Most Powerful Lyricist

The Top Ten

1 Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana and passed away on June 25, 2009. He donated (at least) a remarkable 500,000,000 dollars to charity. Michael is also known as The King of Pop (a title given to him by Elizabeth Taylor) or under ...read more.

Hi music always has a powerful message behind it. Which always made sence and he was very pationate about the way sang it. He could sing the same song a hundred times and it would still sound as good as when he first sang it... love himmm... xoxo MJ - love4mjj

They don't really care about us makes me think alot. I use to get bullied real bad, then I started listening to this song and the lyrics got stuck in my head. And, it was because of this song that I don't get so depressed about is anymore. Thank you mike.. xoxo - _JahLove

Michaels lyrics held powerful messages to the listeners. He was trying to teach his fans and change the world. He made a powerful impact on the world and saved the lives of children with his contributions with his lyrics and the money he donated from writing his powerful lyrics. - love4mjj

He always put something more his songs than the rest. That's maybe why he was (and will be) one of the best singers in the history of music, if not the best. He actually wrote his own songs, so a little part of his magnificence and power we saw in his dancig is in his lyrics too.

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2 Ville Valo

Ville is not just a singer/lyricist... He is a true poet. He is a magnet for all the influences, being painfully aware of them all, good and bad, and sensitive to them so much as to become a powerful conduit for them, sharing his own perceptions with the world passionately. Beauty, ugliness, love, fear, hope, despair... The entire rainbow of every emotion, sensation, deepest darkest places upon which humanity in all its loveliness, ugliness, fearfulness, instincts... Strivings to better itself resides is painted, smudged, redrawn, brought to its bare bone structure in the wild love and war of lyrics and brought to pulse like beats of raw reality and nightmare always holding hands with our desires and dreams trough the eyes of the man, the poet, the traveler trough life in all its aspects we fear and covet to learn and be a part of.. The eyes of this unique soul incarnate in the lyricist and so much more that is Ville Valo, the poet who will take you to the simple truth, to your ...more

His lyrics are always heart warming, the best thing about Ville is that he writes from his heart and does not need others to write songs for him the way these commercial artists like Rihanna and Neyo depend on other song writers. Ville is the 21st century Edgar Allan Poe

His songs are made not from hatred, but from love. He never says "I hate love", but "Yes, it's painful, but this is the best thing, that may happen with you"

Just listen to Acoustic Funeral!

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3 Serj Tankian

Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet, and political activist.

Serj is not just a songwriter he is a messenger and protestor of the us not recognizing armenian genocide through his lyrics

in 16? I realize some people don't know what a REAL lyricist is - rock2metal

The best! Why'dyouleavethekeysuponthetable? Hereyougocreateamotherfable! (more of Chop Suey! ) - moose4life19

4 Antim Grahan

Listen to "Forever Winter"--- best lyrics I've heard in a long long time!

5 James Hetfield

James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica.

Have you heard Fade to Black!? Once you hear that, you'll understand why he's the best... Not to mention countless other songs like Ride the Lightning, Creeping Death, Sad But True, One,... And Justice for All, etc.

This man wrote amazing lyrics like One, Sanitarium, Master of Puppets, etc. - RamiroRosas

James is an inspiration to me for his incredible vocals

YES, james deserves a place in the top 10, at least in front of mercury, his lyrics are perfect for the guitar and the bass and the drum, which makes him a ledgend of rock

6 Ann Wilson

Ann Dustin Wilson is an American musician, best known as the lead singer and songwriter of the hard rock band Heart.

7 Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi is a hard rock band formed in 1983, which had a streak of successful albums in the late 1980s. The band originally consisted of lead vocalist Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Ritchie Sambora (left in 2013), bassist Alec John Such (left in 1994), keyboard David Bryan, and drummer Tico Torres. The band's ...read more.

You can listen to Bon Jovi when you are happy and when you are down!
They have a song to every feeling in your life - richie4life

so much emotions in their songs - richie4life

8 Yoshiki Hayashi

Yoshiki Hayashi is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer and record producer. Better known by his stage name Yoshiki, he is best known as the leader and a co-founder of the heavy metal band X Japan, for which he is the drummer, pianist and main songwriter. The band achieved breakthrough success ...read more.

His lyrics are powerful, beautiful, poetic, and even cryptic. Art of Life is one of his masterpiece - kurenai_tenshi

The lyrics of Amethyst are just so beautiful. And "whith out you" I think it's so soulful.

