Greatest Songwriter of all time

Jacques Brel, Cole Porter, Tom Waits.

All time: D. Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael, T. Monk, Gershwins, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, A.C. Jobim.

Pop: Dylan, Lennon/McCartney, Brian Wilson, Hendrix

LAURIE ANDERSON has best lyrics I've ever heard.

There is no best music at all -- there is the only music.

Jeff,
Good post I might add that 3 of the guys you mention whom I love also(Springsteen,Costello and Knopfler) are so influenced by Dylan it is incredible.:-)
I'm also not sure it's the best way to split the genre but I follow your example.....and yes it's virtually impossible to leave such greats out as Hendrix,The Dooors,Paul Simon,The Smiths,on and on the list would go.....

Best lyrics

Bob Dylan
Bruce Springsteen
Mark Eitzel

Best Music
Led Zeppelin
Pink Floyd
Bob Dylan

Best songwriter EVER of all time, words and music: Dylan
Second best: Townes Van Zandt
Third best: Guy Clark
There is a long drop between these fellas and number 4.