Best songwriter of all time

There's a ton of awesome songwriters out their but i think the best is definitly Bob Dylan. his lyrics broke the mold of any music out their. he's the closest thing to a poet in music.

my other favorites are

Neil Diamond (music sucked but lyrics were amazing)
George Harrison (his writing was always in the shadow of john and paul)
Art Garfunkel (listen to his song "the boxer")
Richie Valens

Maynard James Keenan.

Might be biased though cuz I think he is God.

TOOL- H:

What's coming through is alive.
What's holding up is a mirror.
But what's singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn this piss to wine.

They're both totally void of hate,
But killing me just the same.

The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.

And I feel this coming over like a storm again.
Considerately.

Venomous voice, tempts me,
Drains me, bleeds me,
Leaves me cracked and empty.
Drags me down like some sweet gravity.

The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.

And I feel this coming over like a storm again.

I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me.

Without the skin,
Beneath the storm,
Under these tears
The walls came down.

And the snake is drowned and
As I look in his eyes,
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of those times.

I could have cried then.
I should have cried then.

And as the walls come down and
As I look in your eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times
I have died
and will die.
It's all right.
I don't mind.

I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,

And considerately killing me.

Realisticly John Lennon. Personally Billie Joe Armstrong-Greenday.

Seriously?

Me... really!

If you mean best aside from me, I'd have to say Tchaikovsky or Wagner (now there was a nasty bastard).

In modern times, probably John Williams

Iron Maiden

link above directs you to the new Dance of Death commentary, which was just added recently. lyrics get explained to.

one and only tupac shakur

Best song writers of all time ??? Thats a easy one RUSH (altho im really biased , i must admit ) No other band in the entire history off all recorded music are even worthy to shine there banners >< ok now dissagree i dare ya

Nick Drake, Wire/Edwards, Dylan, Thom Yorke, Jeffrey Lewis

All brilliant in their own unique ways.

Dylan
Johnny Cash
Tom Petty
Lennon/McCartny
Bernstein
Dolly
Mozart
Waters/Gilmore
Ray Charles
Robert Johnson

Leonard Cohen busted out some good stuff too you know

i know i am being repatative *cough* *cough* KURT COBAIN