MacArthur Park Jimmy Webb

[satnitedj]

Quite simply the best lyrics ever written - the fact that stupid people don't understand the metaphor is priceless!

I loved the song as recorded by Richard Harris BUT have never been able to resist a chance to listen to the Donna Summer version, having worn out numerous records, tapes and CDs...

Unfortunately, Donna had a nasty habit of NOT singing the middle verse when performing live, (the best part of the song) and many radio stations also play(ed) the shorter version that had the verse edi

[ModGirl1967]

He just played Atlanta and I was so broke due to chronic unemployment I couldn't afford to go. My heart is broken.

[dennello]

Screw the 6 "dislikes" Get the hell off Youtube and go back to bed!

[KRM2231964]

An unsung musical genius

[diana59581]

Dharma: Thank you for letting us know Jimy Webb will be in Toronto 10/2/10.

Diana

Atlanta

[Dharmarecords]

Yea... JIMMY... the KING... I will see you in Toronto on October 2nd, 2010. Been waiting to see you for 35 years... What .. ME ???  A FAN ??? Bet your sweet ASS !!

[granako]

@Dharmarecords I'll be there too... I just booked my Tickets:) I didn't know about it until your comment:) Thanks

[andyboeing747]

@granako The "face " is cool, I am going to see Jimmy in concert in two weeks, can't wait. Scott

[JesseJamesNaughton]

that condor(?) looked like he was surfing on that fish as it finally got a good grip on it. wow

[artisticdonna]

@JesseJamesNaughton - that's exactly what I thought too!

[rawmuse]

superb

[marsamgod]

Jimmy Webb is God

[toonmunger]

I'm beginning to think that I like this more than the Harris version. But the Harris one does have that amazing orchestration and the wonderful unique vocal style. So which is best? mmm... well, they're both brilliant.

[DavidDiamond56]

met Jimmy and Glen Campbell at his son Justin's wedding in California

[jsilence418]

@DavidDiamond56 David Diamond was a composer any relation?

[Lucyzhere]

Simply perfect.  Very uplifting. Thank you so much jimmy!

[Rollin558]

Thanks for this great post.

[tomaf]

from 1:08 to 1:18 it looks like it's sky surfing with that fish

[mariogantois1]

Beatiful, very beatiful. No words can defines, the better is make silence and appreciate

[serafinobolletta]

jimmy webb

was someone with a divine gift/talent

[minwav]

Man that fish gets around...

[heresthadude1080]

Reminds me of hawks and dionsaurs...

[dmalantic]

Cool, dramatic piano jam with surreal, metaphoric lyrics, very 60's

[guildmkvl]

Wow,

Thanks. A great video of another of Jimmy's wonderful songs. Lvoe the Osprey too!

bill

[frostclan71]

I guess the cake is symbolising a relationship gone bad...

[DoJoRa3]

Legend has it the cake symbolizes the degradation of MacArthur Park itself during the late sixties - the "sweet green icing" being the trees, grass and greenery that were being destroyed by loitering drug dealers, hookers, bums, etc.. Heard that decades ago on some TV newsmagazine (60 Minutes, 20/20 or similar.)

[spooner1957]

@DoJoRa3 i thought it was a reference to being stood up at the altar?

[spooner1957]

@DoJoRa3 Jimmy Webb (from Q magazine): "It's clearly about a love affair ending, and the person singing it is using the cake and the rain as a metaphor for that. OK, it may be far out there, and a bit incomprehensible, but I wrote the song at a time in the late 1960s when surrealistic lyrics were the order of the day."

[ohbombuh]

In the early 1990s, humor columnist Dave Barry asked his readers to write in letters voting for the worst song ever. MacArthur Park took both categories--Worst Overall Song and Worst Lyrics.

I agree with Mr. Barry and his readers. What is this supposed to mean, "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!?"

[ASeasonedWitch]

ohbombuh - that's a surprising report. Let me give you my impression -

It's a song about love lost.

I've lost recipes myself; haven't you? To me this is very good poetry. Yet the end is hopeful when he sings "There will be another song to sing and I will sing it."

