Top 10 Rock Bands with the Best Lyrics

Their albums are nothing like I've heard before. While there are better songs out there musically, the lyrics are unmatched with this band. The albums are like well thought out and vivid images being portrayed through music. It's pure genius. Whether the albums/songs being about the former Syd Barrett, war, etc. I heard the album The Final Cut recently and it completely blew me away. The stuff they write are genius. Definitely number 1!

I grew up at the end of the era where teachers would physically hit children. Brick in the Wall was our anthem. The abuse we received at the hands of teachers was something I hope no child experiences.

I vote Pink Floyd for a better world. Wake up you people. Read the animals, read the wall, read the wish you here, read all. Read and then listen what you read because all you see and you feel in the end is dark.

All masterpieces. Recently I started to listen to The Final Cut, man I'm telling you, you will forget everything after listening to this album. The whole album is based on war. Lyrically very sound album.

Their lyrics have Always a beautiful meaning... you can dislike their sound, but if you read the lyrics I'm sure you would fall in love with them!

Who said that "LP's good albums are only about getting pissed off at their parents" is an ignorant who speaks without knowing! Before speaking you must be informed and know their past!

Definitely cast my vote for these guys. All of their songs have meanings that most people can relate to. I especially prefer their song Iridescent which tells us not to get occupied by sadness and frustration, just let it go and live on in life.

Just take a look at "somewhere I belong" lyrics... it's like you're reading philosophy of life! Also "in the End" or "What I've done" they're appropriate for this position! The best!

Best lyrics, waiting for the end has the best sound to it and best lyrics, other great songs: numb, papercut, faint, leave out all the rest. Great lyrics, great band

I love t his song, it always states my feelings.

Red's lyrics are like Poetry!

Best thing about their lyrics is that there are always multiple ways to perceive it! You think they are singing about a girl, but they are singing to your soul and once you notice that, it's hard to not like Breaking benjamin

Their lyrics get so meaningful that they get all emotional when they play some of their songs.

Their lyrics are really amazing and meaningful... Such as Dear Agony song.

I originally got into BB for their lyrics. They can really pack a punch sometimes.

Good lyrics, shouldn't be ahead of red hot chili peppers though.

Not a bad place. Maybe could be a little higher, but not bad.

One of the best songs

Youe don't have to be an expert to judge this legendary band by their lyrics. Well, in their early days, they usually sang about love between a boy and a girl. In their last days, the sang about love between people with different opinions. Just "A Day in the Life" is a masterpiece, because of John's lyrics, for example: "I read the news today, oh boy, about a lucky man who made the grade." And I'm not even mentioning "The Long And The Winding Road", which is a brilliant song as for the lyrics, for the music, too.

Let It Be, In My Life, Blackbird, All You Need Is Love, Revolution, Back In The USSR, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Paperback Writer, Eleanor Rigby, Fool On The Hill, I am The Walrus, A Day In The Life, Across The Universe, Tomorrow Never Knows, Golden Slumbers, Hey Jude, Taxman, Fixing A Hole, She's Leaving Home, For No One, Penny Lane, Within You And Without You, Mother Nature's Son, Strawberry Fields Forever, Girl, Here Comes The Sun, Getting Better, Help!, Rocky Raccoon, Dear Prudence, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, Yesterday, The Long And Winding Road, Something, I've Got A Feeling, Cry Baby Cry, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds... Need I continue? The Beatles are number 1.

All the Beatles members are very good with lyrics, especially John Lennon and (sometimes) Paul McCartney.

Lennon and McCartney are both top 10 lyricsts. Just to mention Across the Universe and For No One.

"do you feel the same,
For what once remained,
Yesterday is gone we can't go back again,
And do you ever cry,
For the ghost of days gone by"

I personally can't stand punk for the most part. But rise against is an exception. While the instrumental aspect of their music is rather simplistic the lyrical content is nothing less than pure genius. The only other artist out there that I can think can possibly compare would be eminem, a product of another genre I'm no particular find of

Their lyrics are so deep, bands as Green Day and Linkin Park would drown in them... No seriously, Tim McIlrath is a punk poet and in combination with his band's mighty sound a force to be reckoned with

Rise against's lyrics are so beautiful and well constructed. It's powerful and thought provoking, yet poetic. Just give them a listen and you'll understand.

All of their songs are pure poetry. Everything about them is standing up for what you believe in and that's all they do. Should be #1.

I got into this band bcos the boy I've had a crush on for like 8 months has them on his Facebook likes and I listened to them and I cried.. a lot

The lyrics are far from straightforward and annoyingly repetitive. Just listen to Nothing Else Matters. Or even Fade to Black. Beautiful lyrics, great lyrics, awesome lyrics.

Who said Metallica doesn't deserve to be on the list? ARE you insane? What about nothing else matters, fade to black, unforgiven, sad but true?

Enter Sandman, One, Nothing Else Matters, and even Until It Sleeps represent Metallica's excellent lyricism.

Metallica has the most straightforward lyrics of any band

Lyrics on Appetite for Destruction may revolve around "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll", and they are very efficient in doing so. But Illusions and Chinese Democracy have very profound and interesting lyrics. Axl has really matured as a lyricist and songwriter, and got better as a person through the years.

