I hear that

the Comes Then Goes re-ordering of words to fit the rhyme scheme is less annoying to me than literally deleting words so it'll scan when he could have just chosen another damn sentence, but they are both textbook bad writing

even way-back-when, he was doing this, though (aside from some middle period stuff where he just kind of had a very good lyrical time, somehow)

of artists from that era, I always considered Adam Duritz to be the one I went to for lyrics

It takes all types. I would take the worst of Ed lyrics over the best of Adam, and I still love singing along to many Counting Crows songs. Part of it has to do with ability to relate, and feel the sincerity. That has a lot to do with one's life experience. I consider Doug Martsch of Built to Spill to be an incredible lyricist. He doesn't think he is at all. Ed has some silly lyrics and some awkward lyrics. I write and silliness and awkwardness are part of my language, too. YMMV.

i come from a genie us and i am my father's so-un