Nobody associates a bands' "greatness" with their lyric writing ability. The Beatles are an excellent test case. There is no dispute that they were an excellent band, but their lyrics are often atrocious. They began with simple teenybopper "I love you, I don't love you" sentiments, but that's what everybody was doing then so this can't be held against them. During the Rubber Soul/Revolver period their lyrics were at their peak, from the biting social commentary of Taxman to the thinly veiled confessions of "Norwegian Wood" to the serene simplicity of "Here, There and Everywhere". Then it all went horribly wrong. Take the White Album as an example. Clearly there are exceptions (Julia, Blackbird, etc.) but for the most part the lyrics are incessant streams of directionless, and frequently ridiculous storytelling. Is John making any sense at all during "Glass Onion" or "Happiness is a Warm Gun"? Paul is bitten by the bug as well -- what on earth are we to make of "Rocky Raccoon"? Has anyone, save Charles Manson, been enlightened by the lyrics to "Piggies"? The White Album is an album of musical genius -- likely the best thing the Beatles ever did -- but is also an album of frequent lyrical tomfoolery. Must have been the drugs.