Rock Band With Best Lyrics

Especially Time and Wish You Were Here - Ivar

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 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.

What? Roger Waters is probably one of the most skilled, and talented writers of all time. The lyrics are deep, meaningful, they make sense, and fit good.

Number one band in lyrics

Umm. Umm. Linkin Park? I just quietly died inside... Sure they have some lyrical meaning but its mostly emo crap, bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Green Day, even the Rolling Stones have much more creative and meaningful lyrics. Beatles lyrics were treated like gospel back when they were in their prime. - KingofSnails42

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.

Should be number one... :’(

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. - frank

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.

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

This band is amazing when I'm in my darkest of days, or my angel has fallen, or when my red, cold, river kicks in

Breaking Benjamin forever

Breaking Benjamin +1

BB's lyrics is very deep and soul touching

Philosophy and Rockmusic never went together better and never will.

Manhattan Project, Witch Hunt, Red Barchetta, Free Will, The Trees, Red Sector A... The list goes on and on... No one is close!

Rush should be number 1 hands down. I have listened to every other band mentioned in this list and their lyrics are good but aren't as good as Rush lyrics. Rush lyrics are like listening to poetry. The choice of words and rhyming the words makes them so great. For example their song loosing it:
"The dancer slows her frantic pace in pain and desperation. Her aching limbs and downcast face aglow with perspiration."
Neil Peart is probably one of the best if not the best lyricist ever.

The only reason these guys aren't #1 is because not a lot of people listen to them. By far the best lyrics I have ever heard and never fail to impress me album after album

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

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! - rock2metal

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!

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

If you've listened to their songs you can understand a lot of their music has a lot of meanings such as the song "audience of one" refers to that one person can have a lot of influence and power if tried or given to

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.

Jim Morrison was the EPIC POET of his time

Them and Arctic Monkeys should be in the top 5 in my opinion

Better lyrics than lyrics of every band here

Should be number one... Just saying

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?

They definitely have their own style that works with the music, BUT the lyrics aren't GREAT like some of these other artists - alexinkiev

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

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

Amazing! never say never is so good!

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.

I don't think Axl whining about women and LA counts as good lyrics

I love Guns N Roses, but Axl Rose is the biggest ass in music history.

Red's lyrics are like Poetry!

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

"My heart is broke, but I have some glue.
Help me inhale and mend it with you,
we'll float around, and hang out on clouds,
then we'll come down... have a hangover... "

His lyrics were, all at once - soft, heartbreaking, angstful and bitter. The sarcastic pop-tone of Cobain's lyrics shouldn't be overlooked. Sarcasam is hard to get across sucessfully in lyrics. - Uzzy

You the hell puts Metallica on this list? I guess they're great lyrics when you're 13.

I think kurt cobain definitely deserves number one if rhe current one is Linkin Park.

A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido
?
Love the songs and the band, but best lyrics?

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.

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.

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 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'.

How come Radiohead is in this place? One of the best bands ever!

I saw Adema and Disturbed before many great bands and I had a heart attack.

Radiohead has the most unique and interesting lyrics mixed with amazing sound being produced by one of a kind musicians. Radiohead really is one of the best bands out there.

I like linkin park but they shouldn't be on top 10 above radiohead, Beatles, Pink Floyd, bruce springsteen, led zeppelin, queen, Metallica, dead kennedy...

Radiohead's lyrics absorb your thoughts as you listen to their incredible music.

"Me and you, what is going on? All we seem to know is how to show the feelings that are wrong." ~ Don't Go Away(1997)
"And so Sally can wait, she knows it is too late as we are walking on by, my soul slides away, but Don't Look Back In Anger" ~Don't Look Back In Anger(1995)
"Who kicked a hole in the sky, so the heavens would cry over. Who stole the soul from the Sun in a world come undone at the seams?...Let There Be Love." ~Let There Be Love(2005).

MAY I SAY MORE?

Love is our resistance

"i've had recurring nightmares
I was loved for who I am
I've missed the opportunity
To be a better man"
Enough said

"Life will flash before my eyes
So scattered and lost
I want to touch the other side
And no one thinks they are to blame
Why can't we see
That when we bleed we bleed the same"

The music and lyrics just blend so flawlessly. This band is fabulous!

Only them and My Chemical Romance

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 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!

