What a beautifully written romantic song. The girl that the song was written for must have been very special to Jim. It is almost like a forever memory and devotion to their special and treasured relationship...and this is 2024 and the song still endures!
Jimmy Webb MacArthur Park 0238am 17.9.24 you'd be fighting of an early morning arguing which version suited the mood for lovin' - this or richard harris' version....? pity i didnt get to hear the complete killdozer version... my lemon drizzle was too stodgy. dunno what went wrong there.... i tried to telepathically contact mary berry but she wasn't replying...
I was born in 56 so I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying fantastic music all my life, but when one comes across something like this, it genuinely stops one in one’s tracks….straight from the heart ,
Well put Peter. It's a classic! And I'm a huge Glen Campbell fan and Jimmy Webb hit another grand slam. These two talents together made some greatest music of my time.
@@djf750 The lyrics may feel absurd to you, but to me (and many others lol) they are poetic genius - very much of their time in the late 60's, a beautiful poem of lost love, each line has depth and meaning if you know the story of the writers love affair. He actually saw everything in the park - including the cake in the rain, so symbolic, something delicious going sour. Do a little research with an open mind and hopefully, you'll see it.
@@davesmith5470I agree with djf750. The line, “Between the parted pages and were pressed in love’s hot-fevered iron like a striped pair of pants.” Be honest here, man! This is poetic genius? Webb should have spent more time thinking of the lyrics. I too was 14 when this song came out, it’s one of my favorites, but the fact is Webb was lucky the beauty of the melody and the very sophisticated harmony were not ruined by that clumsy verse.
@@pauldavies5611 Its good that we can all have different perspectives and understanding of music, and what is poetic genius, and its not necessary to rubbish someone else's experience and view of what's beautiful and what's not, its completely subjective. I am very happy of how 'lucky' Webb must have been and how much joy this song has brought to my life over the years and I wish the same for everyone. If you can't see it and don't agree - thats OK with me.
I just heard Jimmy Webb sing this on Wednesday night in San Juan Capistrano. The most beautiful, heartfelt singing and playing I have ever heard. I feel truly blessed to have shared this moment in time with him.
The inspiration for "MacArthur Park" was the relationship and breakup between Webb and Susan Ronstadt, a cousin of singer Linda Ronstadt. MacArthur Park was where the two occasionally met for lunch and spent their most enjoyable times together. At that time(1965), Ronstadt worked for a life insurance company whose offices were located just across the street from the park. Webb and Ronstadt remained friends, even after her marriage to another man. Source: wikipedia.
This song was born of tragedy. It was about young Jimmy Webb, budding songwriter but also a Poor Okie lost in LA, loosing the love of his life, who was "out of his league" but who saw his potential and whom he knew also loved him deeply too (and would in time write her own song for him making this clear!), and that he knew there would never be another even close to her for him, even though he would indeed go on to marry and become successful, to immaturity, distance and personal hardship, neglect and misplaced priorities, and societal pressures & circumstances beyond ones control. Much of it happened in or near the Actual MacArthur Park in LA.. And with the additional undertone of loosing his mother who was taken by the angels, she who had been his almost sole support as a struggling young songwriter in LA. His dad then moved back to Oklahoma after his storefront Church failed, and a young Jimmy Webb was kicked out of community college while writing this song, and ended up homeless on the streets of LA for a time. Through it all this masterpiece came to be. 🌈🌄🌻
I love, love Harris's version, it's a great performance but Webb gets to the heart of the matter, he gets to the absolute sadness. This version makes me cry
Mr, Webb, I thank you for this song about that tortuous first love! Harris gets the air play but you just kept writing unbelievably lyrical tunes. I bow to you, sir.
The lyrics are only vague flashing images but the music gets across an extremely emotional feeling, possibly the most emotionally provocative song of all time.
It just does not get any better than this! I have never heard this song sung with such passion and feeling. Brought tears to me eyes.To hear Jimmy Webb sing his song touches a place no cover has ever done.
@@stephendevore All other versions are covers - he wrote the original, and offered it (eventually after it had been turned down by others) to his friend Richard Harris.
It's so great to have a visual record of Webb performing this curiously haunting song that has had a life of its own for decades -- a song whose initial success (the Richard Harris recording) and subsequent life flies in the face of musical and lyrical convention that would've predicted a different fate for it.
