I have had the good fortune to see most of these guys. Some songwriters have a way with words. Songs can be pure poetry. That poetry often exceeds the bounds of love and moves into the realm of social comment, political comment, commentary on life and the spiritual. It takes music to new heights and depths. I love a good lyric that makes you think about real issues and life itself.
These are my favourite:
Roy Harper
Bob Dylan
Phil Ochs
Buffy St Marie
Don Van Vliet
Leonard Cohen
Jim Morrison
John Lennon
Jake Burns
Loudon Wainwright
Bob Marley
Elvis Costello
Ian Dury
Robin Williams & Mike Heron
Ed Sanders and Tuli Kupferberg
Micheal Smith
Linton Kwesi Johnson
John Cooper Clarke
Roger Waters
Robert Johnson
Nick Harper
George Harrison
Gil Scott Heron
Joni Mitchell
Paul Simon
Nick Drake
Who have I missed out?? Who else is an amazing wordsmith?
They were certainly very good.