Comments so far

Vic Devon
Ray Davies has no equal! He invented heavy metal, punk, britpop. He can write concept albums, musicals, rock and roll, thrash metal, heavy rock, ballads, reggae, calypso etc etc. No one has the insight and ability to mix intelligent lyrics with unforgettable melodies like Ray Davies.

Dave Brighton
Neil Young or Peter HammillPeter has the edge - he has written the most memorable and innovative songs over the years.

Peter Brighton
It has to be either Neil Young or Peter Hammill but I think Peter because of the range and depth of his music and lyrics.

Alan Holland
Dory Previn?

Katie, Moscow
Peter Hammill is for sure the best songwriter of all time!

Chris, West Sussex
It's Peter Hammill by a short head from Ray Davies in my book.Thoughtful and thought-provoking Hammill versus concise and insightful Davies.

Katie (Moscow)
Peter Hammill is the best songwriter of all time

adrian, NY
Peter Hammill, then ...a gap, then all the others

Frank, Lodon
Well nice to see Peter Hammill getting a mention - definitely my personal favourite. I think PH wass spot on when he said:"A song - at least in my view - should not be didactic... there should be ''holes'' in it, into which the listener can insert his own comprehension and experience."Everyone will listen to music with a different frame of referenece so you can clearly never have a comprehensive answer to this Q.

Alan Windsor, Blansko
Peter Hammill for constantly exploring the form of the song with intelligent passion and endless experiment. Oh, loads of wonderful songs too.

mike oconnell hull
An impossible question to answer.Different strokes for different folksOne day its Smokey robinson,next pete townsend, the cat stevens yet another day any of a hundred or more. Please let there always be great songwriters to entertain usMike O'Connell East Yorks

Martin, Ropley, England
Ray Davies, no dount about it.

Colm Mullan; Derry, Ireland
I think that Dave Grohl is the best without a doubt. His lyrics always have a meaning and his tunes are so catchy

Paul Lennox, Newton Abbot
Obvious, the best song writer, most influence, still doing it, Ray Davies

Joe Laginestra Ridgewood, New York
As much as I love Bob Dylan I do have to say that John Lennon & Paul McCartney together and as solo artists are the No.1 and No.2 songwriters of all time. Mr. Dylan has to be satisfied with 3rd place in the history books. Hey, lets face it, it isn't so bad being behind Lennon aand McCartney in the standings. But, man 'o man Bob has left us with some freakin' body of work, some of the greatest songs on earth and as a man/artist has influenced and changed the world. Thank you Mr. Bob Dylan for the many gifts you have left us.

Jim, Atlanta USA
Mr. Ray Davies

Baz - Hull
Lee Pedge from The Raywells

Michael MANCHESTER
Peter Hammill, Lennon & Mccartney or Roger Waters & David Gilmour... Probably Peter Hammill though ;)

Betty S, in Brighton
David Gedge of The Wedding Present. The George Best album sums up exactly what it was like to be a man with feelings in macho West Yorkshire in the late '80s.

Nigel, Middlesbrough
I would suggest three quintessentially English songwriters, in Jon Anderson, Peter Hammill, and the sadly-missed Alan Hull. All now deeply underappreciated, but each providing, in their different ways, the complete answer to the draining of ambition in music exemplified by the “X-factor”. Oh, yes, and Neil Young. But that goes without saying!

Frank J. Manchester UK
I'm amazed that Ian Anderson has only one mention - or two now. Up there with Cohen, Young, Davies

Somebody - West Midlands
Ray Davies was a genius! Lyrically, he is a true poet and they're crafted with so much more wit and skill than any Beatles lyrics.Also, the chords, melodies and rhythms of his songs just work so well. Eveything he writes is just perfect. All this is the sign of a truly gifted, musicial genius. Or as you could say a pop-music Beethoven.So anyway, my vote goes to Ray!Good to see at least half of you going for Ray! The other half is supporting a mixture of different songwriters, meaning overall Ray has the most support! I only hope it turns out he will be number one on the list!I love Village Green Preservation Society! Better than any Beatles album!

Tracey B from Shropshire
James Dean Bradfield, Richey Edwards, Nicky Wire, Brian Wilson, Wayne Coyne, Michael Stipe, Roddy Woomble and loads of others too!

Paul, Lytham St. Annes
Is this about the song or just the lyrics? Sufjan Stevens. Elliott Smith. Bowie 72-76. Elton John, Bernie Taupin

dan t oldham
euros childs and john lawrence of gorkys zygotic mynci, just for the name.

Jonas, Stockholm
Ray Davies!!!

Sarah, Manchester UK
My vote goes to Ray Davies and Dave Davies of the Kinks. Collectively and individually they are without a doubt the greatest song writers going.

Kent - Allingsås, Sweden
Ray Davies is at the top of songwriters. The question should be, who is the second best songwriter?