The top 10 should be Pink Floyd, Beatles, tool, led zeppelin, rolling stones, nirvana, the who, pearl jam, soundgarden, and Jimi hendrix (the last 5 can go in whatever order)

Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head? U2 One
September, streets capsizing
Spilling over down the drains
Shard of glass, splinters like rain
But you could only feel your own pain.

October, talk getting nowhere.
November, December; remember
We just started again.

"I know, I know for sure
Ding dang dong dong ding dang dong dong ding dang
I know, I know it's you
Ding dang dong dong ding dang dong dong ding dang"
-Around the World

Their songs have amazing lyrics. They should be in the top ten. Linkin Park is good, and they have good lyrics, but nothing like the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Listen to the lyrics of wet sand, otherside, scar tissue, or under the bridge they are ungodly god

People have to listen to their songs.. they know only few songs which they saw from T.V... also check b-sides..

I like their music, but the lyrics aren't groundbreaking by any means. Shouldn't be high on this list! - alexinkiev

I LOVE BVB SO EFFING MUCH!

"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"

These guys should be at the top

Alex Turner's Lyrics are artfully chosen and delivered so well in the band's music consistently.

The lyricist of the 21st century. A pure genius who can deliver almost every feeling through one sentence. This is should be number 1 l. By far

Alex Turner is a genius lyricist. His lyrics are pure poetry. Nobody writes thiw way nowadays.

Really powerful lyrics, just listen to Holy Wood or Mechanical Animals

In my opinion the best lyrical rock band by far. I like like a lot of these other bands but no one touches the depth these guys have. I don't care if people like their music but it does worry me a little if someone doesn't at least appreciate them.

I think they started losing their personal touch in their early days of fame. When Rev died, they dedicated his last song to him, which you can infer in "Nightmare" music video. As far as I've seen, they're just pop music now. I hate to admit it.

With lyrics ranging from deep and emotional to hardcore and outright, this band deserves to be no less than number 1
30 seconds to mars? Seriously? Their lyrics suck as much as their songs.
No. 26 is no place to be for a band of such calibre and lyrical skills.

Underrated band... The numbskulls who chose the above band instead of this one are just forcing themselves to like them as they are popular and successful with selling their records... But man... Listen to the lyrics of this band... Any song...
In my opinion, the best songs of them with respect to the best lyrics are...
.1. Demons
2. Bromtom cocktail
3. Welcome to the family
4. Size the day
5. Tension
6. Critical acclaim
7. Danger line (my favorite)
8. An epic of time wasted
9. Warmness on the soul
10. Until the end

There's nothing like mychem. Will never get bored of them

All of their songs have beautiful meanings, even if it was written for four year olds (Every Snowflake is Different). One of my favorite lyrics is from Dessert Song. "From the lights to the pavement. From the van to the floor. From backstage to the doctor. From the earth to the morgue." They do everything beautifully, but I'm a sucker for a progression poem.

40? Um, this band wrote the Black Parade album. Spend little time unpacking the collective meaning of the songs in this album. Before you know it, you'll have spend a lot of time because it's full of hidden meanings through and through. One of the beautiful things about it is that it can be interpreted multiple ways. Each song I believe fits into the story of the patient, but I can also see clear references to the band itself commenting about the state of the music industry and their place in it. Very intricate story.

Their lyrics are moving, poetic, and beautiful. People overlook all of the lovely words, and make inaccurate judgments, putting them into categories like "emo".
They put so much thought in their writing, and you can feel the emotion in their songs.

I wanna scream "I love you" from the top of my lungs, but I'm afraid that someone else will hear me. Is better than anything ANY other hand on this list has ever produced!

FOB should be MUCH higher! What other band could come up with "I'm coming apart at the seams, pitching myself for leads in other people's dreams"?

'Everything you say can and willl be held against you.
So only say my name.. it will be held against you'

Most meaningful lyrics I have ever heard. This should be #1.

This band has helped me through many hard times because I know that someone is there for me

"fight it, take the pain- ignite it. Tie a noose around your mind loose enough to breathe fine and tie it to a tree, tell it 'you belong to me'.
This ain't a noose this is a leash and I have news for you, you must obey me."

Very thought-provoking and meaningful lyrics. Missing from most of today's music. - alexinkiev

This is the best Duo ever heard.. the lyrics are simply amazing, I love because it hits me hard, makes you think..