9 Billie Joe Armstrong

Billie Joe Armstrong is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor who is best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and guitarist of the punk rock band Green Day, which he co-founded with Mike Dirnt.

He has an uncanny ability to write excellent lyrics about any topic; be it the death of his father, teenage boredom, love, mental illness, politics... His lyrics can be silly, they can be poetic, they can be profound- and they are all extremely clever.

Best lyricist from band Green Day, he's the founder and the lead vocalist of the band. His lyrics are as powerful and meaningful as Jesus of Suburbia but his sound are better.

Intelligent lyrics written by a highly intelligent man

You can pick up any Green Day song and read the lyrics..
He does not write any romantic songs, or songs which have stories(usually considered as good lyric songs), but his songs are such that they force one to think about one self.
They change your innerself, the songs are for mankinds benefit.

10 M. Shadows

Matthew Charles Sanders, better known by his stage name M. Shadows, is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter and founding member of the American metalcore/alternative metal band Avenged Sevenfold.

His lyrics are just superb
His best song is so far away the pain of losing a friend
He's just superb a7x rocks

M shadows is a great songwriter but so far away was actually written by syn.
Also I don't see axl rose on this list

The Newcomers

? John Lennon

John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE was an English singer and songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as a co-founder of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in the history of popular music. He was assassinated by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980 at age 40.

The most profound and heartfelt lyricist of all time.

The Contenders

11 Bruce Dickinson

Paul Bruce Dickinson, known professionally as Bruce Dickinson, is an English musician, airline pilot, and broadcaster. He is most well known for being the lead singer in heavy metal band Iron Maiden and his solo career.

I believe the majority of the credit should go to Steve Harris since he wrote the majority of Maiden's lyrics. But Bruce is still a great lyricist in his own right

12 Jarvis Cocker

13 Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara, 5th September 1946 - 24th November 1991) was a Zanzibari-born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter and record producer, known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the British rock band Queen. He also became known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave ...read more.

Okay... I don't know about you guys but Freddie had THE BEST lyrics you could find. Sure, some songs didn't exactly make any sense but if you looked deeper into it, you'd find much poetry and figured that Freddie was a damn genius.

No, no. He made the most meaningful songs ever, guy with the other comment. But listen: I have found the meaning of Seven Seas of Rhye!
It was a fantasy land Freddie used to dream of as a kid.

Singularly meaningless, psychedelic non-sequiturs.

13th? Really?

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14 Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain was born February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. In 1987, he started the grunge band Nirvana. He was a talented yet troubled grunge performer. Kurt Cobain became a rock legend in the 1990s with his band. He committed suicide at his Seattle home in 1994.

Kurt is a God... He was a depressed soul who didn't care about the world... His lyrics remain morbid and will always be a mystery... She'll come back with fire... And burn all the liars.. Leave a blanket of ash on the ground...
All hail.. Kurt Cobain..

Pennyroyal Tea made m cry

15 Chester Bennington

Chester Charles Bennington (March 20th, 1976 - July 20th, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known for being the lead singer of Linkin Park. He also has a few side projects like Julien K and Dead By Sunrise. He committed suicide in 2017 due to depression.

The meanings of his songs are unbearably amazing and really touch your soul cz they're about Chester's past. LP 4ever. - lukestheman4

His lyrics pierce the heart and touch the soul! No that's call lyrics writing!

16 Eminem Eminem

Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, actor and music producer born on October 17, 1972 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eminem has sold over 300 million records making him the bestselling hip-hop artist of all time. In addition to his solo career, he is a member of D12 and (with Royce ...read more.

My passion is more into metal scene, but when it come to lyricist.. Eminem is the best while James from Metallica came close. This dude should be place at least in top 3.. Seeing him below those band's lyricist makes me sick... Their lyric are nothing compared to Em's which is so real, full of feelings and so close to the listener. - Pyansickness

What they are doing here. EMINEM is the best lyricist, rapper and songwriter of all time. I guess they all are paid by respective singers to vote for them. Eminem is the greatest selling artist of the decade and definitely top selling artist of all time after michael jackson. The way I am, till I collapse, beautiful, not afraid are classics. I think stan is the best written lyrics in human history.

Its seems to be a crime comitted on this list Eminem should be in top3 he is genius lyricist just listen to stan, mockingbird, lose yourself, not afraid ahh let it be just listen his all stuffs and then vote any other else

Marshall? Is... Is that you? Why are you so low on the list?

