I feel like a lyricist is somebody that writes their own lyrics. Now songwriters and lyricists are two totally different things. You can't really be a lyricist if you didn't write your lyrics. There's no passion, there's nothing in it coming from you. It's somebody else's feelings and you just taking it and running with it.

Dave East

It is a very serious consideration for a lyricist to step in there and suggest the meaning to a song. The music is speaking for itself.

Al Jarreau

Howard Ashman was an amazing lyricist and an amazing artist.

Alan Menken

When I write the music for any of my songs, I write as a composer-lyricist in my head.

Alan Menken

I think I'm alright as a lyricist, you know? But then what will happen every couple of months or so is that I'll hear a song I've never heard before and feel I've gone right back to square one.

Alex Turner

As a lyricist, you love to hear other great lyrics or other great concepts.

Alicia Keys

In the 1990s music was a beautiful collaborative process between the composer, lyricist and director. They would exchange ideas and magic used to happen.

Amit Trivedi

Glenn Slater is my lyricist who, of the new young lyricists coming along, is the most exciting, I think.

Andrew Lloyd Webber

I have a fondness for words. On that note, I don't consider my lyrics to be all that great. I like to call myself a supplier of words rather than a lyricist.

Anoop Menon

Sammy Davis, Andy Williams, Tony Bennett... their records sell in the millions; when I do it, it just trickles. But for the composer and lyricist, there's a tidy bit to be made that way, too, so I don't really mind.

Anthony Newley

When it comes to writers and poets, for me it's Vinicius de Moraes. He's one of the greatest lyricists ever.

Ben Harper

Leonard Cohen is probably the greatest lyricist for music that's ever lived, you know?

Beth Hart

I've never considered myself a lyricist, but I have stuff to say.

Brendon Urie

I dabbled a little bit in the whole music thing but I've always thought about Bernie Taupin, who is Elton John's lyricist; Elton John is the great melody and song writer but Bernie Taupin is the one who writes all the lyrics. I don't write lyrics, and I never wanted to be in the music business if I was just going to be a puppet in it.

Carmen Ejogo

My thoughts on Eminem have always been that he is one of the greatest lyricists ever. I've never been a fan because I can't relate to a lot of his world views and experiences, but I acknowledge that he's one of the greatest MCs.

Charlamagne tha God

In the beginning of Audioslave, I was very honest. I said, 'We make great albums and write great albums - but don't be under the impression I'm going to be a lyricist that writes anything other than what strikes me as inspiring in the moment.' The lyrics weren't going to be focused politically.

Chris Cornell

As a writer, as a lyricist, you're just trying to make sure that you're not repeating yourself. And that's a danger for a lot of people. So for me, I just try to keep taking corners and trying to find new paths.

Corey Taylor

I feel like a lyricist is somebody that writes their own lyrics. Now songwriters and lyricists are two totally different things. You can't really be a lyricist if you didn't write your lyrics. There's no passion, there's nothing in it coming from you. It's somebody else's feelings and you just taking it and running with it.

Dave East

I rate Morrissey as one of the best lyricists in Britain. For me, he's up there with Bryan Ferry.

David Bowie

With a musical, you kind of have to do a mind-meld with the book-writer, the lyricist, the composer, the director - sometimes the producer. I think that's a reason why musicals are the hardest form.

David Henry Hwang

I don't want to work on a musical if I'm not the lyricist.

David Lindsay-Abaire