[Baritone45]

Dave Barry is a bum!  He is NOT funny and he is a dork! I think that's great that he and his readers voted MacArthur Park worst song ever. That raises its standing as a singular song to me.

[Bez1960]

Who the hell is Dave Barry?

[Baritone45]

Dave Barry is a syndicated US newspaper columnist who has a quirky, early 80s view of the world. People either love him, or think he's a super huge dork that is at best harmlessly silly. I think there used to be some sort of TV show, maybe animated about him, or am I confusing him with "My World, Welcome To It" from my early 70s childhood? That his readers voted MacArthur Park the worst song ever is, I think, a tribute to the song.

[Bez1960]

I shall have to Google him...I think this song is brilliant...

[apc467]

hahahaha the line about the cake

[lilysmumkate]

fabulous video...Jimmy Webb fantastic....son of a baptist minister who was never allowed to listen to any rock n roll etc.....the guy is class xxx

[slheartless]

My all time favourite song, the masterpiece that comes along once in a lifetime when you are young, creative and in love before the cares of the world and its attached burdens robs you of those senses

[ASeasonedWitch]

-heartless - hang in there. Your ideals are still inside I do believe. Listen to those little voices in your heart - harken to them and their strength will grow. You will realize your "young creative" self is only waiting for a chance to soar. And when it does you will be conscious of it - it won't merely be a happy state of mindless childhood. Peace be to you - don't be heartless any longer.

[Bez1960]

How cynically refreshing - makes a change for somebody to be so brutally honest. This is what happens to most people, but not everybody. And (as ASeasonedWitch rightly points out) if it does happen to you, you can alter your state of mind...we can individually make a difference to the world. Like Quiet Heroes. This version in the best I have heard. I didn't know Jimmy Webb had sung his own creation...beautiful. Thankyou Granako for posting...once again proof that YouTube is a special site.

[ASeasonedWitch]

Bez1960 - Quiet Heroes. . . I like that.

Thanks for sharing that. Nice to know there are others who believe we can help this old world.

[Bez1960]

You are very welcome...I think we all have to play our part otherwise it will be lost.  We may not have power or much influence, but every time we do the right thing, we contribute to a better world.

[Dollarbob]

you are not robbed of them...you let them be taken away.

[ASeasonedWitch]

This gets better with each listen. The alternative piano chords are luscious. I am thinking this version will surpass Richard's for me. Never thought that could happen.

Thank you Granako for posting this gem.

[ASeasonedWitch]

Wow - nice video of the raptors with the song.

Jimmy Webb sings it nice.

[chloe3353]

to scare the crap out of me! lol, its alright, impressive video either way.

[mikeydoo465]

jurassic park is frightening in the dark, all the dinosaurs are running willld!!!!!

[chloe3353]

that face during the instrumental scared the shit out of me.

[jalias51]

Have you heard the Four Tops version? Will upload it if not

[BeebeCh1972]

Thus far, the only two versions I've heard and liked were the Richard Harris "long-classic" and the Donna Summers disco versions. The other version I've heard but don't really like was done by "101 Strings".  And now this one on piano just today. I don't know if I like it or not. I'll know towards the end.

[ailienhippy]

i luv this song soooooooooo much i first heard it in the car on the way home mi and ny mim started singing it and it really annoyed mi brother lol but any way this song is the greatest and i think this is mi faveourite verson yet

(sorry about the spelling)

[underhippo55]

love this song where did you get it and also whats mcathur park is it like the artic

[rosahoo]

No, Mcarthur Par is literally a park, Well, there is a like and across the street from it is a park. It is very beautiful, but if you know the secrets behind the lake would not be as nice, but it is wonderful none the less. Los Angeles, California.

[UncleRecolour]

Poor Fish :(

[patriotplus]

Hey Pals - My husband is screaming at me. Not easy to listen to. He never really cared. He was simply in charge - in such a hostile way. I try to find some help in this song. No real solace. I wish you much better.

[knytebyte]

dump the bitch

[nemossssssssssssss]

Yeh, I´m with knytebyte here. Tell your husband to GTFO! Contact your friends and your relatives and get rid of him!

[smile4mejmarie]

After all of the loves of my life, I'll be thinking of you,, and wondering why?

