Id' say that These Days without a doubt have BJs best lyrical work, with KTF as second. I think the entire album is a masterpiece when it comes to lyrics, but some of the best ones are
Letting You Go
Now some tarot card shark said I'll draw you a heart
And we'll find you somebody else new
But I've made my last trip to those carnival lips
When I bet all that I had on you
These Days
Jimmy shoes busted both his legs, trying to learn to fly
From a second story window, he just jumped and closed his eyes
His momma said he was crazy - he said, "Momma, I've got to try.
Don't you know that all my heroes died?
And I guess I'd rather die than fade away
Something To Believe In
If I don't believe in Jesus, how can I believe the Pope
If I don't believe in heroin, how can I believe in dope
If there's nothing but survival, how can I believe in sin
In a world that gives you nothing
We need something to believe in
Bed of Roses deserves a nomination as well. Amazing lyrics throughout that song
Well I'm so far away
That each step that I take is on my way home
A king's ransom in dimes I'd given each night
Just to see through this payphone
Still I run out of time
Or it's hard to get through
Till the bird on the wire flies me back to you
I'll just close my eyes and whisper,
Baby blind love is true
So many great lyrics to mention, these are just among a lot of great ones. During the 90s everything Jon and Richie touched turned to lyrical gold. Some of it was still there for Crush, but from Bounce it would never really be the same. That said, there has been a dozen of good ones since. But the stuff they did on the 90s are just timeless, still today I get shivers listening to some of the lyrics written back then.