Mark, Manchester, England
Kate Bush!!

Tricia Perry - Petts Wood - England
No contest - it can only ever be Dylan

Roland from St. Gallen (Switzerland)
the one and only Ray Davies from the Kinks

Redondo Beach, CA, USA
Ray Davies.

Anders - Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Ray Davies is outstanding as a songwriter!

kurt k,north plfd,nj,usa
Ray Davies....awesome then.....better now!!!

Betsy -- Los Angeles, CA
Ray Davies surpasses them all - his lyrics and songs are perfection!

Gordon Bentley from Chingforfd London
Few Beatle songs were genuinely a Lennon/McCartney partnership. More like healthy competition between them, that faded as the 60's ended. My vote goes to Ray Davies ofd Kinks. he has lasted the diatnce form the early 60's and even today is releasing new songs on CD. Even has a East London musical stage show running at the moment, called "Come Dancing". Give him a gold star for keeping it up !

John, London
Ray Davies is not only a genius, he's a visionary - the words were almost used in a tiny Observer review of "Something Else," The Kinks' extraordinary album from 1967. Dylan and Lennon and McCartney (note those two always have to be together to qualify!!) were geniuses, but they were not visionary. Unlike the aforementioned, Ray Davies still writes great songs today. "Over My Head" and "Imaginary Man" from the last two albums spring to mind. Davies' influence is like a heavy snowfall: it covers so many songs by so many bands, you might as well leave them all buried and be content with the originals.

Helen Muswell Hill
Ray is a great British song writer but Richard Thompson ( Born just down the road form Ray I think) has to be more Ray x10 - more darkness,irony and wider grasp of musical styles and guitar virtuoso.BUt nothing will really match Lennon and McCartney

Charlie Sussex
Jimmy Webb. Full stop

Rona Potter - Inverkip
Sorry but I don't really have an opinion on who is the best songwriter - there are so many. I did watch a programme though - it was about a female songwriter from Scotland who now lives in New York (over looking Central Park) - anyway, I am desperate to learn her name. Apparently she wrote a massive hit song which was sung by a super star female singer but I can't remember which one it was.....blonde moment or what??If anyone knows who I am talking about can they let me know her name.....ever greatful...thanks.....mmmwah!

Paul - The Land of Rock.
Lennon and McCartney changed the world end of discussion. As much as i worship Ray Davies' music and songwriting, as Musicians and composers (Words and music) Lennon and McCartney win hands down. Ofcourse they have written some crap -individually and with the beatles but their collective genius must never be ignored.

Paul (Piglet VanGogh), Brooklyn NY
Ray Davies, without question!

Glauco Brazil/São Paulo
Ray Davies, Kinks rules

Leen Simonis, Vlaardingen
Ray Davies he's the greatest!

MICHAEL , OAK LAWN, IL USA
HANDS DOWN RAY DAVIES

Andrea / Chile
Mr. Ray Davies. I love his lyrics.

Andrea / Chile
Ray Davies

Penelope Tree, Brum
Lawrence of Felt, Denim and Go-Kart-Mozart.

Sophie, NY USA
KING CRIMSON! - whoever writes their musicOH OH OH THE MARS VOLTA! I love how nonsensical it is and how they essentially put words that sound and look good together regardless of whether it makes sense or not!

Driftwood , Ledbury
Ray Davies and Lennon and McCartney .

Lars - Karlstad, Sweden
Ray Davies is the greatest songwriter.

bob--clarks summit,pa usa
ray davies by far the best song writer in rock. he writes about everything from the every day guy to the corporate world

Paul A Carlisle
without doubt Ray Davies

Daisy, Oakland, CA
Ray Davies, no doubt about it.

Dick Holland
For me Ray Davies (The Kinks) is the best songwriter of all time.GOD SAVE THE KINKS!!!!

Joop Oudebeek, Dordrecht in Holland
The best songwriter of all time is Ray Davies. The one and only. No doubts about it.

Martin, Ropley
ray davies by an english country mile

HENNY (ONE OF "THE KINKY2") - HOLLAND
RAY DAVIES!

Lawrence, San Francisco, CA
Ray Davies!

Peter Stinson, Brussels (previously Moneyrea & Bel
Ray Davies, for his wit, gorgeous melodies, biting social commentary and an uncanny ability to surprise.And a mention must go to his brother Dave, for the indispensable contribution regarding his pioneering metal guitar that typified the Kinks' early sound on gems such as "You Really Got Me", "All Day And All Of The Night", "I Need You" and "She's Got Everything". Dave Davies also merits a mention for his unaccredited contributions to many of his brother’s songs, and for the backing vocals and guitar-playing that fortified the delivery of Ray Davies' songs and maintained the Kinks' identity throughout their long and wide-ranging musical career. Now that the brothers appear resigned to work separately, Ray Davies continues to surprise us with quality (dare I say kwality?) compositions. However, sometimes the delivery (these days minus his younger sibling) is not quite as memorable as when the brothers jammed together and worked out arrangements, to create that unique platform for Ray Davies’ songs.

