OT: most POETIC non-Dylan rock 'n roll songs?

[bags27]

yes, rock can be poetic. Dylan has been awarded a Pulitzer and a Nobel, and top academic critics have long appreciated his work as poetry (e.g. Sir Frank Kermode and Sir Christopher Ricks). But Dylan is far from the only rock poet. What songs do you think best exhibit poetry (allusions, metaphor, word play, etc)?

here are some of my non-Dylan favorites:

Smokey Robinson "Tracks of my Tears"
Leonard Cohen "Closing Time"
Bob Seger "Against the Wind"
Jonie Mitchell "Chelsea Morning"
Gerry Goffin & Carole King "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?"

 

[JordyG]

RIP Mr Campbell.

 

[Scud49]

This one always comes to mind when I think beautiful and poetic:

 

[ctfjr]

I relate to this one. Poetic to me when it 1st hit the radio:

 

[bags27]

And you think "let's spend the night together; now I need you more than ever...my, my, my" is poetry. Eye of the beholder!

 

[JordyG]

And you think "let's spend the night together; now I need you more than ever...my, my, my" is poetry. Eye of the beholder!

He wasn't thinking with his eyes.

 

[VAMike23]

 

[VAUConnFan]

One cannot go wrong with any and all of the songs penned by Smokey Robinson. My favorite of his, a less well known song linked below. Another very good writer, more recently well known is Sixto Rodriguez who can be described as Bob Dylan with a much better voice.

 

[VAUConnFan]

My favorite Smokey song performed by another group:

 

[SVCBeercats]

What songs do you think best exhibit poetry (allusions, metaphor, word play, etc)?

Anything by Al Yankovic is poetry. “Flowers on the Wall” by the Statler Broers. Ok! Ok! Get serious.

Bernie Taupin -- Taupin's lyrics include such songs as "Rocket Man", "Levon", "Crocodile Rock", "Honky Cat", "Tiny Dancer", "Candle in the Wind", "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", "Bennie and the Jets", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters", "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", "The Bitch is Back", "Daniel", and 1970's "Your Song", their first hit. Hits in the 1980s include "I'm Still Standing", "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues", "Sad Songs", and "Nikita." In the 1990s, "The One", "Simple Life", "The Last Song", "Club at the End of the Street" and " Believe." Thanks! Wiki!

"My Girl" sung by the Temptin' Temptations written by Smokey!

Roy Orbison (written and co-written) -- As Long as I Can Dream; Blue Bayou; California Blue; Careless Heart; Congratulations (Traveling Wilburys song). Crying; Dirty World; End of the Line (Traveling Wilburys song); Go Go Go (Roy Orbison song); Handle with Care (song); Heading for the Light; In Dreams; It's Over (Roy Orbison song); Last Night (Traveling Wilburys song); Like a Ship; A Love So Beautiful; Margarita (Traveling Wilburys song); Maxine (Traveling Wilburys song); Not Alone Any More; Oh, Pretty Woman; Only the Lonely; Rattled; Running Scared (Roy Orbison song); Tweeter and the Monkey Man; What Kind of Love; You Got It

 

[pinotbear]

 

[Intpseeker]

Knights in White Satin from the Moody Blue's Days of Future Passed. A beautiful album.

 

[Scud49]

Now the wind that's blowing out of the southwest....

 

[JimGunther]

I'm certainly late to the party on this one but, I'm so impressed with the musicianship and range (of style and subject) of Mark Knopfler.

 

[JavaMan]

The day the music died.

 

[Scud49]

Jim, you are so correct - this one is superbly melodic and beautiful:

 

[Bigboote]

This one is hugely open to interpretation. There are three Muses of poetry -- Erato is the muse of love poetry; Calliope, epic/heroic; and Euterpe, lyric. And then what's rock n roll music. The RnR Hall of Fame is notoriously antagonistic toward progressive/art rock, but as far as I'm concerned, that's where the best poetry in rock music is. Many of the prog rock bands had lyricists -- Keith Reid of Procol Harum; Pete Sinfield of King Crimson; Betty Thatcher of Renaissance. . .

Among my faves:

King Crimson -- C0urt of the Crimson King (not available on youtube)

Procol Harum -- A Salty Dog

 

[Bigboote]

Jim, you are so correct - this one is superbly melodic and beautiful:

A thousand likes. I was gonna post this if you didn't.

 

[Intpseeker]

Dire Staits. I agree. geat musicality and very cool poetry.

 

[Bigboote]

Renaissance -- Mother Russia

 

[Huskee11]

The great Roy Orbison is already taken, so I`ll happily move along to The Band and The Weight.

 

[Bigboote]

Along with Mark Knopfler and Richard Thompson, Tom Waits writes lyrics that reflect the common man and convey a mood. There are dozens of Waits songs I could post, but I find this one particularly poetic at the moment:

 

[Huskee11]

Another poetic classic from The Band

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down featuring the fabulous Levon Helm

 

[Intpseeker]

I was blown away the first time I heard he and I remain entranced:

 

[Kaizen]