[VenusBlue4u]

Is this the radio version? I thought it had a faster tempo.

[ansteystreet]

Thank you for the long explaination of the writer and performers of this song - I found it very interesting as I never knew who wrote it or when it first came out. For me I recall a very young Tina Arena singing the song on Australian tv sometime after the Donna hit of 78. (tina was eleven or so at the time and pulled it off despite her age) Tina's version was released in the mid 80s on compilation album for the TV show YOung talent time.

[tbirdtricia]

MY all time fav song!! thankyou for sharing!:)

[screech519]

No, when Jimmy Webb released this piece of shit, he shamed himself...

He left a cake out in the rain??? He can't bake it again because it took a long time to bake??? And of course, he lost the recipe and he'll never have it again, cause he's too lazy to look for it...

[CTrane88]

metaphore screech, metaphone

[atyg1967]

Dear Screech519,

The melody is lovely, but the lyrics...written in the 1960s--maybe he was tripping? One of those chemical phases that induces one to ramble on incoherently--from cake, recipe, wine, lost love...middle aged angst.

The piano bit at the end sure rambles on.

[patriotplus]

BULLSHIT.

[arrisfilms]

That reminds me of an old guy that walked passed my house every Saturday night singing ooooooooh i lost loooove but of course I'm not comparing it to this amazing song xP

[jaysin77]

OH GOD D:

this is the song i sang last night while drunk at karaoke

D: i have ashamed this man

[cardsnchipsplz]

jim webb just simply doesnt get the credit for the great songwriter

[bcns321]

ive read the info and read the comments listened at least 10 times and still do not get this some 1 please simplify this for me!!

[Bakuji]

are you saying you don't know what the song is about? or you don't understand the video?

[mrsmagloo]

Jimmy was in love with a girl named Susan, to the point of obsession, and most of his early songs are about her. The stupid cake bit is a metaphor for love gone bad. He and Susan (later his wife). Their love (the cake) had take a long time to gel, and he blew it. In real life, they did spend a lot of time in MacArthur Park. PLEASE, if I have any of this info wrong, let me know!

[psychedelicinvasion]

I like this version better than the cover by Richard Harris. Not to say that Richard's version is bad. His version is good as well, but there's just a lot more going on in Richard Harris's version- instrumental wise- and it's very dramatic.

This version is a bit more low key, and I think just having the voice and the piano really allows you to hear the melody and become more involved, emotionally.

Very beautiful.

[mrsmagloo]

Richard was the first to record it, so I wouldn't call it a cover, exactly. Did you know Webb won a Grammy for best arrangement for this song? Well-deserved.

[psychedelicinvasion]

Oh, pardon my mistake. Thank you.

Yes, very well deserved!

[thesingingteranodon1]

i like "jurassic park is frightning in the dark" much more

[AvlDao]

This has alwas been a great song composition. And it's been fun seeing, since 1968, who gets something out of it and who just has the song fly over their heads and leave them utterly bewildered or frustrated.

The latter seems to be due to personal likes/dislikes, as well as a bad habit of mistakenly thinking a song is 100% about the lyrics. They are not.

MacArthurPark has great melodies, chord movements and dynamics; like with a jazz instrumental, I always get something from this music.

[YetAnotherProg]

That is wrong, cowboyfan35. LOL

[theredhackle22]

lol OUT LOUD NO ONE UNNERSTAND DIS SONG  WELL I Be WONDERING ABOUT YOU ?

[djangoman2008]

Your visuals are amazing -simply beautiful!! Thank you - Dj

[DoffDave]

A GENIUS!!!!!!

[oxlotol]

Of the sixties magical song writers, none could reach into one's heart like Jimmy has, not even Bachrach & David.

[gr8asoka]

First herd this song on Richard Harris's album MacArthur Park.Whitney Houston made a hit out of "Didn't we" from the same Suite!

[jazzaheadandbehind]

Great combination of images and music!

[grod75]

Thanks granako... Really love this version of the song, great great piano =D

[grod75]

@granako

Whose version of the song this is?