Stephanie, Sticks, CA
RAY DAVIES for the psychologically sophisticated RAY DAVIES! yeah ;)

Michael O'Malley Palos Park, IL USA
With out a second thought RAY DAVIES of the KINKS, gets my vote, and he should get yours also.

tony, boca raton
remember,song writing does not mean only writing lyrics.dylan,davies or john/paul(but not enough music from the beatles).my favorite is ray davies.

Jim Napoli St. Louis, MO USA
Ray Davies, hands down!

Tokyo, Japan
Ray Davies.He is a modern day Dickens. Somehow he makes fun of all rungs of society but treats those who deserve it with respect at the same time.

Les, Cincinnati
for range of musical styles and brilliant lyrics, from the sixties right up to today, nobody tops Rat Davies

Huub Goudzwaard Harderwijk
Ray Davies has written all those great tunes with no help from another person.

Ursula, Germany
No doubt, Ray Davies!

Diane Germano, Somerville, Ma USA
Best Song writer: Ray Davies

Radhe S Hermann, Auckland, New Zealand
Ray Davies of the Kinks. His work is amazing and goes way beyond that of his peers in terms of feeling and intellectual content. He may not have gotten all the corporate promotion but his contributions to rock are unsurpassed.

Becky Youngman, Anderson, Indiana, USA
Hands down, best songwriter of all time...my beloved favorite...the living legend... Mr. Raymond Desmond Davies. Many know the Kinks gems of the past, I'm not Like Everybody Else, All Day and All of the Night, Waterloo Sunset…You Really Got Me, but there is really no way to list the gazillion more true breath takers beyond. For me, the finest moments of Ray Davies' songs are actually RIGHT NOW! Live, sung by Ray, same strong voice as ever, with a full band, accompanied by a standing crowd, belting out in tearful, happy, everyday voices , old favorites, noncommercial GOLD surprises, amongst Ray's NEW solo gems from albums Other People's Lives and the newest masterpiece The Working Man's Cafe. AND HE IS STILL BROADENING HIS CREATIVE BOUNDARIES - still WORKING really hard. You know he has a new musical, Come Dancing, opening September 13 at the Theater Royal Stratford East. More new songs!!!

Andres, Buenos Aires
Headmaster Ray Davies. Popular isn't the same as influential. And a man who developed such an amount of musical-lirical-conceptual innovatios (always asociated to other names) as brit pop, raga rock, sociological pop poetry, conceptual albums, rock operas… Incorporated music hall, vaudeville, vavarian songs, nursery rhymes, march, polka, rumba, bossa… In a band that was the quintessential of the british sound (more than Beatles- Stones-Who), and created distortion, hard rock, proto-punk, controled feedback, conceptual video-clip, first ecological anthem, and such gems as Waterloo Sunset, You Really Got Me, Sunny Afternoon, Lola, Dead End Street, Days, All Day And All Of The Night. Milestones LPs as Face To Face, Something Else, Village Green Preservation, Arthur and Muswell Hillbillies… Almost 40 albums in almost four decades. Just ask Townshend, McCartney, Jagger, Bowie, Doors, Patti Smith, Jam, Van Halen, Pretenders, E. Costello, Geldof, Supergrass, Green Day, Ozzy, Morrisey, Madness, Ian Dury, Blur, Pulp, Oasis, Wilco, Elastica, Belle & Sebastian, White Stripes, F. Ferdinand, Kooks, Strokes, Coldplay, Jet, Artic Monkeys…

RONNY VAN HOFSTRAETEN , BELGIUM
RAY DAVIES , SUNNY AFTERNOON , AFTER THE FALL and ROCK 'N'ROLL FANTASY

~rose~ from NJ, USA
Mr. Raymond Douglas Davies, who has, without doubt, inspired many of the people already mentioned.

Bill Blackmon, Austin Tx. USA
Ray Davies. No competition.

Simon. Manchester
The best songwriter of all time is surely Ray Davies. He has written great songs in many different styles for more than 40 years. This month his new musical launches on the London stage.

Rob Kopp, Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands
For me Ray Davies of The Kinks is the best songwriter.

Remy/The Hague (Netherlands)
Without doubt: Ray Davies. 1. Waterloo Sunset2. Dead-End Street3. Shangri-La/Animal Farm

Poul Hoejvang, Denmark
Ray Davies.

Denise, Brooklyn New York
Ray Davies and Prince.

Simon van den Bergh, Delft - The Netherlands
Of course Ray Davies is the very very best songwriter I know. Nobody has been capable to write songs like Waterloo Sunset, Days, Celluloid Heroes, Shangri-la and so on, and so on. Especially in short time he comes with a musical called Come Dancing and wrote another 20 songs. So vote for Ray Davies please! He's the only one who deserves it at the moment!

