Hmm, I'd describe the lyrics of "Light my Fire" as mediocre, but they wouldn't make my list of the worst. Morrison strikes me as too serious about his surrealism and his not-too-authentic blues roots, but I still like the Doors a lot (even some of the lyrics). He did perpetrate perhaps the most painful grammar in the history of American popular music, though--"Till the stars fall from the sky/ For you and I."

Rod McKuen is a songwriter--the two I know are "I may not Pass this Way Again" (I'm on my way to find a friend,/ And I may not pass this way again...) and "Jean" (Jean, Jean, the roses are red,/ All the leaves have gone green....) The music is as sweet as the lyrics. But. Not only that. Unless I'm very much mistaken, Rod wrote the English words to... "Seasons in the Sun"! That's right, folks! The original French lyrics are by Jacques Brel, as is the music, and the original song is much better.

The problem with bad lines in folk songs is that they're bad because they're authentic, so you can't criticize them. See Tom Lehrer's introduction to "The Folk Song Army". But I must say I rather like "Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove". To me the worst line in that Fenario/Fyvie-o/etc. song is "Destroying all the ladies in the area-o."

Surely "Drop-Kick me, Jesus" is a joke. Right?