Going through the back catalogue I realise how some of the lyrics on tracks in Siren are virtually unintelligble... Whirlwind, She Sells, in particular .... but also I reminded myself of how brilliant Ferry's lyrics could be.
For example: I only got the drift of serpentine sleekness from Mother Of Pearl on a recent trip to Cornwall , the whole song of course is full of evocative couplets.
Sunset is a forgotten masterpiece of fine song writing in its entirety.
Rock of Ages on In Your Mind. ....You're the song and I'm the one who turns the pages.
.. another favourite.
Just Another High.... he's truly captured the emotions of a finishing relationship.

It does make me wonder how much input Simon Puxley had. The lyrics have never been as good since his death.

i dont agree with that... i think "reason or rhyme" is amongst his best work (lyricwise) ever!

i think he was a key influence/input/editor/sounding board. this doesn't diminish bf's magic...but sp could help distill it

That is a lyric I have always loved and admired-much for it's simplicity and depth.

The more I listen to it, the more I think that In Your Mind is filled with some of his best writing.

There is no doubting Ferry's ability as a lyricist - A Song For Europe, Mother of Pearl, Virginia Plain are just three that are never out of my head.
That said, I'd love to know how much the good Doctor had to do with all of this. Does anybody know anything about the song writing relationship?
Regards,
Windswept.

Not sure exactly what role Simon Puxley played in writing the lyrics with Bryan. It is well known he helped out on 'Mother of Pearl'.

My guess is that Puxley never actually wrote any of the lyrics as such, but probably engaged in brainstorming sessions with Bryan on occasion.

It is not hard to see with a song like 'Mother of Pearl' that they both could have thrown ideas on the table - words, imagery, themes, metaphors, similes, etc. Bryan simply moulded those ingredients into the final song.