Urs Steiger Winterthur / Switzerland
Easy question: RAY DAVIES!!!

Tim Jones Barry Vale of Glamorgan
Best songwriter? Ray Davies- best songs? - Waterloo sunset, Celluloid heroes, Come Dancing, Shangri-la, Working Man's cafe

Stan Cauwels
Hi i'm from Holland, and for me the best songwriter is Ray Davies.After all those years he's stil going on and very strong.

D. Watts, Oklahoma USA
Ray Davies without a doubt.

Chris van Alem, Beers, the Netherlands
Without doubt Ray Davies is the best! His tunes, his wit and the gap between his front teeth make him unbeatable!

Phyllis, Seattle
Ray Davies - One of the most under rated songwriters ever

Paco Romero. San Juan del Puerto. Spain
No doubt, the best songwriter of all time is Ray Davies (from The Kinks)

Judi, New York
My vote goes to Dave Cousins of Strawbs, the world's most underrated songwriter. Ray Davies is my runner-up.

june nielsen,north plainfield,new jersey,USA
By Far-Mr. Ray Davies of the Kinks!!!!Mr.Dave Davies a very close second!

Ralph, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
Ray Davies. No second thoughts on this one

Gerard van Calcar, Amsterdam
Ofcourse Raymond Douglas Davies

Paul Mac Namara ,Limerick, Ireland
" As long as I gaze at Waterloo Sunset I am in Paradise" Ray Davies at the top.......Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Brian Wilson, Ron Sexsmith, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, John Cale, Rufus Wainwright, Leonard Cohen.

Paul Mac Namara
1." As long as I gaze at Waterloo Sunset I am in Paradise." Ray Davies 2. Bob Dylan 3. Randy Newman4. Brian Wilson5. Ron Sexsmith

Kim Copenhagen, DK.
Ray Davies

Lena mm, Moscow, Russia
Ray Davies certainly! for beautiful music and lyrics. And definitely - Bob Dylan!

Nancy/Pennsylvania
Lennon/McCartney without a doubtRay Davies has rank in the top 2

Ana, Seville (Spain)
Ray Davies of course!

Chicago, IL USA
Ray Davies

Frank K, San Diego, CA
Ray Davies. No contest, though the early work of Dylan and Neil Young is also very good.

N6 6bh
Van Morrison,Ray Davies.

Davy Gallagher, Glasgow
For lyrics, Ray Davies and Bob Dylan. For music, Brian Wilson and Prince. For the sake of it.....ALEX HARVEY!

Rickard Thulin Stockholm
Ray Davies is the best.He has made exellent songs for 44 years.Thelyrics and music always so perfectly together.

Jayne, NYC
RAY DAVIES far surpasses them all. His music is so good it blows my mind.

Xabier San Sebastian (Bask Country)
Ray Davies, for being able of looking at the world from a window.

Tomas Stockholm
Ray Davies, has always something to say, great songs and music

Sean, Oakham
It has to be Ray Davies. His social commentaries are the best.

Complicated Life, Bayside, NY USA
Raymond Douglas Davies - the poet laureate of rock. 'nuff said.

Norbert, Reunion
Ray Davies is the finest lyric-writer ever. Rock genius !

Frank Lima - A Monvale (Hillbilly), New Jersey B
Without a doubt in my mind it is; Raymond Douglas Davies.

fremsley, Glasgow
has to be aiden moffat, just listen to "the boy you loved".

Nadja - Berkeley CA USA
got to re-nominate Ginger of The Wildhearts.

George, Eureka, CA
Hands down best ever: Ani DiFranco

topcat woking
elvis costello without a doubt he has just released momofuku not a sound from the british industry about it then there raving about very average coldplays new album doesnt make any sense

Stevie D, Leeds
It has to be Chris Martin of course ! God-like rhyming schemes such as "Was a long and dark December, from the rooftops I remember", and imagery of such depth and perception that it threatens to crack the very code of life itself: "There was snow, white snow". No wonder they're so terrifically popular, it really doesn't get any better than that, surely the entire history of music has been leading up to this one band, who will soon singularly save the record industry and the world with their life-affirming music. God bless Coldplay.

Reg, brighton
I cant believe no body has mentioned doherty/barat yet. Otherwise Marr & Morrisey and most of the names mentioned below.

eck tamworth
Lou Reed with Velvet Underground and solo.Excluding Metal Machine!

Aaron shrewsbury
I would say that it has to be Robert Plant and Jimmy page as there lyrics are amazing =]

Ryan Anthony, Taunton
Wayne Coyne? Flaming Lips genius. Psychadelic joy at it's best? Life, Love and Death lace every song.

