Witty songwriters?
September 30, 2017 4:47 PM Subscribe
I like wit in my music. (I like other things too, but that's for other questions.) Examples of songwriters I do like: Kirsty MacColl, Warren Zevon, Randy Newman, Nellie McKay. Can y'all point me to some more in that vein?
By wit I mean lyrics that are clever and sly and likely more than a little ironic, and by music I mean songs that stand on their own as independent compositions, not as novelties, pastiche or components of a narrative. (Tom Lehrer and Stephen Sondheim are witty but don't meet that bar.)
By wit I mean lyrics that are clever and sly and likely more than a little ironic, and by music I mean songs that stand on their own as independent compositions, not as novelties, pastiche or components of a narrative. (Tom Lehrer and Stephen Sondheim are witty but don't meet that bar.)
Richard Thompson, John Cale.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 4:57 PM on September 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Mr. Yuck at 4:57 PM on September 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just checking, but I assume various nerd-comedy acts like Jonathan Coulton, the Doubleclicks, and Paul & Storm are far too far along the Lehrer axis? And other musical theater is too far along the Sondheim axis?
posted by rmd1023 at 4:57 PM on September 30, 2017
posted by rmd1023 at 4:57 PM on September 30, 2017
Not musically in the same vein as those you mention, but Steely Dan's lyrics are generally full of irony and wit.
posted by mewsic at 4:58 PM on September 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by mewsic at 4:58 PM on September 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
Fountains of Wayne
posted by Malla at 5:01 PM on September 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Malla at 5:01 PM on September 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
Other mainstream (for some value of mainstream) music I think of as having a lot of clever wordplay etc: Elvis Costello, Was Not Was, Frank Zappa, Laurie Anderson.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:01 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 5:01 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Leonard Cohen?
posted by runincircles at 5:09 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by runincircles at 5:09 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sturgill Simpson
Courtney Barnett
Beck
posted by mannequito at 5:11 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Courtney Barnett
Beck
posted by mannequito at 5:11 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Divine Comedy (Neil Hannon's project) might be up your alley. A few off the top of my head: Something for the Weekend, The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count, A Lady of a Certain Age, Gin Soaked Boy, To the Rescue, The Happy Goth...
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 5:13 PM on September 30, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 5:13 PM on September 30, 2017 [7 favorites]
John Prine is your man!
posted by rhiannonstone at 5:17 PM on September 30, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by rhiannonstone at 5:17 PM on September 30, 2017 [11 favorites]
Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields has to be one of the wittiest guys out there.
posted by noloveforned at 5:24 PM on September 30, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by noloveforned at 5:24 PM on September 30, 2017 [14 favorites]
On the John Prine end, allow me to add In Spite of Ourselves with Iris Dement. They did another song or two together.
posted by mr. digits at 5:27 PM on September 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by mr. digits at 5:27 PM on September 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
They Might Be Giants
posted by ldenneau at 5:33 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ldenneau at 5:33 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Robyn Hitchcock, and Jonathan Richman.
posted by vrakatar at 5:36 PM on September 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 5:36 PM on September 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
Bare Naked Ladies
posted by evilmomlady at 5:37 PM on September 30, 2017
posted by evilmomlady at 5:37 PM on September 30, 2017
Darren Hanlon: Punk's Not Dead, [There's Not Enough Songs About] Squash, Cast of Thousands, etc.
Jens Lekman: Waiting for Kirsten, Maple Leaves, Sky Phenomenon etc.
posted by Wobbuffet at 5:38 PM on September 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
Jens Lekman: Waiting for Kirsten, Maple Leaves, Sky Phenomenon etc.
posted by Wobbuffet at 5:38 PM on September 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
The Mountain Goats (you want wit? here. Have some wit.)
And yeah, seconding Stephin Merritt, in any of his various guises.
posted by multics at 5:49 PM on September 30, 2017 [7 favorites]
And yeah, seconding Stephin Merritt, in any of his various guises.
posted by multics at 5:49 PM on September 30, 2017 [7 favorites]
Best answer: You should have a listen to James McMurtry. His wordsmthing on "Choctaw Bingo," "It's a Small Town (Talkin' at the Texaco)," and "God Bless America" is terrific.
Hayes Carll is a smartass... and I love "KMAG YOYO," "She Left Me for Jesus," and, guesting with Corb Lund, "Bible on the Dash."
