Listen now as subjective as this is the top 100 is missing lots of deserving people. Most noticeable to me is Tonio K.

Even if he hasn't been heard from a lot lately, the body of work that he already has is formidable albeit with some filler thrown in. But still...

I'm surprised that no one has commented on Vic Chesnutt. The only reason being that he definitely belongs on this list or anybody's top X songwriters for that matter. Intelligent lyrics with humor, sadness, depth, and whimsy (sometimes all at the same time), catchy tunes that you cannot, no matter how hard you try, get out of your head, and, to top it all off, a stage presence that makes Mick Jagger look like an American Idol contestant.

Man oh man, did you miss the boat! Chris Gantry's Every Day House Wife, Townes Van Zandt's It Ain't Easy Being Me, Joni Mitchell's High Priestess of Malibu, Laura Nyro's Count the Hits Dude, Janis Ian's At Seventeen, Mel Torme's White Christmas, Paul Simon, Wendy Waldman, Frank Zappa and on and on and on.

-Simon Joyner should have been included, without a doubt. I was very surprised.

-Dylan, obviously.

-David Dondero over Simon Joyner? Joyner had more influence over Conor Oberst lyrically, anyway.

-Issac Brock is the bees knees.

Call me strange, but most of my favorites weren't even mentioned and it's mostly because they are underground artists who choose not to be on major labels. Still, my list would have to include:

Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Minor Threat, etc.)

Mike Palm (Agent Orange)

Steve Albini (Big Black, etc.)

Glen Danzig (Misfits, Samhain, Danzig)

Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys)

I didn't see any mention of Ryan Adams? I'm also kind of partial to Steve Earle, I think he's written a lot of great songs, covered by many. John Hiatt should be noted as well. And what? No Barry Manilow! LOL!

If David Dondero is barely a blip on the map, then Jandek is not even on the map and if Daniel Johnson is out of this world then glow in the dark scars are buried treasure miles below the Earth's surface.

I thought I might make a few corrections to the list but then I read most of the comments. Not much more to add except that Dondero is a great pick, poor old Townes is dead and cannot be included with the greatest living, and as for Dylan? How about greatest living artist or even the most important artist of the last 100 years?

Connor Oberst should have been higher, more like top 25 at least and Tori Amos as well.

Amazed no one has mentioned Shel Silverstein, of Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, who wrote some amazing hit songs, including Johnny Cash's famous Boy Named Sue.

Dave Matthews?

Elliot Smith! I know he's left this world, but his music still lives. And I think he was one of the most talented songwriters (lyrically and sonically) of the past twenty years.

Also, Sufjan Stevens is one talented dude. He certainly deserves some attention. Not the best, but he's darn good.

Joni Mitchell, a token choice? I think she is right behind Bob Dylan. My top three would be Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. In that order.

Relax it's just one person's opinion! Well done though for giving Dondero the nod. Oberst gets the press, Wide Awake... was a great album, but Dondero laid the ground work.

You guys are nuts!

1. Daniel Johnston: So many people dismiss him as an "outsider" artist, but listening to his stuff gets me deep inside. If you want to hear haunting, and not just haunting, try spooky too. Listen to Despair Come A Knockin by Daniel Johnston. It is really spooky!

2. Simon Joyner: The man is an incredible songwriter, he never misses as far as I hear. One of my favorite songs is Blue.

3. Jeff Mangum: He hasn't done much in a while... although, he (and his band) made what I would call a perfect album called In The Aeroplane Over The Sea.

4. Conor: Yeah, yeah, whatever, this guy is losing it.

5. David Dondero: I do agree.

6. Bob Dylan: Get over what he did sooo many decades ago... seriously!

7. Children: This guy wrote one of the best songs ever called Spinning. He has a myspace account and happens to be my friend, but this has nothing to do with it... whether you believe it or not.

That's enough... I don't care much anymore. I would say myself, but I don't even believe that. It's also not that funny, and I take pride in my sense of humor, so... sorry kids!

I am very glad to see David Dondero get the recognition he deserves. The man is brilliant.

Conor Oberst anyone?