Pete Wilson from Mintlaw in Aberdeenshire
Of course Bob Dylan is one of the best lyricists of all time. However let's not forget genius' such Bruce Springsteen, Joe Strummer. Even more recent songwriters like Alex Turner are brilliant

El Conejo Ingles Spain
Elvis Costello's early funny ones are up there with anyone

Paul Murray, Belfast
Mr Tim Booth is up there with the greats.Fact.

Maximo Buenos Aires
Syd Barret

Rich, London
dylan- hands down, greatest living user of the English language

Mal Wilson, Blackpool
Lyrics - Jarvis CockerMelody - Ray DaviesMusical Arrangement - Brian WilsonGuitar Solo - Jimi HendrixBassline - Paul McCartney

Chris Herts
Phil Collins, gotta be. Also jeff buckley, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Morissey. Who ever put Alex Turner, are you really sure? i mean, really, are you being serious? if you are that is ridiculous. I hardly think someone that uses lyrics like 'now that mardy bum' and 'oh the boys a slag, the best you ever had' can be classed as a genius song writing.

Karam, Birmingham
Noel gallagher is the greatest songwriter of all time. The lyrics to Definitley maybe are amazing. They are so positive and uplifting. He gets unfair criticism for allegedley copying other artists but it does not matter as his end product is 99% of the time pure genius. I'm not into the sad and serious stuff like Jeff Buckley or MR Moaner himslef Thom Yorke, not my cup of tea

Bob, Hereford
I am surprised that no-one has mentioned Bob Marley yet.

Mark, Newcastle upon Tyne
It has to be Merseysides finest...Nigel Blackwell from Half Man Half Biscuit. Genius

andrew , bournemouth
paul weller 77-82.read the lyrics to songs like "the eton rifles

Sean Condon, Toronto
Neil Young has by far been the best at meshing music and lyric, and it's been by instinct and economy (most often) rather than overthought. But this whole game is kind of apples and oranges (speaking of which, I love Syd). Britain's best and most highly consistent, for my money? Nick Lowe. The great man puts his old pal Costello (who's been treading water as a bloater for 25 years) to shame. There are too many more – some obvious, some not – who are in my top rank, but Young and Lowe are two of my career faves.

Andrea in Whitstable
My top 10 Songwriters in no particular order because its too difficult to choose:Matt JohnsonFrank ZappaNick DrakeElliot SmithPJ HarveyNick CaveMorrisseyKate BushThom YorkeKurt CobainCould go on....

Darshan from wembley
Prince

Port Alberni Canada
NEIL YOUNG. He is timeless - and our greatest "native" (aks first nations) poet

ang, wales.
Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen without a doubt!

Matt, Bristol
From the fool's gold mouthpieceThe hollow horn plays wasted wordsProves to warnThat he not busy being bornIs busy dying.Dylan is easily the finest lyrist of the last centruy,

Sophie, Southampton
Moz & Bowie!

Aaron, Peterborough
Jeff Lynne by a mile, and Roy Wood not far behind.

Eric , Belgium
JONI MITCHELL!This woman has produced so much beauty for the heart and mind and she'salways neglected...She and BOB DYLAN have written some of the best lyrics and music I've ever heard...And let's not forget Nick Drake ,Tom Waits, Randy Newman and John Cale

tracey chipchase cricklade witlshire
Lennon/McCartney the best ever

Mal Wilson, Blackpool
Lyrics - Jarvis Cocker (Pulp)Melody - Ray Davies (The Kinks)Arrangement - Brian Wilson (Pet Shop Boys)

John-James, Edinburgh.
Richey James Edwards and Nicky Wire

Karen, Cambridge
Mick Jones/Lou Gramm made an earblowing combination with lyrics that grabbed you by the throat such as - A boy is born in a bed of thornsHe wears his halo hanging from his hornsCity streets out of luck you loseTo get what you needYou do what you have to do - Chris Rea is so underrated as a singer/songwriter whose songs cover every emotion and aspect of the human experience.

rich, london
no question. bob dylan. only possible answer

Jim - Derby
Overall, I think you have to go some way to beat Elvis Costello. The man has turned his hand to every genre, and to be honest, has introduced many people to these genres along the way. His firey lyrics and superb structure show that he is simply the master of song.

AJ in Devon
Tom Waits , Nick Cave , Leonard Cohen , Bob Dylan and Neil Young are all brilliant.

Aidan Culhane, London
Actually a little surprised that nobody has suggested 'E' from Eels - wonderful lyricist, who has written so beautifully about so many human emotions. I also love Beck, especially on 'Sea Change' nad maybe Frank Zappa for humour value.

alicia_Dayton,Ohio/USA
Lennon & McCartney, had been and always will be the best.

alicia_Dayton,Ohio/USA
Lennon & McCartney, had been and always will be the best.