[HappyValentineInTex]

yeah bring the kids and cousins in to see the bird(s), but also point please out that jimmie webb was an amazing composer. this esp. framed by all the jazz voicings, gives us the message as the author/composer intended.

[granako]

I don't think you read the lengthy notes to the right of this video... not about birds... about Jimmy Webb and his career:)

[HappyValentineInTex]

no, and still not seeing it. i'll keep looking, as im a jw fan. the bird remarks are good,and pertinant. beautiful in fact, just not seeing the discography/bio you mentioned. thx again for posting the video.

happy

[granako]

Click (more info) under the date to the right of the video... and thanks for your comment:)

[dia33386]

HappyValentinelnTex: Scroll right & then up to granako's offering of this version. Simply *click* on ("more info...") under his Utube page. Very informative & explains it all!

[mSmirasol]

Wow, I am speechless I have to

show this to my Daughter.

Nice, nice, nice...

[StollyDolly]

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you granako. from Spain xx

[ssexybrowneyes]

just lovely...........

[afarnen]

thanks for the informative history behind this song

[pjb98422]

@afarnen Yes! Ditto.

[jellosoup]

marysueeasteregg, thanks for the info...in the second clip, the bird diving, it does look like an osprey. Do you think the first clip of the bird soaring with it's head turned is the same bird? I don't think it looks the same. The other day I was walking in Bolsa Chica Wetlands, Calif, we saw what we thought was an Osprey in a tree eating a fish. It must have been a Kite, because it was so much smaller than this bird! Thanks again.

[marysueeasteregg]

to jellosoup: Though I believe it's the same bird/species, I definitely can see why you think otherwise. That first shot doesn't show enough of the head to reveal the bar/stripe an osprey has. Both birds have a lot of white on the underside, esp. on the leading edge of the wing,and white legs. Pattern/shading doesn't look identical -- you could be right,that it's a differnt bird (a different osprey? a different species?)or it could be a matter of shadow/camera angle. Hard to tell.

[marysueeasteregg]

re question about the diving bird:

I'm pretty certain it's

an osprey (seahawk, or fish hawk).

It's definitely not a juvenile bald eagle; they don't have white, and can be mistaken

for golden eagles. :) Looks like the

video has mature bald eagles later, tho.

[jellosoup]

granako, I never knew the name of the singer or composer, I was only 11. Thanks for posting! I can't believe only one person mentioned the great video you synchronized to the beat of the song. I can't identify the bird that caught the fish and it's making me crazy. Is it a Juvenile Bald Eagle? A Condor? Help!

[granako]

Ya... I don't really know the bird... but I am sure somebody does... As for people mentioning the video... I make videos as a tribute to the singers and the songs... so I don't care about that:) but I do appreciate you taking the time to comment:)

[CalebsDream]

This your video is incredibly impressive!! The synchronization with the storm and the extended break is simply fantastic to view and hear!

Thank you for posting the lengthy description, with all the trivia, and the beautiful lyrics!

[marysueeasteregg]

it's an osprey (seahawk, or fish hawk).

It's not a juvenile bald eagle; they

don't have white, and can be mistaken

for golden eagles.

If this message is duped, my apologies;

I'm new to Youtube. :)

[Chiffon56]

This is one of my favorite songs EVER, and Jimmy Webb is my favorite composer. Thanks for posting!

[robswartzer]

For those still in doubt about the meaning of the lyrics:

Jimmy Webb - "MacArthur Park is clearly about a love affair ending, and the person singing it is using the cake and the rain as a metaphor for that."

He admitted: "If it seems far out there and incomprehensible, it's because I wrote the song at a time in the late 1960's when surrealistic lyrics were the order of the day."

[omtat2]

A song of Love Lost... God it hurts today as it hurt 10 years ago... I bet they don't even remember. I guess one gets caught in the cycle of wondering Why?

[buggerit2]

ive seen jimmy live

double header with paul williams

at the enmore theatre

everyone there was about 50 years older than me (being 15)

absolutely incredible

and he was absolutely hilarious

just played all his songs on his piano

paul williams was pretty good too

but jimmy was king

and still is

[bouffaine]

Recht door mijn ziel, wat een prachtige versie!

