Tiger, I was just about to make the same point -- in my opinion Steve Earle is the best songwriter out there today. Other favorites (most already already mentioned) are Dylan (my eternal favorite), Lennon/McCartney, John Prine, Elvis Costello, Pete Townshend, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson, Richard Thompson, Carole King, Burt Bacharach/Hal David, James Taylor, Tom Waits, Gillian Welch/David Rawlings, Randy Newman, Robbie Robertson.