JoJo, Manc
Why has no-one mentioned PRINCE!? Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, Little Red Corvette, Raspberry Beret, Kiss, the WHOLE of the Sign 'O' the Times album... gee whizz, he's an incredible songwriter who's also penned the biggest hits for other artists... Chaka Khan's I Feel For You, The Bangle's Manic Monday and, of course, Nothing Compares 2 U. Come guys, credit is due!

Chatham, Medway
Billy Childish!!!!

Stevie, Edinburgh
Bob Dylan (leaves everyone else fighting it out for second place), Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Leadbelly, Neil Young, Morrissey. Ray Davies although maybe not as popular or as widely influential, is a better songwriter than the Lennon/McCartney collaboration.

Gonçalo Magalhães, Macau - China
Dylan, Lennon/McCartney, Jagger/Richards, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Lou Reed, John Cale, Joni Mitchell, Syd Barret, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Paul Simon, Patti Smith, Nick Drake, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne & Talking Heads, Morrissey/Marr, Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits, Kate Bush, R.E.M., Prince, Suzanne Vega, Nick Cave, and the list goes on and on. And PLEASE don't forget the world of songwriters is not just North America. the U.K. & Ireland. The genius is everywhere: Jacques Brell (France), Caetano Veloso (Brazil), Sérgio Godinho (Portugal), Paolo Conte (Italy), Fela Kuti (Nigeria)...but if I have to choose one only it would be Morrissey/Marr

Pablo from San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Ian Curtis

Juraj, Toronto, ON Canada
FRANK ZAPPA. Absolutely no question about it; the best songwriter of all time is Frank Zappa. I'm completely shocked he hasn't had a mention on the site so far. My personal favorite album is We're Only In It For The Money.

Jeff, Seattle
A thousand pardons. How could I forget Ray Davies and Richard Thompson!

Jon Parry, Sheffield
Got to be Paul Weller

Mr State The Obvious, Glasgow
Michael Jackson.

Kirsty, Maidstone
Nicky Wire & Richey Edwards, Jarvis Cocker, Guy Garvey and Gruff Rhys

SB, Manchester
Ian McCulloch, Lennon and McCartney, Morrissey and Marr, Pete Shelley.

Em, Oxford
Ray Davies!!

Lauren, Glasgow
Ron and Russell Mael. Their lyrics are so funny and witty.

derby
Jarvis Cocker writes the best lyrics ever, straight to the point & to the heart at the same time, every time - pretty clever.

Justin, StoneyBridge
Not of all time ('cos time hasn't finished), but certainly of MY time - Ginger of The Wildhearts

lee, treharris
ginger of wildhearts fame .the man has written so many catchy tunes its a shame he doesn't get the credit he deserves

Dan, Coventry
Ginger from the Wildhearts, without a doubt. Totally underrated, but every song the guy has written has been amazing lyrically, riffically (yes, that is now a word!), and the melodies and harmonies are always spine-tingling. The guy deserves some recognition!

Samurai Parsons, Salisbury
Songwriter (music and lyrics): Wayne Coyne or Gryff Rhys. Lyricist: Jeff Buckley

Tom in Stockport
Morrisey and Marr by far the best in terms of lyrics and music.

David Barker, Birmingham
This one will run & run!Special mention has to go to one of the true unsung heroes of British songwriting; Mick Head of Shack, nee The Strands and Pale Fountains. 20 years of writing beautiful, crafted masterpieces. It's no wonder so many musicians fete him as one of the greats. I'd also put a twist on the question and nominate a 'Band with the best songwriters'; Teenage Fanclub. Having the trio of Norman Blake, Gerard Love, and Raymond McGinley all penning in one band deserves recognition. Pure musical genius!

ROBERTSBRIDGE EAST SUSSEX
Lennon and McCartney , BOB DYLAN

Radish, Oxford
Ginger, of the Wildhearts/SilverGinger 5/Ginger and the Sonic Circus/Clam Abuse/Super$hit 666/Ginger fame. Under-appreciated genius, and when in collaboration with his fellow Wildhearts especially CJ, just sublime as a team.

Seoul, South Korea
Tough subjective question but I'll go with anyone of these: Lennon/McCartney, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen.

Marc, Redditch
Nick Drake hands down! ;)

Keith Eel, Austin, TX-USA
Well mates, this is one of those discussions which could go on for a long time; however, while it could be very easy to say Lennon & McCarthy & not be too wrong, I am going to say Radiohead, in an almost virtual deadlock with Bob Dylan,

Tom, Leeds
What i like best are songs that bring romance from the everyday - for me the best at that is Bruce Springsteen, without a doubt. Lines like 'The amusement parks rides stand bold and stark/Kids are huddled on the beach in the mist' to describe urban decay (Born to Run) or 'All those things that seemed so important/Well they vanished right into the air/Now I act like I dont remember/Mary acts like she dont care' for a tired relationship (The River) just take the breath away. He's also very good when he gets more political, on songs like Nebraska or more recently Empty Sky.Its true what other people have said about Morrissey, and i agree that his ability to empathise and relate emotions is exceptional on tracks like There Is A Light, The Boy With The Thorn In His Side, and Girlfriend In A Coma. I just think he lets himself down with some of the novelty ones like Frankly Mr Shankly et al, whereas Springsteen in his heyday (73-85) was unrivalled in both quality and consistency. Born To Run, Darkness, and Nebraska are the best examples of this.