Spring was never waiting for us, girl It ran one g step ahead As we followed in the dance Between the parted pages and were pressed In love's hot, fevered iron Like a striped pair of pants MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark All the sweet, green icing flowing down Someone left the cake out in the rain I don't think that I can take it 'Cause it took so long to bake it And I'll never have that recipe again, oh noooooo I recall the yellow cotton dress Foaming like a wave On the ground around your knees Birds like tender babies in your hands And the old men playing checkers, by the trees MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark All the sweet, green icing flowing down Someone left the cake out in the rain I don't think that I can take it 'Cause it took so long to bake it And I'll never have that recipe again, oh noooooo There would be another song for me For I will sing it There would be another dream for me Someone will bring it I will drink the wine while it is warm And never let you catch me looking at the sun And after all the loves of my life After all the loves of my life, you'll still be the one I will take my life into my hands and I will use it I will win the worship in their eyes and I will lose it I will have the things that I desire And my passion flow like rivers through the sky And after all the loves of my life Oh, after all the loves of my life I'll be thinking of you - and wondering why MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark All the sweet, green icing flowing down Someone left the cake out in the rain I don't think that I can take it 'Cause it took so long to bake it And I'll never have that recipe again Oh noooooo, o-oh no-ooooo
Jimmy Webb was "out there", over the top, cerebral. A poet and song writer on a par with Jim Morrison and a young John Prine who was breaking out at about the same time. I remember when Richard Harris first cut this song around 1968 and people absolutely loved the song but said to each other 'what the hell is he talking about? Why does he go on for over 7 minutes about a birthday cake?' In those dark ages before the Net hardly anyone back East even knew what a McArthur Park was and why on earth it was relevant to a cake. Then someone finally explained what it was really about and the genius of Webb broke through as we wondered how a 20-21 year old kid could have done enough living to write something like this.
MacArthur Park - Genius song writing. This song will live on through the centuries like a Mozart concerto. Jimmy Webb I bow to your gift. How fantastic to see a video of you performing it live in 1971!
Oh my gosh. So he really could sing. As a matter of fact, his is now officially the best version of this song I have ever heard. Including the glorious Donna Summer. It's just that there's nothing like hearing the writer of a truly wonderful song perform it him or herself when they do it as well as Jimmy Webb does here. Bravo.
To hear the composer of his Macarthur Park song is incredible. Especially (for me) many decades later.Loved it since I first heard it over 50 years ago at 20 or so.
Litaen to "Eye to Eye". Easily the worst song. This song is legendary compared to that. I felt bad for poor westerners, they haven't heard the worat yet and still hating this guy.
@@probation1016 You were right in both instances. According to "Jimmy Webblog" by Susan Harrington, Susan Horton married Linda Rondstadt's cousin Bobby Ronstadt in 1993.
I was fortunate enough to meet Jimmy Webb after one of his concerts here in Sydney Australia...It was just 6 days after Cyclone Katrina wiped out New Orleans...He is such a Charismatic Guy I wanted to adopt him as my New Best Friend.....I was Star Struck for days after...And I still am....the Guy is a Genius .
As a 9year old kid, I remember hearing this song and thinking, get over it dude its just pastry. Over the years, this song frighteningly makes me feel something different, something new each time I hear it. That's when I realized I have experienced genius. This song Made me think at 8 years old, And is still giving to me for 50 some odd years. Genius.
Probably one of the most beautiful, sublime and unconventional melodic pop songs written during the 1960s. The lyrics is an emotional rollercoaster ride. It is genius writing.
This is literally considered the worst song ever written. If you like this, you have bad taste lmao it's all good though. Enjoy. It doesn't matter but this is terrible.
leaving a cake out in the rain ...it took so long to bake it....ill never have that recipe again.... People...who hate this song look up the definition of metaphor....this song is about love lost ...simple. The melody is beautiful. The poetry is beautiful...DONT take the lyrics literally...its a metaphor for lost love. America wrote songs about horses with no names....feeling good to be out of the rain....in the desert you cant remember your name...for there aint no one for to give you no pain...all metaphors....temember yjat.
A magnificent and soulful performance. How I wish he'd recorded this for release instead of Richard Harris. I can't get enough. Many thanks for this post.
hearing the song writer perform his creation is special, beyond special. Jimmy Webb, like Leon Russell, didn't have the greatest voice, but when he sang his song he was the best to ever sing this song. It is a special treat for all!
Steve Hackett of Genesis quoted this particular song as the major influence that led him and his bandmates to create their own sound, defining what would be later known as prog
It is always good to hear how the writer interprets their writing. I thought Harris was best until I heard Glen Campbell in the late 70’s and 80’s. I remember when it came out it was panned. What a wonderful imagination.
I Have seen so many performers sing but I have never seen anything like this, especially since he was the composer. He sang with his eyes closed through the whole performance. This was an amazing video.
OMG....i am freezing to death from chill bumps while listening to this! You guys are so right, finally getting it.....it's a totally different song than I thought it was. And the piano, amazing.
Webb is a great songwriter - tunesmith. Perhaps one of the greatest American composers of all time. Definitely not a singer, but we all have our strengths and weaknesses. But his music has filled my life since the sixties. What a talent!
whatdoyamean? not a singer. the guys is on pitch, delivering with emotional truth and sincerity. and playing beautifully. if that's not singing to you, try tom.jones..now there's a singer right.🙄
JImmy pronounces the name of the park correctly. Richard Harris kept singing it as McArthur's Park... Webb wrote about his experiences at McArthur Park...I am sure at the session he tried to correct Richard to no avail. Love this performance.
