Name your best Rock lyricists...

[J*E*Cole]

A few of mine:

Roger Waters (even though dark and war-torn...)
Don Henley (socially edgy, politically charged, and extremely biting lyrics, always)
Tom Petty (simple, but effective, and sometimes blackly humourous)
and
Mark Knopfler (copy Henley on this one).

Happy listening...

[3db]

My choices would be;

Roger Waters
John Hiaat
mark Knopfler
Alice Cooper ( the non shock rock songs)

[Duds]

Maynard James Keenan
Neil Fallon
Peter Steel
Neil Young

so many more..

[MasterCylinder]

Neil Peart

[Troy]

Andy Partridge (XTC)

[J*E*Cole]

Duds reminded me, and I can't believe I forgot one of my favorites, which is Maynard James Keenan, from 2 of my top 5 bands in the world, TOOL and APC.

[GMichael]

Neil Peart

Didn't I just vote for him a few days ago on another thread?

[Ex Lion Tamer]

Gordon Gano
Elvis Costello
Paul Weller
Ray Davies
Lou Reed
Joe Strummer
Neil Young

[dean_martin]

I don't pay much attention to lyrics anymore but these have jumped out at me:

Jeff Mangum - best stream of consciousness poetry for the entire album In the Aeroplane over the Sea.

Beck for "step into my Hyundai" and "I quit my job blowin' leaves."

Gram Parsons for "Sin City" (we've got our recruits and our green mohair suits so please check your ID at the door).

John Fogerty for "Fortunate Son" among others.

Frank Black/Pixies

Kurt Cobain - it's become cliche to include him in a list like this, but here he is.

[Duds]

Henry Rollins

[Dusty Chalk]

Momus
John Palumbo
Tori Amos
Trent Reznor
Neil Peart
Pink Floyd ( all of the lyricists )
Steve Kilbey

[bobsticks]

Mentioned previously and on my own list--Roger Waters, John Hiatt, Mark Knopfler, Elvis Costello, Joe Strummer, Trent Reznor, and Tori Amos...

...and I would hasten to add--Fish, Sting, Leonard Cohen, Dave Mathews, and Andrew Eldritch

[MindGoneHaywire]

12 posts & no Bob Dylan...interesting.

Along with him, I'd say John Lennon, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, maybe Van Morrison, Mike Sport' Murphy, Beck, maybe Steve Earle, maybe Springsteen, Townshend up until Quadrophenia, Richard Hell, Darby Crash, Bob Mould, and D. Boon.

[Hawkeye]

Bob Dylan
The Boss
Roger Waters
Kevin Gilbert
John Lennon
Eric Woolfson
Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Donald F a gen and Walter Becker

[ForeverAutumn]

Some great one's already named that are on my own list...

Neil Peart
Roger Waters
David Gilmour
Mark Knopfler

I have to add...

Greg Keeler and Jim Cuddy
Neil Finn

I'm not sure whether you can consider him Rock, but my favourite lyricist of all is Al Stewart.

[Mr MidFi]

Whenever I think of lyricists, the names Dylan, Costello and Young spring instantly to mind. They are slam-dunk gimmes, IMHO.

Paul Simon is now playing on my iPod, reminding me to include him as well. And I'm going to throw in Michael Timmons of the Cowboy Junkies, for good measure.