David, Sheffield
I'd go for Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins mastermind. Every song the man has come up with- and there are hundreds- is imbued with such rich, powerful emotion. I can't think of anyone else who doesn't have some pointless songs to their name.

Rio de Janeiro,Brazil
Tom Fletcher from McFLY and John Lennon.I simply love their songs.

Shepherd's Bush, London
Paul Simon. The beautiful, weird imagery he uses, his storytelling ability and the ability to transcend the basic narrative too, the interdependence of his words and his music... I think he is the greatest songwriter ever (much better than that Dylan upstart :))

Dave in Grimsby
Lets not forget Shane Macgowan, his lyrics are where he lives.

Ron Mc Gregor, Riviere-Rouge, Canada
Aimee Mann.

Belfast
Van morrison, Glen hansard,Lennon/McCartney, andMorrissey & Marr.

Chris, Leeds
Tom Waits.Hands down. "Closing Time" is so beautiful...The beauty remains throughout the Swordfishtrombone trilogy, The Cubist/Funk of Real Gone and Orphans is the best album / collection to emerge in years!Lyrically... Nobody touches him.Musically... Can anybody else pull off Midget, Bar Mitzvah Polka?

Christine, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland
Elvis Costello. The finest!

Em, The Borders
Lennon/McCartney - not much contest

Chris, Brighton
If we're talking best songwriter, not song or album, then their entire career has to be taken into account, which more favourable to the older generations, sorry Alex Turner. But Lennon-McCartney duo was not the entirity of their career (and in my opinion McCartney's career goes down hill afterward with a just a few gems to show for it). But what about consistently successful songwriters such as Carole King and Diane Warren (90 US top 10's and huge list awards and nomiations) surely that would count for a great songwriter? But if you're after the writer of songs that move you then that's subjective and not everyone's going to agree with that so I'll say the Beatles as the best songwriting group, Bob Dylan as solo artist, Diane Warren as writer (for others) and Alex Turner for best new contender.

Graham, Brighton
People seem to be focusing on British songwriters instead of taking a wider scope. What about Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Holland/Dozier/Holland, David Porter and Isacc Hayes, Lenord Cohen, John Sebastian and of course Neil Young. Not as straightforward a question as you though, is it??!!!

Andrew, Amman Jordan
Bob Dylan and Paul Simon

Carlos, CARDIFF
Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) has to be one of the most under rated artists.

Xose - Asturies (North of the Iberic Peninsula)
FREDDIE MERCURY!then we can speak about Bono, Paul McCartney&John Lennon...

Dante Jacob, Birmingham
M.O.R.R.I.S.S.E.Y.

STE, WOLVES
MICHAEL STIPE - REM

Drew, Cardiff
Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan

Dom, Bradford
Thom Yorke and Bob Dylan. The talent of these men combined could power a small village for several decades.

Anna, Moscow
Lennon/McCartney in the past, Damon Albarn in the present

Stuart, Radcliffe
Lou Barlow - Check out the blessed moments of the Sebadoh album 'Harmacy'. All the songs with his credit are pure, nerve tingling genius: 'Beauty of the ride', 'Willing to wait' et al. The man must have had heart break bad to be inspired to write these tunes

Peter Bell, Perth
I wouldn't dispute any of the names put forward so far. I would only insist that Ray Davies must appear somewhere near the top of any list of great songwriters.

Dean, Newcastle
Elvis Costello has to be one of the most important and influential songwriters since John Lennon and Ray Davies. He is an acid-tongued and eloquent wordsmith and quintessentially British. He's not frightened to add humour and to cross genres . Momofuku proves he is still relevant too. Top class.

Andy in Cardiff
It has to be Morrisey/Marr for me. The lyrical genius of Morrisey combined with the sublime tunes of Marr have the power to make you laugh or cry. In the words of Morrisey "let me get my hands on your mammary glands"...genius!!!!

Sophie, Southampton
MORRISSEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! x

Dino Facchini Kilmarnock
I would vote for Ron Mael of Sparks. The evidence of his genius songwriting is currently on show in London in their marathon series of gigs playing their entire 21 album back catalogue. The quality of his songwriting together with the volume of work and the diversity of styles proves he is one of the most talented writers in Rock / pop history. The fact that his songwriting has been so influential to many of todays artists is testament to his place at the top of any listing of great songwriters. The man is a genius and would merit that title anyway even if "This Town aint big enough for the both of us" had been the only song he wrote. Listen to Sparks new album "Exotic Creatures of the Deep" and hear how his genius still emanates from his songwriting.

