there was a ton of shitty poety in other periods.... it's not remembered for a reason.

The key word: 'especially'. The word not mentioned: 'exclusively'.

Not remembered for a reason? It's remembered just because?

no. you misunderstood me.

i meant there was a lot of shitty poetry from past ages, but we havent heard of it becuase it was forgotten (as in not remembered)... reason being that it was crappy.

catch my drift?

Lyrics are pretty important to me...

There's nothing worse than really enjoying a song, and then when I start to get to know all the words I'm just like "what the?". It ruins the whole song for me, and I can never listen to it again properly.

Vocals are really another insturment should flow with the music and often, the words somewhat seep into my mind along with whatever the music is doing. I think the mouth is the fifth limb in that it has some strange psuedo-metaphysical influence (we can get things done with our hands and feet, but blabbling about sometimes gets things to happen)...the sixth limb would be in the nether region, which has its own influence, as shown by countless politicians. So anyways, you guys have me worried that I rhyme to much, but in fact, I don't really use cliches....still worried.........

But I think both the lyrics and music should both be to tip-top shape as the song calls for, so that it's like a really good sauce on a really good piece of meat. You can have it without the sauce, also known as an instrumental. I don't think an artist ever should neglect the potential of either the sauce or meat...I mean music or lyrics.

I used to not care much about the lyrics but recently I've really started paying attention to them more.
Still aren't as important as the actual music to me, but are definitely important.

You don't think I realize this? That I just have a Robert Frost "Best Of" poetry book?

My mistake. Drift has been caught.

Not really concerned if your poetry collection is compiled of the complete works of Neruda or Longfellow or whichever bard flips your switch.
Mine consists mostly of Clare and Service. But, likewise, I don't really think you give a shit.

I go with Wayne on this one, music with lame lyrics, rock especially sounds pretty much the same to me. I'd say lyrics are very important, not necessarily deep ones with millions of hidden meanings, but I find non-sensical ones work quite well. But the cliched ones of women and partying just sound like the same song