Obviously many of the complainers haven't read the original "Top 100" article in Paste -- many of those they protest being left out did make the bigger list, and picking the top 10 LIVING songwriters is gonna be controversial. Two that didn't make Pastes top 100 that are (to me) glaring omissions are Matthew Sweet and Neil (or Tim for that matter) Finn. Smart pop music that will, I believe, stand the test of time.

With all due respect to Robin Hilton, what were you thinking? You're "pressed to come up with many Kristofferson songs?" Did you not know that this songwriter swept the Grammys in '72, was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1985, Nashville Songwriter's in '77, the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004, and won the Johnny Mercer award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards this year??

That he has written songs recorded by Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Peggy Lee, Ray Price, Sammy Smith, Ray Stevens and Roger Miller? That he's recorded 15 solo albums, at least 3 with Rita Coolidge and several with the Highwaymen? His mega hits include Bobby McGee, Help Me Make It Through the Night, For the Good Times, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Loving Her Was Easier, among many dozens more. He is a legend, a phenomonal performer and one of, if not THE best songwriter in America.

I ordinarily would not comment on a critic's choice or opinion, but this one was so obvious, I couldn't let it pass.

What about John Mayer? Jazz-trained guitarist and underrated even now. Incorporates good guitar with pop everyone can understand. Great writer, great musician. Sufjan Stevens isn't overated.

The best songwriters for me are the ones who can write and sing about something -- and really expose the heart of it -- without being obvious. This allows for a lot of discovery, particularly over multiple listens. When Tom Waits sings "the well is full of pennies," that has a lot more staying power than "theyve made a lot of wishes," or "it was a life filled with many hopes," which Im assuming is what he meant. This is a quality that the songwriters in my top ten all share.

I think you are talking about Kris Kristofferson here? Don't you?

Well, well, well... you should take a look at Kris Kristofferson's catalogue. You may find something there. More than 450 acts have covered his songs.

Robin Hilton defined what makes a songwriter "the best." He knows that. What he doesn't know is that he just defined Kris Kristofferson. If he doesn't know any of his songs, he needs a new job. How about Sunday Mornin Comin Down, Me and Bobby McGee, Help Me Make It Through the Night, For the Good Times, Why Me Lord... just to name a few. And Kris has written thousands of songs, too deep and profound to be commercial according to some -- which is too bad because many people have missed out on one of America's true national treasures. Check him out, Robin. And then write another feature. Or a retraction.

Though mostly an unknown, the Plimsouls' front man Peter Case can write with the best of them.

If you ask me, Kris Kristofferson should be twice as high as #38. He has written some of the best songs in country and rock. Some of the people on this list, I have never even heard of, much less know what they have written. Everyone knows Me and Bobby McGee, Why Me Lord and many many more.

I would love to hear more about the Mac and Lennon debate. I was once a huge McCartney fan, but as I've listened to more and more music over the years I find his songs and MUZAK so fluffy and silly that I can't stand to even hear his voice on the radio anymore. Lennon's first post-Beatles solo album (not the Two Virgins crap done while still officially with the Beatles) puts anything Mac has done since to shame. The Plastic Ono Band lp was very haunting, daring, innovative and cutting edge for the time. Harrison's All Things Must Pass and Lennon's Plastic Ono Band are by far the best post-Beatles solo work. True, Mac got way more radio play and attention and Band on the Run was a very good album. But rule of thumb is if it gets played to death on the radio, and has mass appeal via payola and mega-marketing, you should be suspicious of its artistic value. There are plenty of lesser known songwriters who have written much better songs that McCartney.

What about the last decade? Jeff Mangum, Phil Elverum, Doug Martsch, Isaac Brock, Britt Daniel, Spencer Krug, Jim James, Will Sheff and no, Sufjan Stevens is not overated.

I think someone needs a music lesson real bad. Kris Kristofferson is responsible for such great songs as Me and Bobby McGee, Help Me Make it Through the Night, For the Good Times, Sunday Morning Coming Down, One Day at a Time, Why Me Lord, Loving Her Was Easier, Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends. Johnny Cash's favorite song of all time, Here comes that Rainbow Again and 100s of more great songs. In my opinion, Kris Kristofferson deserved to be a lot higher on the list than he was.

Weird Al Yankovich? Anyone? Yes, I know you'll say he's a parody artist. But you gotta admit that he's brilliant nonetheless... not to mention hilarious. Is humor not a good thing? So he re-writes other peoples songs -- I think he does a darn fine job of it!

