Yeah, Joni Mitchell...Hissing of Summer Lawns album especially. Also Ani d'Franco and Suzanne Vega for contemporary stuff. And Randy Newman ("Human kindness, overflowing, and I think it's gonna rain today") And many of Michael Smith's songs, like The Dutchman...

Teribus...beautiful excerpt from "Safe in the harbor."

Lots of old traditional ballads have great words, parts of which are sheer poetry, like Mary Hamilton, Skye Boat Song, Twa Sisters, Pretty Polly, The Great Silkie...very powerful stuff...but to my mind they seem to need the melody to bring them to life. Whereas I will never forget Pete Seeger illustrating a beautiful tune, but with words that sound dumb when spoken, by reciting Greensleeves in leaden cadence...