Strong lyrics would imply multiple interpretations for the same song. Gn'R is able to achieve that with their interesting lyrics and also beautiful chorus that goes with their songs.

Guns n roses are amazing I mean they wrote the song sweet child o mine in 5 mins and it's a serenade to axls girlfriend at thetime not to mention don't cry being partky about izzys departure of the band, talk about great lyricaklmeaning in their songs!

Sweet child o mine, November rain, don't cry, Paradise city, and more.

Of all the other names on this list, Pink Floyd is the only band whos lyrics even come close to hosting the same amount of depth, intelligence and insightfulness. Before discovering tool, I was a huge Rush fan, and I was absolutely blown away by what I read when I researched the lyrics to one of their songs. Literally pick any one, read the lyrics, then come back to this list and try and convince yourself that the 26 bands listed above have higher quality in lyrical content

How this band is at 27th is beyond me, for their lyrics are far beyond any of these hypothetical competitors. Not much needs to be said besides go and listen for yourself, and if you absolutely hate metal, just look up the lyrics to almost any one of their songs and the depth and complexity of the lyrics will be far more advanced than any other songs you could name. Even RUSH songs pale in comparison

Tool offers the deepest lyrics of any band in my opinion, it offers lyrics that delve into so many different subjects. The diversity between their songs in terms of the lyrics is asstonishing, listen to H. and then listen to Vicarious, there is just such a difference. Tool easily belongs in the top 3, the only reason it's not there is because not many people have listened to Tool. If you haven't listen to them I highly recommend you do.

Tool has the best lyrics I have ever heard. The reason why it is so low is because whoever is voting for the other bands have not heard a single tool songs. "I will choke until I swallow. Choke this infant here before me. What is this but my reflection? Who am I to judge or strike you down... Rest your trigger on my finger. Bang my head upon the fault line." Genius!

Amazing! never say never is so good!

Only them and My Chemical Romance

Their is a Pearl Jam song for everyone and all of their songs have truly amazing lyrics.
"I know I was born I know that I'll die the I between is mine."
"I know someday you'll have a beautiful life under somebody else sky but why can't it be mine."
If once I could feel loved, oh stare back at me."
"All the advantages this life's got on me picture a cup in the middle of the sea."

I mean, like, seriously? Pearl Jam not in the top 5?
Is this list trolling us all?
World wide suicide, Black, Just breathe, Marker in the sand. I could go on forever.
For me, they are the best. Hands down.

Green Day should at least be in the top three, if not, number 1.
Their songs have are so meaningful.
Just Listen to 'Jesus of Suburbia', 'Holiday', '21 Guns', 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' and 'Wake Me Up When September Ends'.

I don't understand why on earth Linkin Park is 1#! It's obvious that GD must be 1#! M/

Lyrics on the songs of 21st cb and American idiot are enough

Green Day IS LIFE! THANK THE JESUS OF SUBURBIA. Listen closely to their lyrics, there are hidden meanings. And they're a great story as an album. American Idiot and Dookie have the best lyrics by far.

All these lists are blinded by the main stream. Smashing Pumpkins should be much higher if this list were accurate.

Why the hell where they not on here earlier, Corgan is a poetic genius

SP is absolutely fantastic! Bill Corgan is genius!

Townshend's lyrics manage to be both extremely catchy as well as deceptively incisive. The Who blow away Zeppelin and many other groups in this department.

Well to be true in my opinion Except for some songs like stairway to Heaven their lyrics are not good. They use the word baby like in so many songs and those songs end with no proper meaning. It seems as if some forlorn teenager is writing those lyrics and someone is just screaming them. That's just ans opinion so, don't start with fan of they are greatest they are revolution. Just because they were popular doesn't mean they will be liked by everyone. And just because they produced a few good songs doesn't mean all of their songs shoukd be called gold. Get over with bind fan stuff. Enjoy music don't claim it or get annoyed with criticism.

Some stupids think that Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" has a subliminal diabolic message... they are jealous of the song because they realized that the lyrics of the song are just great and amazing... they wanted to hide these awesome lyrics with a supposed "message"
Led Zeppelin is a perfect band, these four guys are great in their work!
I think Led Zeppelin has really great lyrics, and if you don't think so... you like commercial music like hip hop and pop!

Kashmir and stairway to heaven, up to the mark. I can't even think this list is complete without Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Lyrics must be match with the music. And this band is maestro for this quality. Its right now on 8th because its not easy to digest this band too easily.. :D

This band has the absolute what lyrics of all time! Their references to Lord Of The Rings and Ancient Greek Allegories are so on point!

They should be top ten. Darron and Serj make sure that the songs have true meaning most of the time. The rest of the time they just wanna have fun and really don't care about opinions. They do what they think is right, but get pushed to the side as hippies.

At first it may seem as if there lyrics don't have much meaning, eg."Banana, banana,terracotta, pie", but if you listen for a while you notice that there is more to their lyrics than meets the eye (or ear).
Their lyrics can be dark and silly at the same time and are free for interpretation.