The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Lyrist \Lyr"ist\, n. [L. lyristes, Gr. lyristh`s: cf. F.
   lyriste.]
   A musician who plays on the harp or lyre; a composer of
   lyrical poetry. --Shelley.
   [1913 Webster] Lysichiton

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

lyrist
    n 1: a person who writes the words for songs [syn: lyricist,
         lyrist]