Ruggesby, I am glad you agree about the melody being first and formost being the first issue in music,but

In my opinion, music itself, melody, is the first, then comes the voice and finally the lyrics.
Yet, MOZART'S is the best music human brain has made so far, without the voice or lyrics.

Another for the list, The Handsome Family

I would add Kristian Matsson, aka Tallest Man on Earth, on that list. Not a great singer, but his self titled EP is a masterpiece. imo, lyrics can carry even a bad song, but great vocals can't.

You left out Neil Young.

I think it's the emotion a song evokes. What I love about Louis Armstrong is that you can hear him smiling in his songs. My favorite? "Sugar".

Lyrics, almost always.

I don't think it's the voice or the lyrics. It's the mood and the melody, it's the rhythm. I listen to a lot of songs that have lyrics I can't relate to sung by a voice that's offputting and they're just right...every time

both or either depending on the song

Groups and Duos are another genre of Musicians who can take it to a whole different level. When I first heard the Travelling Willbury's and then I was able to pick out Roy Orbison who passed shortly after. The Highwaymen is another group who when together I feel were more powerful than alone. Simon and Garfunkle, the Beatles, and Crosby, Stills Nash and Young were so great and then poof. Tony Bennett does a lot of duos with some really great singers and do they ever bring it on. Since I retired I have been able to spend more time listening to what I missed for 40 years on a whole different level. Was Michael Jackson and Sammy Davis better dancers than singers or vice versa.

Dr. Hook!

The question seems rather axiomatic to me. There are songs with great lyrics and there are songs that are great musically. For me, it's possible to appreciate songs on either level. Some music, particularly Alt Rock, I find so catchy I just flow with the music and only later do I even try to pay attention to any message in the lyrics, or even to understand them.

Another aspect here is that some song lyrics are written to fill the space and when you try to make sense of them, fughedaboutit. Take Hotel California, for instance. Yeah, there's a theme, but some of those lyrics are nonsensical. Other Eagles songs have this quality. They SOUND great, musically and lyrically, but are less meaningful. That's my take, anyway. =]

Townes Van Zandt, listen to his song "marie". Its soul shattering. The lyrics to a song is the key for me. Sean Rowe and his song, "Just trying to leave something behind". Man, I tell you what!!!

Initially, I like songs based on beat and vocals. Lyrical content, however, will give those songs the power to stay on my playlists.

Actually the music first then the lyrics!

...Neil Young... Enough said!

Don't forget Chris Kristofferson!