Corb! "Cows Around," "Gothest Girl I Can," and "Truck Got Stuck" hit that sweet spot.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:57 PM on September 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hayes Carll is a smartass... and I love "KMAG YOYO," "She Left Me for Jesus," and, guesting with Corb Lund, "Bible on the Dash."
Corb! "Cows Around," "Gothest Girl I Can," and "Truck Got Stuck" hit that sweet spot.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:57 PM on September 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
Perfectly describes James McMurtry.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 5:59 PM on September 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 5:59 PM on September 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm thinking you might appreciate XTC; Andy Partridge has an amazing talent for clever wordplay.
posted by kimota at 6:08 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by kimota at 6:08 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Billy Bragg, whose songwriting is prodigious (and prodigiously funny).
"The Short Answer"
"Greetings To The New Brunette"
"The Saturday Boy"
etc etc
also yes! to kimono's recommendation for XTC
posted by lasagnaboy at 6:29 PM on September 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
"The Short Answer"
"Greetings To The New Brunette"
"The Saturday Boy"
etc etc
also yes! to kimono's recommendation for XTC
posted by lasagnaboy at 6:29 PM on September 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
Primus is not for everyone but I really love Les Claypool’s lyrics.
Also, the Michael Clem compositions with Eddie From Ohio.
posted by bondcliff at 6:31 PM on September 30, 2017
Also, the Michael Clem compositions with Eddie From Ohio.
posted by bondcliff at 6:31 PM on September 30, 2017
David Yazbek.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 6:33 PM on September 30, 2017
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 6:33 PM on September 30, 2017
Christy Moore, Irish folk singer. In-built wit in many of his songs. You won't be disappointed! Great rhythms too.
posted by cornflakegirl at 7:03 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by cornflakegirl at 7:03 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Maybe Dan Bern? Try Jerusalem, Eva, or Tiger Woods.
posted by Redstart at 7:27 PM on September 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Redstart at 7:27 PM on September 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
Phranc!!
Hillary's Eyebrows
M-A-R-T-I-N-A
Noguchi
She also has some deeply personal and poignant songs. She's an amazing songwriter, but not all her songs are light enough to be called witty, I don't think.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:17 PM on September 30, 2017
Hillary's Eyebrows
M-A-R-T-I-N-A
Noguchi
She also has some deeply personal and poignant songs. She's an amazing songwriter, but not all her songs are light enough to be called witty, I don't think.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:17 PM on September 30, 2017
Tim Minchin ?
posted by freethefeet at 8:35 PM on September 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by freethefeet at 8:35 PM on September 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
Harry Nilsson.
posted by ElectricGoat at 8:53 PM on September 30, 2017
posted by ElectricGoat at 8:53 PM on September 30, 2017
This list would also be incomplete without Lyle Lovett.
posted by mewsic at 9:20 PM on September 30, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by mewsic at 9:20 PM on September 30, 2017 [9 favorites]
Jarvis Cocker! Either with his band Pulp, or solo. Try "Common People," "Bad Cover Version," or "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time," for a start.
posted by clair-de-lune at 10:38 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by clair-de-lune at 10:38 PM on September 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trout Fishing in America. A good starting place is Lucky Guy - then proceed down the list on the right. My favorite albums of theirs are Trout Fishing in America and Over the Limit - but they have a lot of fun newer stuff, too.
posted by invincible summer at 12:07 AM on October 1, 2017
posted by invincible summer at 12:07 AM on October 1, 2017
Louis Jordan. Check out Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens for the narrative irony, and Choo Choo Ch'Boogie and Such A Hungry Man for the witty and elaborate rhymes.
Flanders & Swan were exceptionally witty, but like Tom Lehrer, they used a simple piano accompaniment that emphasized the lyrics rather than the music. John Lithgow covers two of their songs ("Gnu" and "The Hippopotamus Song") in more musically complex arrangements on his album Singing In The Bathtub, which also features a number of other witty children's songs.
posted by yankeefog at 3:33 AM on October 1, 2017
Flanders & Swan were exceptionally witty, but like Tom Lehrer, they used a simple piano accompaniment that emphasized the lyrics rather than the music. John Lithgow covers two of their songs ("Gnu" and "The Hippopotamus Song") in more musically complex arrangements on his album Singing In The Bathtub, which also features a number of other witty children's songs.
posted by yankeefog at 3:33 AM on October 1, 2017
Shel Silverstein of course should not be forgotten. A couple of his songs may be considered "novelties" but most are very solid and creative. His own performance of his work is not well known, for good reason, but both Bobby Bare and Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show were acts who regularly used his songs.
posted by yclipse at 5:19 AM on October 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by yclipse at 5:19 AM on October 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
Lyle Lovett
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:34 AM on October 1, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:34 AM on October 1, 2017 [3 favorites]
Andrew Bird can be pretty witty, and is a brilliant composer as well
posted by crazy_yeti at 6:57 AM on October 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by crazy_yeti at 6:57 AM on October 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
Black Box Recorder?
