Good lyrics in prog.. ? Where are they ?

Lol, thanks. Only 2 days away from my listen to The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway while driving in my car on the first day of Spring tradition. I don't know why, but the opening title track just suits spring for me.

So when Goldilocks listened to Roger Waters, she said "this lyricist is overrated." And when Goldilocks listened to Ian Anderson she exclaimed "this lyricist is underrated.' But when Goldilocks listened to Peter Gabriel she squealed "this lyricist is rated just right!"

Edited by Ronnie Pilgrim - March 20 2010 at 19:49

some of these may be non-prog:
Meshuggah (get your dictionary ready), Porcupine Tree, Mastodon, Tool, Radiohead etc

sh*t lyrics:
Dream Theater, modern KC, Rush (they have some good stuff though)

note this is an opinion not a statement

Ronnie Pilgrim wrote: You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.  If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.  You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that could kill.  I will choose a path that's clear - I will choose free will. Not bad, for sh*t lyrics, eh?

Rush - Freewill ? I think I said that they have some good stuff too, but generally their lyrics are geeky science fiction stuff that's not excactly what I personally like in lyrics. Good music though.

"During the band's early years, Peart's lyrics were largely fantasy/science fiction-focused, though since 1980 he has focused more on social, emotional, and humanitarian issues" -wikipedia

idiotPrayer wrote: Ronnie Pilgrim wrote: You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.  If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.  You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that could kill.  I will choose a path that's clear - I will choose free will. Not bad, for sh*t lyrics, eh? Rush - Freewill ? I think I said that they have some good stuff too, but generally their lyrics are geeky science fiction stuff that's not excactly what I personally like in lyrics. Good music though. "During the band's early years, Peart's lyrics were largely fantasy/science fiction-focused, though since 1980 he has focused more on social, emotional, and humanitarian issues" -wikipedia

What, you don't think By-Tor and the Snow Dog is lyrically genius?

Zombywoof wrote: I  actually do own a book of Ian Anderson lyrics / poetry!

Really? Very intriguing! Because I remember him pretty much loathing being called a poet. Talk about modesty.

Anyways.... good lyrics, if we're talking about Tull, the first song that comes to mind is Heavy Horses. They paint a better image of the beautiful animals than any Stubbs painting. (and I'm a huge Stubbs fan!)
Other brilliant lyrics one can find in Spirogyra's Cogwheels, Crutches and Cyanide. ;) There are plenty of good lyrics in prog. You just have to know where to look.

There's plenty of good lyrics in prog. But they tend to be rather eclectic and "odd" compared to other rock genre's lyrics. Folk rock came about as music set to poetry, you can't really beat Dylan. But I personally like several prog rock bands mostly due to their lyrics. My favourite piece of lyrics ever comes from Genesis.

Hmm Turn the question around, besides Lenon (in a few brilliant moments) Dylan & Morrison.

Dylan vs Peter Hammill ? Ok but then you find Dylan is singing in horrible voice making songs were three chords repeat all the time....i have my nervous break with "Mr jones" (Please end the song right now)

shockedjazz wrote: Dylan vs Peter Hammill ? Ok but then you find Dylan is singing in horrible voice making songs were three chords repeat all the time....i have my nervous break with "Mr jones" (Please end the song right now) Hammill instead is playing with a saxophone genius and a musical context that lets the lyrics breathe, and express. Anyway nothing of Dylan except maybe "Ma im only bleeding" can compare remotely with lyrical effort/geniality of "Pawn Hearts".

Palm/face connection complete, and I say that as one of the more extreme Hammill fans on here.