Favourite lyricists in rock and pop

Just some of my favourites, in no particular order and on solely on their lyric writing abilities:

Leonard Cohen
Nick Cave
Adam Duritz
Colin Malloy
John Darnielle
Stuart Murdoch
John Samson
Joanna Newsome
Mark Knopfler (Contraversial, I know, but I've always had a soft spot for Making Movies and Love over Gold)

Weird Al Yankovich

Originally posted by joe beyser
Weird Al Yankovich

certainly the funniest.

Leonard Cohen
Bob Dylan
Frank Zappa
Robert Hunter
Tom Waits
Roger Waters

Roger Waters
John Lennon
Bernie Taupin
Pete Townsend
Ian Anderson
Syd Barrett

Ian Curtis, Gene Ween, David Thomas and Prince.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
Yeah, they are a quite decent band, never really paid attention to the lyrics though. They are influential in the formation of post-rock and math rock, although I find there are more interesting bands in both genres.

More interesting? Name a couple?

Originally posted by karoly aczel
More interesting? Name a couple?

Post-rock: God is an Astronaut, Trans Am, late Talk Talk
Math rock: Hella, Battles, Don Caballero

Eric Paul currently of The Chinese Stars and previously from the now defunct Arab on Radar.

Mr. Paul also goes by the pseudonym Mr. Potty Mouth and has released two books of his lyrics and poetry.

I find a lot of inspriation in his terrible, terrible lyrics.

"I have never written a good song, but I have gotten rid of all of my demons."

Originally posted by karoly aczel
More interesting? Name a couple?

Slint are overrated and always have been. Brian McMahon's droning whisper-voice was interesting for about one day. However, Good Morning Captain is a great song which I still spin once and a while.

Also, Hella, as mentioned by Kazet, are one of my favourite bands.

Originally posted by rking00
Ian Curtis, Gene Ween, David Thomas and Prince.

Gene and Claude just played an acoustic set at a local bar last Friday and I missed it out of sheer laziness. I was so ashamed of myself.

Neil Peart