Music comes first, after I decide whether or not I like a song, I listen to the words.
I can remember the day I was listening to I Shot the Sheriff by Eric Claption. It had been on the top of the charts for a couple weeks, then I heard him singing "I shot the sheriff". I remember asking myself, how could I have listened to the song so many times and not know what any of the words are?
When I play a song and sing the words in my head, the verse in normally made up of some words that I like from each verse. Never the real words of a verse.
When I make up a song I create words after the music. The words are keys to remember the chords that make up the song. If you match the right words with the right tones, it can be a hit.
But without a great singer even a great band my never make it past the garage.
I was talking to a person at work last week, she never listens to the music, for her it is all about the words.