These lists always lead me to the same conclusion -- they are one upsmanship for music fans. All these lists should be titled, "I can name more (insert movies, artists, songs, etc.) Than You (Even Though You Probably Never Heard of Them)." Music, for example, is so personal. It's almost intimate and putting a list together, well, cheapens it. I prefer to keep my lists, like my favorite songs, private. I do agree with Bob Dylan though.

Joni Mitchell a "token pick"? What bull malarky -- Joni is one of the world's best living songwriters, miles above most of the list. Also left out is the amazing Brent Best formerly of Slobberbone -- its disgraceful that he was left off.

Does Paul Chivers think that Pink Floyd is a person?

How can you diss Prince like that? Here's a guy who can string a line together that's deep and not preachy at the same time. Come on In France a skiny man died of a big disease with a little name -- that's pure class. And what about Sly Stone? What about KRS-ONE -- Loves Gonna Get You with the hook Tell me what the f--- am I supposed to do is as near faultless as a song gets. I think there is a bias towards the idea of song writer with guitar. But for a man who stradles both, check out Michael Franti -- he's pertinent, poignant, soulful and beautiful. Hey, and what's this Lennon's more creative than Macca nonesense? Macca pushed Lennon beyond the four four of rock and roll, listen to post Beatles Lennon and it's sweet but I would not describe it as musically adventurous.

I wouldn't put Paul McCartney in the top ten. Lennon, even though I am not a fan, was far more haunting and creative songwriter. And while Paul is still alive and going through a resurgence of attention (Yay! Divorce rules!), his solo career barely registers with me.

Granted, I'm not retirement age or the child of a boomer (my parents are in their 40s), like so many of the folks who screech out his name like a potential saint of music, but really number three?

My ten:

1) Johnny Cash

2) Tom Waits

3) Bob Dylan

4) Ani DiFranco

5) Jello Biafra

6) Nick Cave

7) George Clinton

8) Stephin Merritt ("Papa was a Rodeo")

9) Jurassic 5 (the whole group's collaboration is just awesome)

10) PJ Harvey

Willie Nelson is nowhere on the list. Hello?

Where's Stephen Sondheim?

Where is Neil Diamond? His latest album 12 Songs was a masterpiece and a critical highlight. He is an American legend. How many songwriters have spanned as many genres, from songs like Solitary Man to Red Red Wine to simple joyus songs like Im A Believer? His gift is to write simple songs about profound subjects. His writing also grew, the sublime and ever popular Sweet Caroline to more esoteric work such as Be and the existential angst of I am I said. His work has been ignored by the rock "establishment" but I think the time has come to reevaluate his genius. Rick Rubin and Neil Diamond are working together now so I think ND is an artist to watch.

John Lennon lives on? Don't think so. Paul McCartney is hands down my favorite singer, but I certainly wouldn't name him number one. Number four isn't even close. I'd say more like number ten because he's had an amazing career and I respect him for all the things he's lived through.

Robin, you really trivialize songwriting when you talk about a songwriter "continuing to have something meaningful to say." Meaningful to you or to the songwriter? Great songwriting can also be about images, sounds, moods, characters and childish nonsense. All those things can qualify as great songwriting but not necessarily be "meaningful."

You give away how young and mainstream you are when you say you came to know Springsteen in the 1980s with his radio friendly "Born in the USA" material. It was the 1970s when Bruce was way out on the fringes but known among the serious rock music fans to be a very cutting edge artist and songwriter. In the 1980s he began to write more like Hank Williams with an economy of words and simple chord progressions. This produced some great stuff but while he felt his way around it also resulted in some of his most embarrassing and commercial output. The 1970s and his rebirth since the 1996 Tom Joad CD however have been terrific for him as a songwriter and artist.

Listen to McCartney (Beatles and solo) for a few more years and you will come to realize he never has been that great of a songwriter. His post Beatles work is mostly an embarrassment. I went through a Hail Hail McCartney phase too but have found so many other songwriters who are so much better. He doesn't stand the test of time the way other artists like Dylan do. In my opinion Mac doesn't even belong in the top 20.

