you would not understand

This is not how I am

A distant ship, smoke on the horizon

You are only coming through in waves

Your lips move, but I can't hear what you're saying

When I was a child, I had a fever

My hands felt just like two balloons

Now I've got that feeling once again

I can't explain, you would not understand

This is not how I am

A distant ship, smoke on the horizon

You are only coming through in waves

Your lips move, but I can't hear what you're saying

When I was a child, I had a fever

My hands felt just like two balloons

Now I've got that feeling once again

I can't explain, you would not understand

This is not how I am

Hey You: Hey, you, out there in the cold, getting lonely, getting old

Can you feel me?

Hey, you, standing in the aisles with itchy feet and fading smiles

Can you feel me?

Hey, you

Don't help them to bury the light

Don't give in without a fight

Breathe (In the Air): [Verse 1]

Breathe, breathe in the air

Don't be afraid to care

Leave, but don't leave me

Look around and choose your own ground

[Chorus]

For long you live and high you fly

And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry

And all you touch and all you see

Is all your life will ever be

[Verse 2]

Run, rabbit, run

Dig that hole, forget the sun

And when at last the work is done

Don't sit down, it's time to dig another one

[Chorus]

For long you live and high you fly

But only if you ride the tide

And balanced on the biggest wave

You race towards an early grave

Time:

Ticking away

The moments that make up a dull day

You fritter and waste the hours

In an offhand way

Kicking around on a piece of ground

In your hometown

Waiting for someone

Or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine

Staying home to watch the rain

You are young and life is long

And there is time to kill today

And then one day you find

Ten years have got behind you

No one told you when to run

You missed the starting gun

Here's a link for the Albums The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon:

https://open.spotify.com/album/5Dbax7G8SWrP9xyzkOvy2F?si=Xbk_r0NeSI6W0t62EacAwg

https://open.spotify.com/album/4LH4d3cOWNNsVw41Gqt2kv?si=dv8NHIyGTAygtHzRTAt80g

FirestormGamingTeam's avatar
FirestormGamingTeam

For me, it's Eminem, his lyrics over time have changed from songs like "The Real Slim Shady" right up to "Mockingbird". I think with his upbringing, coming from nothing to who he is today, his words have shaped whole generations.

For instance, his lyrics in "The Real Slim Shady" back when he was pretty much the only person who was "white" were rapping against all sorts, from Pamela and Tommys sex tape, to Dr Dre, his words shaped a generation of rappers but also, as you move further down the song, he talks about how the media and society hates him, a fact a lot of people really did connect to, a dissociation from society.

Let's fast-forward

As his child grew, he became less and less controversial, focussing more and more on real-world issues and the problems he was facing. So let's look at the song "Mockingbird". In this song, he talks about how things do not make sense, how she needs to be strong and how he will protect his daughter. This was a song that an entire generation actually connected to as well, because at the time, if you look at national divorce rates across the UK when this song was released, more and more children were being raised by single parents.

IMO Eminem is one the greatest song/lyric writers our generation as ever seen, as I said from TRSS to Mocking bird, Til I collapse, Stan, Sing For The Moment, Toy Soldiers.

The man really is a genius and a great and personal impression on my life, but also the lives of others I know.

Laura's avatar
Laura

One of my favourite songwriters has got to be Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio. He just has such a penchant for finding the most interesting metaphors with constant double meanings and ambiguity that keeps my mind guessing even after all these years.

My favourite Alk3 songs are always forever changing, this very second my favourite song by them is "Blue In the Face". The song seems to be navigating either a break up or a toxic relationship, I'm not sure which, but both fit. One of my favourite lines is, "And all that followed fell like mercury to hell. Somehow we lost our heads for the last time".  That imagery is just the standard that I've become accustomed to as an Alk3 fan. This song finishes with, "And I don't dream since I quit sleeping. And I haven't slept since met you. And you can't breathe without coughing at daytime. Neither can I. So what do you say? Your coffin, or mine?" These little word plays never go amiss in Alk3 songs for me. It's the use of these simple writing principles that I have always loved.

I could very easily talk forever on my favourite songs by Alk3, and if I answered this question a week ago, or a year ago or 6 months ago... you'd of received different answers every single time. So I'll drop some of my other favourite lyrics with song names attached.

"If I'm the captain of this boat then all my shipmates are fools, and all the stars in the world couldn't help me steer my way out of this kiddy pool" - Fine

"Between the moon and you, lunacy is setting in." - My Little Needle

"A Poinsettia in poison rain" - Emma

"I wrote the words to this song on the back of a photograph. Behind your back it goes" - Armageddon (ironically took me too long to understand this lyric)

"Whats black and white, and whats red all over? This tired book, this Organ Doner" - All on Black

Heres a playlist of all the songs mentioned, if you like them, I'd proudly make an "Essential Trio" playlist for JA friends!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0o5AZP7TP856njkshRQbJg?si=uUZhrhWQSjGh_SOLUJxT8w

Sturmer's avatar
Sturmer

Woodkid - as his artistry deserves recognition.

Woodkid, the stage name of French artist Yoann Lemoine, brings a unique blend of orchestral music and powerful, evocative lyrics that transcend typical genre boundaries.

Lemoine is not just a singer, no, he's a storyteller. His debut album, "The Golden Age", renders his ability to weave intricate narratives through his music. The lyrics explore themes of transformation, struggle, and personal growth, all set against a backdrop of dramatic and cinematic orchestral arrangements. Each song feels like a journey, pulling the listener into a world of intense emotion and vivid, imagery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tEfYvY3bAg

In addition to his music, Lemoine is also an accomplished director and visual artist, which adds another layer of depth to his work. His music videos are visually stunning, often reflecting the same themes of his songs with powerful imagery and creative storytelling. This multi-disciplinary approach enriches the listening experience, making his work not only a treat for the ears but also for the eyes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5coTdZEvYVE

In tracks like "I Love You" the powerful lyrics combined with the sweeping orchestral music create an immersive experience that is hard to ignore.

Whatever I feel for you You only seem to care about you Is there any chance you could see me, too? 'Cause I love you Is there anything I could do Just to get some attention from you? In the waves, I've lost every trace of you Where are you?

Even if this genre or artist isn't your typical choice, Woodkid's ability to craft such compelling narratives through his music is undeniably impressive. His work is a brilliant example of how music can transcend personal preferences and touch on universal human experiences.

FrostySomething's avatar
FrostySomething

Can I give a shout out to Arctic Monkeys? I always thought their lyrics were really good at painting a picture, particularly the tracks from the album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. One of my faves is The View from the Afternoon. There’s just little lines like

‘She won’t be surprised, and she won’t be shocked,

When she’s pressed the star after she’s pressed unlock’

that give a little glimpse into the time it was written. Like, a little audio photograph. And the album is littered full of little things like that. Worth a listen if you like a bit of 00s rock n roll.

https://youtu.be/uwATHrQyuTM?si=9UWkomyMMH962SUl

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