When i was young,as was Jimmy Webb...i had the biggest crush on him ♡ i always thought he would be recognised more for all the great talent he had to share. He holds a spechial place in my heart ♡
its a master piece will live till the end of time no matter what Songs come and go this Song will be there here Jimmy Sings it in its raw form No orchestra nothing but himself and the piano trying to get the Song across thinking its not Working in his Mind he knows its a good Song but it Will take a While to See What he has Created the best Songwriters have very little Confidence in their talent torcherd Souls .and When its written they Walk away Can't look back at it .even 50 years later they will Say it Could be better if god covered this great Song Jimmy Would Still Want to do better you can see the pain in his face his mind is Saying one thing his Heart is saying this is good and his soul has danced all over the room music has a power we have yet to fully understand .but listen to this and it opens a door to another place not to many can go there when they do they bring back a master piece like McArthur Park by Jimmy Webb
This is one of the most iconic songs from the 60s. So many people argue about what is the best version or who sang at the best! I myself prefer Richard Harris, but there are other artists that have done a fantastic job singing it . Webb has written numerous platinum-selling songs, including "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "MacArthur Park", "Wichita Lineman", "Worst That Could Happen", "Galveston" and "All I Know". He had successful collaborations with Glen Campbell, Michael Feinstein, Linda Ronstadt, the 5th Dimension, the Supremes, Art Garfunkel and Richard Harris.
I used to think this was the dumbest song ever, but tonight I listened to Jimmy Webb's cover and many others and looked at the lyrics. GREAT SONG! I can only compare it to "The Girl from the North Country" for its poignancy of young love lost. I also read his book on songwriting. It's tremendous. Thanks for everything, Jimmy Webb. You are one of the creators.
Freeman Z Yes, I presume you are correct re "interpretation" ... But it is interesting to see what words and phrases Mr. Webb emphasizes, of how he sings it, his timbre, & etc.
Only the composer of the song itself can convey the true feeling of where it comes from and in this case James Webb is flowing with unparalleled cosmic inner vision with his song.
This was absolutely fabulous.... I was aware of the Richard Harris, Glen Campbell and Donna Summer versions, but I didn't know who the writer was. It's clear that he is so connected with this song.....
mikeyrue Donna Summer did it best!!!! From beginning to end! The ooooh noooo part is powerful alone!!!! It’s her song! No one else can do it better, not even the writer. He also looks like some psycho singing this song, not him.
One of the greatest songwriters, singers. His songbook is outstanding. The scope of styles in which he writes and how hus songs can be sung by pop, rock, rb, country, even folk and bluegrass singers. Few are blessed with such a gift. I love his version best of all.
There will never EVER be anyody like Jimmy Webb. He was a genius, plain and simple. This is the first time I heard Jimmy's version of one of the greatest songs ever written in the late 60s....and he wrote it, too! I loved it so that I purchased the 45rpm of Richard Harris singing it when it was released in mid-1969. RIP Jimmy. He wrote lyrics and music for so many that made them "stars!" Thank you for the chat on MySpace, when social media first was a baby.
Outstanding!! Didn't know this version. Though I have to admit I loved (and still love) the1968 up-tempo orchestral finale of Harris' version. You know with the 'TaTa TaTa TaTa TaTa TaTaTa'.
Jim Webb will be remembered for a long long time, listen to the remainder of Richard Harris 'My Boy' album to which Jim Webb was a big contributer, then you understand the Genius of the man.
Thank you for posting this video.Always loved the song.Loved Richard Harris but seeing Jimmy makes me appreciate him even more.Song Writer's Hall of Fame now.Took a while for the world to catch up! Many thanks.
I love how he sings this song with such passion and longingness........ and a bit of sadness. I like the way he and Richard Harris sing this song. Richard Harris being an excellent actor was able to bring forth the emotion Jimm Webb was feeling at that time. It is a great song. I first heard this song at 15yo.I don't think I would have written how much I like this song then as I do now as an adult. I love Richard Harris. when I see him, I still think of Camelot???
I want to thank you for posting this video. This is one musical treasure that might not make it in the stores. It reminds me of my high school days.This is none of my all-time favorites. I am glad that you have it and shared this with us. God bless you!
Check out Jimmy Webb's studio recording of this song on his album Ten Easy Pieces. In this recording he includes the middle section. There are also solo piano versions of the Highwayman, Galverston, Wichita Lineman, Phoenix and several more. An insanely talented songwriter, MacArthur Park was his musical masterpiece. Pity about some of the lyrics. I think he was 23 when he wrote it.
@@madhouze1 Wow, thank you, I just sampled all these songs from Amazon and bought the cd and will downloading the autorip. When I first heard it back when Richard Harris sang it, I thought it was crazy. I just thought "A Man Called Horse" actor singing Someone left the cake out in the rain" Green icing on the cake, I couldn't get it our of my head. 7 months ago I came back to slowly listen to it and now I love it, to me it's a masterpiece except for Hal Blaines drumming. thanks again!