[sandraongley]

This is with out a doubt the best version of this song. Susie Horton was the girl he was singing about. JW ....you do this song such justice.

[hd95]

Listen to the Waylon Jennings version...you will thank me

[coleyman1]

MacArthur Park became a hit because of the fact that Webb wrote and everyone one wanted to record a Jimmy Webb song. He could have written "Old McDonald Had A Farm" and it would have sold in the 70's and early 80's. There is not one person can tell me what the verses have in common with the bridge! I'm sure Webb knows, but I've never heard or read anywhere that he explained it. Lyricly it is not self explainatory but someone fell for it and it made him millions! Hell, I like it, too!!

[robswartzer]

dia33386, I wasn't trying to imply that Richard Harris didn't do the best version of this wonderful song. I own the MacArthur Park album that is sung by Richard Harris, and agree that, even as an actor, he was able to pull off a dramatic and emotional song like this in a way no one anticipated. I still prefer his version, of course, but many people have covered this song, and I want to hear their versions as well.

But I completely agree, Richard Harris totally kicked ass on this song!

[dia33386]

robswartzer; Thank you for ur kind words in response to my rather acerbic post! While I've listened to many versions of this amazing Webb song, there is none IMO that shall ever compare to Richard Harris!

[robswartzer]

I LOVE this version of this timeless song!  Now I want to hear Glen Campbell sing it.

[dia33386]

robswartzer; While this version written & sung by Jimmy Webb is lovely, there will never be a better version than the one his friend, Richard Harris, recorded! IMHO

Webb's version is silk & smooth, while Harris' is throaty, from the heart & totally a passionate delivery! Richard Harris cries this song from the heart!

[MusicMadMaurice]

Harris or Webb renditions are both fine by me. So long as nobody tries to inflict that bloody Donna Summer version on me. Mind you, JW wasn't complaining. Bit hit for her meant big royalties for him.

[fluence51]

I like the three versions somehow.

[MusicMadMaurice]

That's the good thing about music. You can like what you like and I can like what I like. A music teacher I knew in high school was playing something for us once and some teachers on free time came in to listen. Our teacher commented that if he was sharing a cake and they wanted some as well, we would all get less cake but having them come in to listen didn't deprive anyone of their fair share of musical enjoyment.

[onemilehi]

Awesome arrangement and video. Loved it. It's on my "Favorites" list. Thank you for posting it.

JS

[HB3BEE]

Absolutely beautiful! This song always makes me cry. My mom and dad used to sing it together while dad played the keyboard. Then, after my mom died 5 years ago, Daddy would play and sing it alone with tears running down his face. I love this song! He's since remarried, so it means even more to me now, knowing that he sung it with such meaning... "after all the loves of my life..." and "a new dream". Thanks for posting this!

[Cheesemonkey994]

That made me cry...Very sad. I'm sorry. =(

[5Goldrings]

This is an amazing version and I have just put up a shortened piano cover of McA Park on my profile but after listening to this I feel....humble : ( Total admiration to Jimmy Webb.

[ergos645]

I love this version, Jimmy sings and plays the piano on it with such feeling, just perfect..thanks so much for posting, love Jimmy he is such a wonderful song writer..

[sall1949]

No one sings a song better than the composer. I had the honour to cover this with my group Beggars Opera and it must be one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

[dia33386]

granoko; While your video is exceptional; the only version & the person who truly connects

is Richard Harris' version! NO one does it better!

[milizakorjus]

Best version I ever heard was Glenn Campbell.

[tenorismo]

Funny thing is , if the association did record this it would have been a monster hit for them.

[wquam1]

Richard Harris version is still the best....

[zhengzhang123]

i think weird al's version is better

[Rollin558]

Outstanding post. Thanks.

[artboy55]

good to hear the songwriter's unpolished wversion of this great song.

[camm9182]

is this actually bout a cake?

[granako]

Yep... about a cake foolishly left out in the rain:)

[lcozzarelli]

I can't take it! I spent forever baking that cake. Does anyone have the recipe? I can't seem to find it...