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17 Tupac Shakur

Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was an American rapper and actor born on June 16, 1971 in East Harlem, New York. Tupac sold over 75 million records worldwide and has been referred to in multiple major publications such as Rolling Stone as one of the greatest music artists of all time. 2Pac was ...read more.

Just listen to ghetto gospel and wonder why you didn't vote for Tupac Shakur R.I. P :') - Mushroom99

It took Tupac only 5 years in the spotlight to build such a legacy. He is the best lyricist ever. - mmasviba

Best forever alive in he's words

RIP - Nigel17

18 hyde

19 Jared Leto

His lyrics is something special. If you heard his songs once-there's no way back. - Alejandro-Bantik

20 Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, artist and writer . he won the Nobel Prize for literature in 2016 .

Why Bob Dylan is not at the top of this list is beyond me. He deserves to be at the top with his powerful lyrics. In 2008, the Pulitzer Prize jury awarded Dylan a special citation for... "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power. " - ybothermatt

you can kill l7972 kids and eat 5614 ice-creams, Bob Dylan would still be able to kick your ass... - Overdose

Bob Dylan is one of the best songwriters of all time. When he writes a song it means somthing, not some of these young bloods who are just getting there feet wet.

21 Tim McIlrath

Timothy James "Tim" McIlrath is an American punk rock musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the American punk rock band Rise Against.

In this list - Tim McIlrath is way too underrated in my opinion. Every single song by Rise Against makes you think, makes you aware and makes you want to deal with the issue in the song. There are songs that nearly make you cry, there are songs that make you angry because you realize every single word of it is true. He puts a complicated feeling, a big problem, his anger and much more in a few sentences. In my opinion there is no better lyricist than him.

It's the only time I've written something like this here, but Tim really deserves to be higher on this list. Because his lyrics are about truly meaningful things, many of them might be hard to digest, because yes, you have to be thinking about these issues and that's usually not very comfortable. It's not the riot-inducing punk of the 70s, but the thought-provoking lyrics preserved something of that.

McIlrath, in my opinion, is the only modern song-writer whose work actually means something - every single song Rise Against has performed is useful, not just as a work of art, but in raising awareness and dealing with issues that matter.

He isn't putting forward some blunt criticism a la "F you gov."
Listening closely his lyrics are seriously profound

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22 Kelly Clarkson

Listen to Irvine or Can I Have A Kiss, and you'll see. - ilovekelly75

23 Roger Waters

George Roger Waters, is an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. He was mostly known for the secondary lead vocals and bassist of Pink Floyd .

Roger Waters is 23th?
Come on.Just listen to The wall,The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here.
Every Song in his albums has a story. His songs is about War,Society,Modern Life and so many other fields.
He is the Most Powerful Lyricist.

24 Izzy Stradlin

Jeffrey Dean Isbell, better known by his stage name Izzy Stradlin, is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter.

he was the main lyricist of guns n roses. - ronluna

25 Isono Kyo Hiroshi

best lyricist from bands d'erlanger, die in cries, bug. his lyrics are as powerful and meaningful as hyde but his sound are better. - ronluna

26 Layne Staley

Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains, which he founded with guitarist Jerry Cantrell in Seattle, Washington in 1987. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s. ...read more.

Pure and honest lyrics with the most powerful and beautiful voice to back them up.

Powerful should have been Layne's middle name. He sang with such passion and his talent isn't matched by a lot on this list.

27 Ozzy Osbourne

John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948. He is also known as ''The Prince of Darkness''. Ozzy is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the band Black Sabbath. Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath ...read more.

28 Neil Peart

Neil Ellwood Peart, OC (born September 12, 1952 in Hamilton, Canada) is a Canadian-American musician and author, best known as the drummer and primary lyricist for the rock band Rush. Peart has received numerous awards for his musical performances.

Neil is a very thoughtful, intelligent, and influential lyricist. - asphaltpilot

29 Maynard James Keenan

Maynard James Keenan, often referred to by his initials MJK, is an American musician, record producer, winemaker, and actor, best known as the vocalist for Grammy Award-winning progressive metal band Tool.

once the snake is drowned, and as I look in his eyes, my fear begins recalling all of the times
i have died
and will die
i don't mind

30 Jonathan Davis

Jonathan Howsmon Davis, also known as JD and JDevil, is an American musician best known as the leading vocalist and frontman of the nu metal band Korn.

The best from far, should be number 1 - Frestazzi

31 Kim Jaejoong

Kim Jae-joong, also known mononymously as Jaejoong, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, director and designer. He is best known as a member of the Korean pop group JYJ, and was one of the original members of boy band TVXQ.

