In my experience music crtics state their opinion regardless of whether the artist gives a shit.
Judging songwriting and songs is not a purely subjective opinion, some basic pointers
    Tell a unique story in your song
    Steer clear of cliché and overused metaphors
   
    Avoid common rhymes
   

    Make your point with as few lyrics as possible.
So even the points made above are debatable, but songs can be judged on how well written they are and their melodies, and what they say or do not say.
Let us take a better song by Bob Dylan
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
Yes, and how many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
And how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
Yes, and how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
And how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind
1.rhe song has a good memorable melody
2 Is its message clear? mostly, yes
let us compare it to a song written partly by Pete Seeger Lyrics
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the flowers gone?
The girls have picked them every one.
Oh, When will you ever learn?
Oh, When will you ever learn?
Young girls
They've taken husbands every one.
Young men
They're all in uniform.
Soldiers
They've gone to graveyards every one.
Graveyards
They're covered with flowers every one.
Flowers
Young girls have picked them every one.
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Peter Seeger
Where Have All the Flowers Gone lyrics © Concord Music Publishing LLC