[sashaaustralia]

It took years before i realised or even thought about the meaning of this beautiful/timeless track.The cake is a metaphor for a lost love,one which can never be equaled. The reason for the cake metaphor is that it's the cake that one thought that they could have and eat it too. Only after neglecting it (in the rain) and letting it fall to ruin, did she realize that it was a unique one-time perfect recipe (a dash of this, a pinch of that) that could never be recreated.Best wishes from AUSTRALIA

[throovest]

Not quite right. Jim simply won a bet on this one

[sashaaustralia]

Please explain all the 'facts' in detail!!!!!!!Thank You

[throovest]

It was claimed in the media that at a friend had jibed at Jimmy "you can't simply write a hit record about anything... like leaving a cake out in the rain" the rest, as they say, is history. The only comment from Jim, though, that I know about, doesn't confirm this. "One cannot write songs like 'MacArthur Park' every day.... What you do is valid, if you feel that it means something to yourself. It has always been a draw between my radical and conservative points of view."

[sashaaustralia]

From interviews with Jim Webb (the writer of this track),Donner Summer,Richard Harris and many others it seems and shows that it is a song about lost love with the 'cake' being a metaphor.There have been lot's written about it as you probably are aware,they are the interpretations of those individuals only. Your radical and conservative points are valid but slightly wrong.Hope you see the everybodies point.

[throovest]

The radical and conservative points are Jimmy Webb's, not mine (quoted verbatim)

[sashaaustralia]

Cheers bud.I tend to believe more what i see and hear(eg:live interviews)then relying on what is generally written or reported by someone who get's seconhand and thirdhand information just to write a story for a mag or paper,which usually has holes in their reporting.They usually tend to claim and to get info from everybody but the "source",hope you understand.I love actual facts & not things that are claimed and so on.Great track regardless,it was a great favourite at Studio 54 in it's heyday.

[dia33386]

camm9182; Cake is a metaphor for "the ONE *true* Love" lost! Webb's song (IMHO)uses "...cake foolishly left out in the rain" to signify one who let the *one* true love escape(melt) from his life!

[hellomynameis1000]

LOL that is one silly metaphor.

[rossanarubi]

amazing job!i love it!wonderful song!

[kenBOBkenBOB]

Sammy Davis Jr has done a fantastic cover of this song!

I would be ever so greatful if anyone that has the video/music would post it!

[dia33386]

kenBOBkenBob; Dayam! Forgot about Sammy's version! Thnx for recalling! I have to recall from memory Davis' rendition with his 'throaty/whiskey-voiced'delive­ry rather akin, but, not quite the equal to Richard Harris'!

I, too, would love to have that video/music by Sammy Davis Jr available!

[cosrivron2]

Jimmy Webb was also a great baseball player...

He was asked to sign with the Baltimore Orioles along with his teammate Bob Meier...Jimmy turned down the contract...Bob was drafted but enlisted in the USAF...Bob was the Loadmaster on the last C-141 out of Siagon in 1975...

I was Bob's partner on 2304 wagon in the 23rd District in Philly ...

[Ashanmaril]

look up" weird al jurassic park. It's a paroty of this song.

[russellziske]

Great music with terrible lyrics.

[BrickLaneBetty]

you just understand them. the song is about loss and change.not being able recapture a time in your life you loved so dearly and knowing that you'll never get over things.

[us66bill]

As usual, wonderful video. I love the bird's understanding of aerodynamics near the beginning. Adjusting the prey to cut through the air as it would through the water. My humble opinion, Jimmy has always been a great songwriter but I prefer his songs performed by others. Truth be told, I don't think he's a singer. Thanks for the video, granako.

[DonnaSummerBR]

thanks so much for posting it!

[caravaggio31]

Richard Harris, the british actor (Camelot)and singer , did it in 1967 when this single sold 7 million copies around the world.

[rossanarubi]

beautiful song and a very good job.

[TraeCH]

"Lovely" certainly seems to be the best way to express the sentiment felt by watching this video - thanks Granako.

[oldiesedit]

Nicely done...Thanks for including so much information on the songs you use, etc. It always adds an extra bonus to the visual and audio...which is always lovely.

[wolfgang8u]

hello my dear  friend very lovely