Expecting Rain

jack white

When I was surrounded by the world
You were the only one who came
And you were the only one astounded
Which kept me grounded
As the other girls thrashed my very name

Then I looked over
Just in time to see her smiling back at me
And saying everything's OK
As long as you're inside my blue veins
Your blue veins

Yeah and the feeling that you gave me
No matter what I do or where I go
It always will remain
And those who would enslave me to get to me must get past you and will have no luck
Cause you'll protect me from all pain

The most beautiful, yeah the most beautiful thing cause anything else can't compare
Must be the blood that's running through your blue veins
Your blue veins

[Strange part in reverse]

Your blue veins

And I know you won't deceive me
Like the rest and there's nothing you need to explain
You always were the first one to believe me
When I said to you girl
I think it's gonna rain
But I could be wrong

Yeah but all of these things
All these things
They're all truly nice but ain't nothing
Ain't nothing compared to the love that's running through your little blue veins

Your blue veins

the raconteurs

Seconding Richard Hawley.
Another Richard, Buckner - the album to get is Bloomed.

More:
Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, Kev Carmody.

Richard Hawley! Not only is he a decent lyricist but a damn good guitarist, as well!

Neil Peart MEZ

Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell, John Prine, Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, and maybe a few more to boot are in Dylan and Cohen's league. Maybe Neil Young. I think of him as a different kind of beast in truth.

I'd recommend Josh Ritter for anyone interested in the new generation of singer-songwriters. He is very very talented. Girl In The War would be a nice song to start on, or Thin Blue Line.

I can't believe no one has mentioned Elvis Costello yet. I would put his lyrical and melodic skills among the top 5 of the past 30 years. Plus, I can't think of another artist (besides Dylan) whose catalog spans more genres, from pop to rock to country to jazz to classical to punk and back again. Really wish I'd been able to see him open for Bob a few years back. There's a dynamite version of "Tears of Rage" he did on that tour floating around out there - well worth finding.

Another vote for Townes Van Zandt as being the closest to Bob and Leanard in terms of lyrics.
Nick Cave is also worth checking out

Michael Hurley, Curt Kirkwood, Ramsay Midwood.

The Felice Brothers. Check them out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9njt8LuDgS4&feature=related

Seriously, they got Dylan and The Band running through their blood.

Tom Verlaine. Great songwriter, and as a bonus you get to hear the best guitar player on the planet.

My favorite is The Boatman's Call. The album tone is sombre and minimalist. Murder Ballads and The Good Son it's also fantastic.

Another singer/songwriter I have to recomend is José González. Listening to this cover for example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4_4abCWw-w

He also writes good stuff on his own.

You are all phenomenal! Thanks so much for these recommendations. I'm excited because there are some artists I've certainly heard of but am not quite familiar with, (Townes Van Zandt, Nick Cave, Randy Newman, Tom Verlaine) and others I have not heard of until this day (Mary Gauthier, David Francey, Stephen Fretwell, Richard Hawley, Richard Buckner, Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, Kev Carmody, Michael Hurley, Curt Kirkwood, Ramsay Midwood).

This is so useful. I've got my work cut out for me. Thanks again, friends.

of course joni mitchell is in there.
and musically and as a singer WAY before cohen, thank you

Harry Manx especially his latest - Bread & Buddha
Jackson Browne (early stuff)
Nick Drake (ALL!)

Absolutely, Neil Young!

thank you mister jones.
randy newman for poetic economy and understatement

Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Chuck Berry and Hank Williams are people who have composed timeless music and lyrics.

Richard Thompson for sure
Lou Reed

I love Richard Thompson so much! Procol Harum is another favorite.

Leonard, Bob, Van and...Nick Jonas:)

Jacob, Paul Simon and Mike Scott!

Mark Lanegan of course!

Kris Kristofferson? Really? I've never heard heard him put in that class, and don't think I know anything besides Bobbi McGee, I'll have to check it out.

Townes is wonderful-Live at the Old Quarter is probably the single most definitive one though it's hard to find. I like all those Randy Newman albums mentioned above - but also think Bad Love is as good as anything he ever did.

To throw something new into the mix, try Through the Trees by The Handsome Family. Unique and really wonderful.

Agree that Dylan and Cohen are kind of up there by themselves, at least as far as lyrics go. Townes or Nick Cave are probably the ones knocking at the door. Cave's Lyre of Opheaus (or something similiar which I can't remember or spell) has some really good stuff on it, but there might be better albums to get. The ones I've heard have both great and so-so stuff on them, but I haven't heard too many.

Kris Kristofferson was really only in that class for a brief period of time. His first two albums, Kristoffeson and Silver Tongued Devil and I are probably my two favorite country albums--they're nearly flawless. As a lyricist circa 1970, he was easily up there with Cohen and Mitchell. Unfortunately, he wasn't all that prolific. Had he adopted a release schedule like Cohen's he could have probably continued to make great albums, but given the fact he had a country-type contract (which required frequent albums), the quality fell off fairly significantly after he had used his best songs. This decline was likely enhanced by the fact he was also pursuing an acting career at the time. Still, his early albums (and his most recent couple, for that matter) are well worth your time.

I came in this thread just looking but as I read some answers suddenly a name popped into my head...

Bill Callahan he's been known as Smog, but his album Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle is perfect contemporary folk mixed with alternative country. Its like Cohen, Dylan and Townes and some other "indie" stuff thrown it. Now not as good as any of those legends. But this album really is quite phenomenal, specifically the opening track "Jim Cain" which you can hear here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv7nJXQoqFo