Girl’s Guide to the Modern Diva
Andrew Ridgley
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 7:01 AM on October 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
Girl’s Guide to the Modern Diva
Andrew Ridgley
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 7:01 AM on October 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
Kate and Anna McGarrigle - NaCl and The Swimming Song.
Clever, often touching lyrics overall from these two.
posted by kaymac at 7:24 AM on October 1, 2017
Clever, often touching lyrics overall from these two.
posted by kaymac at 7:24 AM on October 1, 2017
I came here to recommend Darren Hanlon but it looks like Wobbuffet beat me to it, so I'll just add The Lucksmiths to the pile!
Untidy Towns
A Downside to the Upstairs
posted by plasticpalacealice at 7:29 AM on October 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
Untidy Towns
A Downside to the Upstairs
posted by plasticpalacealice at 7:29 AM on October 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
Would Paul Thorn work for you? Some of his songs are a bit on the funny side, but others are more earnest.
posted by stillmoving at 8:58 AM on October 1, 2017
posted by stillmoving at 8:58 AM on October 1, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions so far, guys. Just to be clear, I'm really not interested in kid's songs or novelties or puns. I prefer wit with a bit more bite. (more It's The Money I Love, less You've Got a Friend in Me, to draw from Newman.) I know and like Stephin Merritt and Black Box Recorder, those are also great suggestions. But anything in that vein would be good.
posted by Diablevert at 9:25 AM on October 1, 2017
posted by Diablevert at 9:25 AM on October 1, 2017
Oh god, yeah, Cole Porter. For somewhat pop-accessible covers of Porter's stuff, there's the Red, Hot, and Blue benefit CD. Also, a wonderful version of "Let's Do It" shows up on the soundtrack for the movie "Tank Girl"
posted by rmd1023 at 11:12 AM on October 1, 2017
posted by rmd1023 at 11:12 AM on October 1, 2017
Oh, thought of another one when it came up on my shuffled library: Jeff Rosenstock. I mean:
When your friends are buying starter homes with their accomplishments
Drinking at a house show can feel childish and embarrassing
With people glaring because despite what the advertisements said:
Malt liquor doesn’t make you young
posted by General Malaise at 3:14 PM on October 1, 2017
When your friends are buying starter homes with their accomplishments
Drinking at a house show can feel childish and embarrassing
With people glaring because despite what the advertisements said:
Malt liquor doesn’t make you young
posted by General Malaise at 3:14 PM on October 1, 2017
A bit dark, perhaps, but consider Mark Kozelek of Sun Kil Moon.
posted by standardasparagus at 6:24 PM on October 1, 2017
posted by standardasparagus at 6:24 PM on October 1, 2017
Another vote for XTC/Andy Partridge.
posted by she's not there at 7:18 PM on October 1, 2017
posted by she's not there at 7:18 PM on October 1, 2017
Dan Hicks! Sometimes billed with backing band "His Hot Licks."
Some faves:
First I Lost My Marbles (And Then I Lost You)
Doin' It
I've Got A Capo on My Brain
posted by shalom at 9:49 PM on October 1, 2017
Some faves:
First I Lost My Marbles (And Then I Lost You)
Doin' It
I've Got A Capo on My Brain
posted by shalom at 9:49 PM on October 1, 2017
The Lucksmiths!
posted by Jaclyn at 9:35 AM on October 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Jaclyn at 9:35 AM on October 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ani Difranco (especially her older stuff)
David Wilcox
posted by liquado at 9:41 AM on October 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
David Wilcox
posted by liquado at 9:41 AM on October 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Pete Droge and The Sinners, specifically the Find A Door album. And Bap Kennedy, specifically the album he did with Steve Earle.
posted by fshgrl at 6:47 PM on October 6, 2017
posted by fshgrl at 6:47 PM on October 6, 2017
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posted by diamondsky at 4:54 PM on September 30, 2017 [3 favorites]