LYRIC GODS & GODDESSES

BY: PROVOKR Editors

Lyrics. They’re what elevate a song from a pleasant melody to a gut-wrenching account of someone’s deepest heartbreak. Most artists – or their songwriters – are capable of stringing together verses, but it takes a truly talented artist to consistently deliver beautiful lyrics.

Here are some of today’s lyrical gods and goddesses.

Halsey

Halsey is an artist that has been known for her lyricism from day one. She’s even made the jump to published poetry with her book “I Would Leave Me If I Could.” Fans love how she covers the full spectrum of human emotion. She’s fiercely- almost violently -independent on some tracks (“Don’t belong to no city // don’t belong to no man”), while on others she softens (“I’ve never seen a mouth that I would kill to kiss”). Her work resonates with all who listen because every note rings true. As she continues to grow into herself as an artist, her mastery of this versatility will only improve.

Post Malone

At first glance, Post Malone seems like your typical shock-value artist: face tattoos, braided pigtails, colorful clothes and Crocs. Look closer at his lyrics, though, and you see a truly skilled writer. His talent lies in simplicity. He knows how to say things that seem obvious, but you’d never be able to put into words yourself. “Said you’d take a bullet, told me you would die for me // I had a really bad feeling you’d been lying to me,” is a personal favorite. He also knows how to talk about his rockstar life in an accessible way: “It’s what it is, it’s how I live // all the places I’ve been // I wish I could’ve been there myself.” He’s been nominated six times at the Grammys and it’s only a matter of time before he takes one home.

Lorde

While she might be a little too old for the word “prodigy,” Lorde has certainly always been wise beyond her years. “And we’ll never be royals,” the then-16 year old crooned, and the world agreed. Her lyrical prowess has only grown as the years have gone by. She pairs verbose meditations on her life with glittering production; you find yourself dancing joyfully to lines like “In my head, I do everything right // when you call, I’ll forgive and not fight.” She’s also one of the rare songwriters that can take a situation so specific to herself and make it feel universal. You might not know what she means when she says, “You buy me orange juice // we’re getting good at this,” but you can feel it. Isn’t that what good music is all about?

Childish Gambino

Actor, writer, comedian, director, rapper – is there anything Donald Glover (a.k.a. Childish Gambino) can’t do? He brings elements of all his other jobs to his music. What set Gambino’s early work apart is his devotion to a punchline. From “I am running this bitch // you are just a dog walker” to “Took the G out your waffle // all you got left is your ego,” he cracks jokes like it’s nothing. He also makes time for moments of genuine emotion: “You feel like summertime // you took this heart of mine.” Gambino is a true Renaissance man who has elevated lyric writing for all artists.

Taylor Swift

You knew this one was coming. Taylor Swift is renowned for her prolific and pitch-perfect songwriting capabilities. She writes every single one of her songs; her 2010 album Speak Now had no other co-writers. 14 tracks, all by her. How many other artists can say that? The most impressive thing is how she swings from low to highbrow. She can churn out eloquent lines (“They told me all of my cages were mental // so I got wasted like all my potential”) as easily as she can dash off mindless Top 40 choruses (“I don’t know about you // but I’m feeling 22”). Love her or hate her, there’s no denying that her lyrics will stand the test of time.

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is, without a doubt, one of the biggest and best names in the rap game. He exploded onto the scene with 2012’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City and hasn’t slowed down since. His lyrics cover everything from boastful bravado to today’s social issues, all delivered with the same swagger. He questions his own success (“The shock value of my success put bolts in me // All this money, is God playin’ a joke on me?”), but ultimately decides he’s deserving (“Straight from the bottom, this the belly of the beast // From a peasant to a prince to a motherfuckin’ king”). Lamar hasn’t dropped an album since 2017’s “DAMN.” but with a catalogue like his, he doesn’t need to; he’s got nothing left to prove.