How are they so low on this list, what the hell, Queen is one the greatest bands with some of the greatest lyrics, how did all these bands get a better spot on this list... Unbelievable

QUEEN is the greatest band, with the greatest lyrics, and the best musicians and singers, and the best songs EVER!
QUEEN = PERFECTION!

Why are they only 55th?

Really? 55th?

I feel like everyone is retarded or just hasn't heard modest mouse if they really think that there are 36 bands with better lyrics than modest mouse. I mean really, the fray?! And Linkin Park beating beating them, let alone being #1 is disgusting. Perhaps it is modest mouse's provocative music style that dissuades them from gaining more listeners, but dammit they're so good. Definitely my second favorite band, behind only radiohead, but still I think modest mouse has way better lyrics than radiohead. The only reason I like radiohead more is because music speaks louder than words.

They have one of the best songwriters Isaac Brock on their side. Besides their very interesting music style, I love the lyrics they have so much feeling. They should at least be number 10. - littledemand

This list makes me facepalm...

Despite being a heavy metal band Maiden’s songs are all poetic with deep literature & history references. It should at least be in top 10

Why is Maiden down here?

Obviously no one here has listened to "Hallowed be thy Name" or "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" or "Dance of Death" or "Dream of Mirrors" or ANY IRON MAIDEN SONG WILL BLOW YOUR MIND WITH THEIR LYRICS.

PURE GENIUS. Aside from the Beatles, the most influential band EVER. They literally changed the history of music by combining the rawness of punk with German electronics (synths) and deeply emotional lyrics.
Without JD there would be no Gothic (Bauhaus, Echo and the Bunnymen and the Cure were all directly influenced by JD), no New Romantic / New Wave, no Pixies and therefore no grunge, no EBM and therefore no techno or electronic dance music and everything post-techno/grunge is a total throwback to either classic rock-n-roll, New Wave or punk. Aside from hip-hop, which itself has borrowed heavily from from the post-punk / new wave movement started by Joy Division, we'd be left with plain rock, punk, folk, jazz, blues, German minimalist electronics and abstract minimalist Industrial. Joy Division blended all that came before them to perfection and every band that has appeared since has either directly or indirectly been influenced by them.
They literally exploded the boundaries ...more

"When routine bits hard, and ambitions are low,
and resentment rides high, but emotions won't grow,
and we're changing our ways, taking different roads,
then Love, love will tear us apart... again... "

Ian Curtis didn't just write a break-up songs, he personified heartbreak and anguish in his lyrics. - Uzzy

Ian Curtis' lyrics make you feel so isolated and clostraphobic, the ability to do this determines the fact that they are lyrically the greatest band of all time

Very good. Amazing even. - littledemand

Definitely the most emotional, authentic, complex and powerful lyrics any single band has consistently written. One of the few truly talented "rock" bands in existence. Pure guitar-driven beauty.

Crushers like 'I know its over' and 'last night I dreamt somebody loved me' and 'there is a light that will never go out' sum up the angst and desire of youth like no other! 'please, please, please let me get what I want' is the most beautiful young adult whining one could imagine, and the cleverness of 'cemetery gates' is amazing. Snarky, dark and vunerable. Moz deserves a spot toward the top!

Their lyrics are hauntingly beautiful.
"I know it's over
And it never really began
But in my heart it was so real"

"And when darkness lifts and the room is bright
I'll still be by your side
For you are all that matters
And I'll love you to till the day I die
There never need be longing in your eyes"

Why the smiths is not on the list?!

The have very power lyrics. Should be much higher on this list.

They have some of the best lyrics ever!
For example:
"And I could write a song a hundred miles long, well that's where I belong, and you belong with me." (Swallowed in the Sea)

No Genesis on this list? Read the lyrics of "Supper's ready", "Dancing with the moonlit knight", "The battle of epping forest" and the whole "The lamb lies down on broadway"-album and you will agree that they are much better than most of the other bands on this list. - DarkSideOfDragons

The only band that rivals brand new is modest mouse lyrically.

Brand new is amazing

There is no way in HELL that Linkin Park has better lyrics than Brand New. I like LP as well, but BN has amazingly deep and introspective lyrics, as do many other bands on this list below LP. What a shame smh...