List are pointless anyway. But the discussion around them usually shows how much great music all of us including Robin don't know about or don't know enough about.

Where are the rap and hip hop artists in your list?

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Carole King or Burt Bacharach. The Songwriters Hall of Fame has 590 entries for Carole and 473 for Burt.

Lists like this are stupid for any number of reasons. Perhaps we could have a list of top reasons that top lists are stupid? Here's one reason, persons not mentioned:

Carol King

John Fogarty

Joni Mitchell

Neil Young

Ani DFranco

Roger Waters

Phil Lesh

Pete Townshend

Donald Fagan

Walter Becker

Leonard Cohen

Donovan Leitch

Lamont Dosier

Brian Holland

Eddie Holland

Stevie Wonder

James Taylor

Frank Zappa

Paul Simon

Christine Lavin

I'm out of time but I hope you get the point.

Ben Folds, Ani DiFranco! Where are Ben Folds and Ani DiFranco? I didn't see them anywhere on that list! I'm officially scandalized on their behalf!

Billy Corgan.

Elvis Costello higher than Pink Floyd, Peter Townshend, Ray Davies? There should be a quality threshold. He may have been cool for his 15 minutes but there is no enduring legacy. Don't confuse fashion with quality.

Aimee Mann? No. Chuck D.? Yes. Jay Z? Yes. Mark Itzel? Maybe. But Aimee Mann and Stephen Merritt? Both have several wonderful songs, but no where close to enough consistency to be included in a top ten. I mean, compare either to the catalogue (and fine new album) of Paul Simon or Lou Reed for that matter...just thinking about your list baffles me.

I love these lists and the pointless banter that ensues from producing them, so please allow me to add my voice to the clatter. Townes Van Zandt over Bob Dylan? P-shaw! And sorry Robin, I'm more in tune with the Paste Magazine list, but I have to agree with you, that Prince (you gotta love him) does not belong on the top 10. Ok, so here it is, my pick for top 10 living songwriters:

1. Bob Dylan

2. Paul McCartney

3. Elvis Costello

4. Neil Young

5. Lucinda Williams

6. Bruce Springsteen

7. Tom Waits

8. Paul Simon

9. Van Morrison

10. Brian Wilson

Oh wait, can we do a top 11? A top 12? Theres one more I would love to add. Ah well, let the top 10 battle proceed.

Peter Gabriel wrote on of the greatest protest songs ever, Biko. This list is a fraud without his name on it. Plus based on influence, Paul McCartney needs to be number 2. He needs to be revisited. I think people take his ease of melody and song structure for granted. He will probably get revisited after he is gone. Stevie Wonder is a Top 10 person. I would definately swap him with Prince. Sting should be higher.

Also left out: Robert Smith from the Cure, Ice-T, Ice Cube, Gil Scott-Heron, Sinead OConnor, Seal and though I'm not a fan, as far as groups go. What about Pearl Jam? Steven Tyler and Joe Perry? Billy Joel?

You left off Van Morrison. If not number one, he certainly is in the top ten.

As far as strictly contemporary artists go, Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse is a talented song writer.

And as far as anyone ever... what about Tori Amos? She is pretty typically left out of things. She is more talented than the majority of pop musicians that exist. I agree whole-heartedly with the "if she were a man" comment.

And last but not least, what about hip-hop?

You forgot Wilco's Jeff Tweedy! From A.M. to Being There, all of Wilco's stuff is rock solid, thanks to Tweedy's lyrics.

Many people proclaim Lucinda Williams as America's best song writer so I'd put her at number four at least. Where is Paul Simon and Neil Young? I'd drop Sufjan entirely. He is way overrated and pretentious, not to mention annoying. There is someone more worthy of top on your list and his name was Townes Van Zandt who is no longer among the living. Check him out sometime. I'd change the name of your list to greatest living or dead. That bumps Dylan to second and drop McCartney and replace with Lennon in the number three spot. Lennon was 1000 times more creative and innovative. Here is my top 10 list of songwriters who live on:

1. Townes Van Zandt

2. Bob Dylan

3. John Lennon

4. Lucinda Williams

5. Neil Young

6. Paul Simon

7. Steve Earle

8. Kurt Cobain

9. Elvis Costello

10. Bruce Springsteen