He has written so many good songs of TVXQ and JYJ.. Listen to Wasurenaide, I Will Protect You and JYJ's In Heaven.. They are truly amazing, powerful and really touching. - paulinealedia

32 Robert Plant

Robert Anthony Plant is an English musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin.

33 Kate Bush

Running up that hill and The sensually world. That's all I need to say.
Beautiful.

34 Matt Bellamy

Matthew James "Matt" Bellamy is an English musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and compose most famous for being the main vocalist in alternative rock band Muse.

He can touch my soul with a single song, he is very creative, poetic, haunting, and apocalyptic :P

I just say "Bliss"

35 Kyo Kyo

Kyo is a Japanese musician, poet and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the vocalist of the metal band Dir en grey. He has been with the band since its inception in 1997 and was formerly in La:Sadie's.

36 Bon Scott

Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980. He was born in Forfar and lived in Kirriemuir, Scotland, for 5 years before moving to Melbourne, Australia, ...read more.

37 Immortal Technique

Felipe Andres Coronel, better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper and urban activist from Lima, Peru.

He songs tell powerful stories, he needs to be a lot more recognized - roblist

Dance with the Devil and Revolutionary say it all - roblist

38 Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona; July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal singer, songwriter and musician. He fronted and/or founded numerous groups including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. He is credited with popularizing the "metal horns" hand gesture ...read more.

Dio was severely underrated as a lyricist. His lyrics contain amazing metaphors. Dio was very philosophical. He was the best metal lyricist and I think the best music lyricists of all time.

39 Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix (born November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter . Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated ...read more.

40 Ian Gillan

Ian Gillan is an English singer and songwriter. He originally found success as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple, and the original singer on the rock opera concept album Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber, where Gillan had the leading role (Jesus Christ).

Wow! Listen to Space Truckin or Child in Time and youll see what I mean!

41 Neil Finn

I can't believe anyone even considered a terrible artist like Kelly Clarkson above Neil! - CrowdedChisel

42 Steve Harris

Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter, known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist, primary songwriter and founder of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden.

He wrote at least 90 of Iron Maidens songs. He is very influential. - gibsonrock53

43 Amy Lee Amy Lee

Amy Lynn Hartzler, known professionally as Amy Lee, is an American singer-songwriter, classically trained pianist and composer. She is also the lead singer to the Arkansas band Evanescence.

44 Tom Waits

Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits, born December 7, 1949 is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. ...read more.

45 ZP Theart

ZP Theart is a South African singer, and songwriter, best known as the former singer of British power metal band DragonForce.

46 Thom Yorke

Thomas Edward "Thom" Yorke is an English musician best known as the singer and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Radiohead.

What absolutely amazes me about Thom Yorke's lyrics is that despite being very simple and at times, cliched phrases from the day to day world, you can never really be sure that how you interpret his words was actually what he meant while writing them. It's the lyrical equivalent of "The art of disguise is hiding in plain sight." His lyrics are intelligent, and as a listener, he makes you think. It's like Radiohead's music on the whole - in order to feel it, you first have to think about it. They evoke emotions you never thought you had in you.

53.. now thats rediculous.. definitely deserves a top ten spot.. thom yorke might as well be god

"When I am king, you will be first against the wall"

47 Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey, born March 27, 1970, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is one of the biggest best-selling women in the music industry, with 18 number 1 records to her name. She is regarded as a sex symbol through her songs and music videos, and is "well known" for her over-the-top sexy ...read more.

obviously,
we can relate to her lyrics and to her records...
ain't you?... - yohpercy

48 Pete Wentz

Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III (born June 5, 1979)is an American musician. He is best known for being the bassist, lyricist, and backing vocalist for the American rock band Fall Out Boy. Before Fall Out Boy's inception in 2001, Wentz was a fixture of the Chicago hardcore scene and was notably the lead ...read more.

I'm glad Pete made it into the top 100 at least. Still deserves to be higher, though.

49 Leonard Cohen

Leonard Norman Cohen was a Canadian singer, songwriter, poet and novelist . Cohen died on November 7, 2016 at the age of 82 .

50 Michael Stipe

John Michael Stipe is an American singer, songwriter, film producer, music video director, and visual artist.

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night
the photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago
turn around backwards so the windshield shows
every streetlight reveals a picture in reverse - CrowdedChisel

Listen to Nightswimming, Daysleeper or Man on the moon. Legendary -

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