“MacArthur Park” is about Jimmy Webb’s chaotic feelings after a particularly poor breakup with Susan Ronstadt, and they are largely metaphorical.
Jimmy Webb composed “MacArthur Park” in 1968, and he sought to have The Association perform it as part of a whole-side-of-an-album cantata. They thought he was out of his mind, so they passed on the song. Instead, Webb approached actor Richard Harris. Harris was enthusiastic about the song, and they recorded it in Los Angeles with the L.A. Wrecking Crew acting as the “house band.” Harris’s version peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. A year later, Waylon Jennings did a cover version.
Donna Summer
At the height of the disco craze in 1978, Donna Summer took “MacArthur Park” to No. 1. The first part of the song is similar in style to Webb’s original version, but the rest of the song is a driving disco number that bases itself off of the middle part of Webb’s version, which is also up-tempo. The sameness of the disco beat, however, lowers the song’s quirkiness, which was its biggest selling point 10 years previously. Summer delivers with a powerful and lovely vocal performance, and the musicians are all top-flight, but the song seems to lose some of its charm as it ventures into the territory of “Studio 54.” Despite her version’s incredible popularity, it seems a shame that she didn’t apply the same sensibilities to it that she did to the “My Man Medley,” which is an eclectic blend of Gershwin and early 20th-century jazz forms. Summer’s version was No. 1 for three weeks.
It’s interesting to note that there is an extended version of “MacArthur Park” that Summer recorded. It’s nearly 18 minutes long, venturing into what could almost be called “prog-disco territory.” It’s also a shame that Webb’s cantata version never reached fruition, yet a cover artist achieved what he could not. It is a testament, however, to the power and the quality of the song, despite the negative impression of Webb’s version that some reviewers seem to hold onto.
Other Media
Webb’s version has been nearly ubiquitous, but Summer’s version hasn’t appeared in as many television programs or film soundtracks. Given its reliance on 1970s music, it’s not surprising that Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” television series featured the song. “Scandal” is another program that had it in the soundtrack, and Jimmy Fallon chose it as part of a “Tonight Show” in 2018.
Lyrics
Spring was never waiting for us, dear
It ran one step ahead
As we followed in the dance
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, no
I recall the yellow cotton dress
Foaming like a wave
On the ground beneath your knees
The birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing Chinese 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, no
MacArthur’s Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left my cake out in the rain
And 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, no, oh
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jimmy Webb
MacArthur Park lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc
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