Which songwriter(s) would you consider wise?

[mix]

And why? I have always been intrigued by political and historical wisdom, so my vote goes to Joe Strummer, as The Clash lyricist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSReAJAlmMg

[BOSSHOG]

1. Sting. Bernie Taupin

[mix]

8. Bernie Taupin,

his lyrics were the first I really started to listen to as a kid...I still love them.

[BOSSHOG]

12. He was a Magic Man in the early 70's

Indian Sunset is awesome. He has quite an incredible body of work.

[lukasahero]

2. Sting, Bruce Cockburn, Jackson Brown, Catie Curtis, Dar Williams

"Wise" was an interesting choice of words and limited my selections the more I thought about what that meant.

[lukasahero]

28. I want to add Natalie Merchant and Robert Buck to my list

Was just listening to some 10,000 Maniacs and remembered how wonderfully bold these two were.

[SoxFan]

3. Fred Durst

:hide:

Oh. You're serious?

In that case, Steve Earle and Mike Scott.

[Forkboy]

4. Ah, let's see....

Jello Biafra because, agree with his take or not, the man knows his shit.

Tom Waits just because his lyrics give me no reason to think otherwise. Same goes for Nick Cave.

Uncle Jim (Alan Bishop) because drunken lounge acts are inherently wise. Ok, maybe not, but Uncle Jim knows all anyways. One listen to the song Geography of the Swastika will surely set the world on the right path lol.

Miko Aspa from Deathspell Omega because satanism in music has never been so intelligent. And I don't even believe in Satan.

Paris because hip hop can be about more than bitches and money. Same for Michael Franti.

And Strummer is a great pick as well. :thumbsup:

[EastTennesseeDem]

5. Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse)

I am a sucker for his strict-but-sympathetic stance on theology, capitalism, and love:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00hQLZRz38Q
Well all the apostles, they're sitting in swings
Saying "I'd sell off my savior for a set of new rings
And some sandals with the style of straps that cling best to the era"
And all of the businessers are in unlimited hell
Where they buy and they sell and they sell all their trash to each other
'Cause they're sick of it all and they're bankrupt on selling

And all of the angels, they'd sell off your soul
For a set of new wings and anything gold
They remember the people they loved, they're old friends
And I've seen through them all, seen through them all, seen through most everything

All the people you knew were the actors
All the people you knew were the actors

Well I'll go to college and I'll learn some big words
And I'll talk real loud, goddamn right I'll be heard
You'll remember the guy who said all those big words he must have learned in college

And it took a long time till I came clean with myself
I'd fallen clean out of love with my lover
I still love her
Loved her more when she used to be sober and I was kinder





Also Win Butler, Thom Yorke, and Doug Martsch.

[fizzgig]

16. that song kills me

he's got a way of really getting to you sometimes

[hippywife]

6. Definitely Jackson Browne and Bruce Cockburn as were mentioned above.

Also another is a local CA musician and songwriter, Keith Greeninger. He is amazing!

http://keithgreeninger.com/

[lukasahero]

27. Crap. I spelled his name wrong.

You'd think after 30 years of listening to him, I'd know it was Browne not Brown. Ooops. :blush:

[A-Schwarzenegger]

7. Leonard Cohen.

[LisaM]

9. Joni Mitchell

and Cat Stevens.

Joe Strummer of course.

Paul Simon. Steve Earle.

[mix]

21. I've always loved Joni Mitchell's songwriting too. nt

[dbt]

10. John Fogerty

Take you a glass of water,
Make it against the law.
See how good the water taste
When you can't have any a'tall.

:smoke:

[tigereye]

11. Roseanne Cash - every interview and concert I have heard or seen indicates

this...


and, the late, much missed Warren Zevon.

[kentauros]

13. Andy Partridge, XTC

Because the somewhat esoteric content of their songs shouldn't be popular, yet it is, probably due to the pop sound of the music. People are tricked into liking intelligent music :D

XTC: Garden of Earthly Delights
XTC - The Wheel & The Maypole

[mix]

30. brilliant, incredible lyrics about class, love, British fascists, etc

no thugs in our house (live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPEESN8flA8

[Demoiselle]

14. Randy Newman. Really. I love sardonic.

[abq e streeter]

15. Strummer is right there at the top along with Springsteen, but in a class by himself: Dylan

also Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, John Prine, James McMurtry. Dylan alone at the top because at his best, his songs have been windows into the mysteries of the ages as well as uncanny predictions as to what was about to go down.

[abq e streeter]

18. and in their own way, Carol King and Smokey Robinson

not historical or political, but for insights into the human heart disguised as catchy pop songs.

[mix]

24. emotional wisdom is important nt

[kayakjohnny]

17. David Gilmour

[WinkyDink]

19. The late Phil Ochs.

[likesmountains 52]

22. +1

[flvegan]

20. Adam Yauch.

His two cohorts as well, but not quite so much.

[Forkboy]

25. Fully agree.

A man to look up to, and there's damned few of them.

[LeftyMom]

26. You, sir, are a panty flinging fangirl of the worst sort.

:P

[likesmountains 52]

23. Townes Van Zandt

[Kat45]

29. Frank Zappa. I wish we could still have his wisdom today.

Also Bruce Springsteen and Jello Biafra.