[Dewy]

On the Lyrics vs Melody first point I'd like to contribute. Indeed an age old question...

Neither came first... they are both out there floating around waiting for someone to pick them out and put them together. Sometimes you hear the melody or chord structure first... and apply lyrics later. Other times the lyrics are there waiting on your brain to process the timing and its applying the lyrics to various rhythms in the background all of the time.

So if you like something, be it lyric or melody, jot it down for future reference. Don't worry about the order.