Anyone still do insightful or intelligent lyrics?

Seems that folk music is where many of the
best (and worst) poets are these days.
Some of the best IMHO are

Iris DeMent
Guy Clark
Darrel Scott
Tom Russell
Greg Brown
Rodney Crowell
Loudon Wainwright III
Susan Werner

If you're more into rock or pop

Dave Alvin
Steve Earle
Richard Thompson
John Hiatt
Fountain of Waynes

Nrchy-I think the quality of lyrics today are still very good amongst the best artists.
Here's a few that spring to mind that haven't been mentioned above.

Nick Cave-a true master craftsman when it comes to lyrics.

Thom Yorke-Radiohead-post modern at times but relates his world view in a fragmented fashion that fits the times.

Ryan Adams-admits he spends a long time over his lyrics,again an excellent craftsman-check out the Love Is Hell eps.

Steven Merrit/Magnetic Fields-extremely funny,insighful and playful-check out some of 69 Love Songs-a triple CD set with believe it or not 69 love songs.

Of course there is the more intelligent side of rap which I don't specialise but Michael Franti of Spearhead is a superb lyricist.

There's hardly been a generation of popular music that hasn't thrown a classic lyricist.

As Brooks mentioned: Aimee Mann (Lost in space;
Bachelor No 2; Soundtrack to Magnolia.)

Brad Day
Atlanta, GA

I agree with many of the previous posts. Amy Mann and Ryan Adams are two of my favorites. Heartbreaker by Adams and Bachelor Number Two by Mann are, in my opinion, classic albums. I would add Jay Farrar to the list. His work with Uncle Tupelo, particularly the March 16-22 album with former bandmate Jeff Tweedy, is very good. I prefer his first two Son Volt albums, Trace and Straightaways, to his great work in Tupelo. A great songwriter.

I'm a big fan of lyrics. I don't know about qualifying that with the word "intelligent" as there are some really silly lyrics I enjoy.....I guess those are also really witty as well, so "intelligence" does come into play there.

In no particular order here are a few I enjoy for one reason or another:

Tom Waits (a master of the word!)
Tori Amos
Gillian Welch
Tresspassers William
Patty Griffin
Rickie Lee Jones
Joni Mitchell
Dar Williams
Laurie Anderson
Patricial Barber
Jim White
Patti Smith
16 Horsepower

Just yesterday was enjoying some pretty fresh new music from a group called "Bright Eyes". Not for everyone (and VERY polarizing in that respect I'd bet), but the lyrics were great. The album is called "Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground ". Again, not an overall recommendation, but appropriate to this thread IMO.

Marco