Great songwriters and their greatest song

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

John Prine - Paradise

Good one, although my nomination would be either "Sam Stone" or "Angel from Montgomery."

[NikF4]

Finally! I've been soooo close to mentioning this a number of times. Big thumb up for the Berlin song as well, and for mentioning Richard Thompson (though probably not my favorite by him).

You have one in mind for Richard Thompson?
Yeah, Berlin - a!ways cool.
Dancing in the Dark - Dietz/Schwarz. No matter if it's Artie Shaw or even Astaire and Cyc Charisse dancing stage bound, that's a wonderful tune.

[Rinaldo]

Count me on team Van Zandt. My favourite song of his is Nothing.

As for the recent generations, Joanna Newsom immediately springs to mind. A masterful songwriter, weaving complex stories and meanings into elegantly simple and beautiful tapestries, as demonstrated in this epic song about her astronomer sister.

the meteorite is a source of the light
and the meteor's just what we see
and the meteoroid is a stone that's devoid of the fire that propelled it to thee

https://www.youtube.com/v/UGoNCvoZuYA

With Good Intentions Paving Company coming in close second:

https://www.youtube.com/v/eBa3QSycc0c

[DaveF]

From the morning - Nick Drake

And, regretting not having noticed this one 4 years ago:

"For No One," Paul McCartney

I don't know anyone else that rates that song so highly!  One of the half-dozen perfect ones written by Sir Paul, and yes, the best of all.

[The new erato]

You have one in mind for Richard Thompson?

Such a vast discography. Perhaps "Did She Jump or Was She Pushed?" or "Walking on a Wire"

And I love "The End of the Rainbow" with these noteworthy lyrics:

I feel for you, you little horror
Safe at your mother's breast
No lucky break for you around the corner
'Cause your father is a bully
And he thinks that you're a pest
And your sister she's no better than a whore

Life seems so rosy in the cradle
But I'll be a friend I'll tell you what's in store
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow
There's nothing to grow up for anymore

Tycoons and barrow boys will rob you
And throw you on the side
And all because they love themselves sincerely
And the man holds a bread knife
Up to you throat is four feet wide
And he's anxious just to show you what it's for

Your mother works so hard to make you happy
But take a look outside the nursery door
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow
There's nothing to grow up for anymore

And all the sad and empty faces
That pass you on the street
All running in their sleep, all in a dream
Every loving handshake
Is just another man to beat
How your heart aches just to cut him to the core

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Such a vast discography. Perhaps "Did She Jump or Was She Pushed?" or "Walking on a Wire"

And I love "The End of the Rainbow" with these noteworthy lyrics:

I listed "Dimming of the Day," but maybe I should have listed "The Great Valerio," which comes right after the song you quoted on the Bright Lights album.

Other favorites are "Devonside" (from Hand of Kindness) and "Hope You Like the New Me" (from Mock Tudor) - the latter being possibly the creepiest song I've ever heard!

[SimonNZ]

Bob Dylan - Visions Of Johanna

[San Antone]

Blaze Foley a great songwriter who wrote many great songs.  "Clay Pigeons" is one of 'em.

[Ken B]

Martin Gore
Many to choose from, especially Everything Counts or Wrong

[Ken B]

Sondheim
I think his greatest achievement is the central section of Sweeney Todd, which is Pretty Women, Epiphany, and A Little Priest.
As a discrete song A Little Death from A Little Night Music

Harry Warren
Lullaby of Broadway