John, Virginia Beach, Virginia USA
I would say Mick Jagger/Keith Richards, after forty plus years at being at the top of there game as well as being the greatest rock and roll band in the world.

F B McG, London
Morrissey and Marr - no contestA close second is 'Lawrence' from Felt

Simon C Kennedy, Chorlton, Manchester.
"I wasnt born to followI live just for today, dont care about tomorrowWhat Ive got in my head you cant buy, steal or borrowI believe in live and let liveI believe you get what you give"Bobby Gillespie 1991 - never has anyone tapped into what the kids felt as much as those 4 lines.

Hisham, Porto Alegre, Brazil
My picks for the best -- Music: Paul McCartney. Lyrics: Roger Waters. Though they certainly wouldn't work well together. But curiously, I could see a McCartney/Gilmour or a Lennon/Waters collaboration, but McCartney/Waters, even though they're my favorites, wouldn't mesh.

Jeff, Seattle
Lennon and McCartney, Dylan, Elvis Costello, Aimee Mann, Paul Simon, Strummer and Jones, Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, Jackson Brown (for the "Pretender" alone), Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits, Hoagy Carmichael and various, Partridge and Moulding, King and Goffin.

Luke, Brighton
Morrissey, Mark E Smith, and Ian Curtis...must be something in the water

joe wigan
for me one of our best songwriters over the last 25 years as to be david gray,,another is neil young,,,and also dylan lennon mcartney,,,neil finn

David, Belfast
Lennon/McCartney..........George Harrison?

Tom, Manchester
It's got to be Alice Cooper;“I'm a hungry man but I don't want pizza, I'll blow down your house and then I'm gonna eat ya”It’s so bad, its good!

FISHER APPLEY BRIDGE
It's true i tell you the only choice is marr and moz,guitar licks that even marr to this day cant remember and as for the swagger that is morrissey well what can you say world drown your ears and pictures pianted even more northern than L.S LOWERY.Morrissey and Marr like a silver bullet to the temple.

Irishset, Brazil
I think it's Aimee Mann.Listen to her brand new album, "Smilers", due June 3rd, 2008.

Kopi - Asturias (North of Spain)
BONO!!!, Bob Dylan, Billy Joe...

Tim, Preston
Lennon & McCartney, Bob Dylan, Morrissey & Marr - in that order... probably!

Kitty, Essex
My all time favourite would have to be The Verve as a collective. They have been amazing right from the first album and have never wained. Just as how Trystan says how Morrissey affects him, The Verve are the same for me. But there's so many good songwriters out there that it's hard to define just one. The most common trend among the choices, though, would be that they have been around for years.

sahlou, (aka QD), Brighton
Paul Simon has written some very poignant lyrics over many years. He does themeatic stuff well, but also captures the mundane beautifully too.

Katie Squire Hayes
Jarvis cocker. Every lyric from any Pulp song has somehow had an impact on me. I can honestly say I have agreed with every word to everyone of his songs and his lyrics are somewhat humourous aswel. I think he's awsome :)

Owe, Norwich
Ian Curtis

Geoff, Deal, Kent
best songwriter since WWII - absolutely no question about it....Bob Dylan.If they've got to be British then take your pick between Lennon-McCartney on the one hand or Ray Davies on the other.

jp lundy
me

Matt, Kings Heath
The greatest without doubt are Lennon/McCartney; their output from 63-69 was astounding and they brought the best out of each other. The only artists to come close since are Bowie from 71-81 and The Smiths. Morrissey's sublime and subversive lyrics over Marr's melodies were a one off. As for contemporary artists the only name that comes to mind is Damon Albarn, who has shown versatility and longevity, although has rarely produced a whole album of great tunes. Ian Dury the best lyricist? Best limericks morelike! Billericay Ricky - come on!

Phil, Bristol
Noel Gallagher. The Best British songwriter of the last 25 years.

Scott in Dawlish
David Gedge hands down!

Trystan Williams, London Town.
The Smiths are the only choice.They tell you things that mean something to your life. Weather it's sexual shadows (this Charming Man & Handsome Devil), burning down vain discos (Panic) or that Morrissey feels the feelings that hurt and define you (the boy with the thorn in his side & theres a light that never goes out) the penning of these songs with Marr's melodic soul soothing guitar mastery and Morrissey's lyrics, the Smiths are the song writers that set the bench mark that only a few reach.

Jay .Truro
I think Conor Oberst of Bright eyes.

Dave. Lancaster
I think by far Ian Dury was Britain's finest lyricist, every line in every track on New Boot & Panties is pure poetry. Ian Anderson or Jethro Tull has also penned some of the finest lyrics I've heard. Especially the melancholic tracks like Requiem, Wondrin' Aloud, One White Duck, etc...

Eduards
John LennonBob Dylan