MacArthur Park ( song ) - wikipedia MacArthur Park ( song ) `` MacArthur Park '' Single by Richard Harris from the album A Tramp Shining B - side `` Did n't We ? '' Released April 1968 Format 7 '' Recorded December 21, 1967 - January 6, 1968 Genre Baroque pop, orchestral pop Length 7 : 21 Label Dunhill Records Songwriter ( s ) Jimmy Webb Producer ( s ) Jimmy Webb Richard Harris singles chronology `` Here in My Heart ( Theme from This Sporting Life ) '' ( 1963 ) `` MacArthur Park '' ( 1968 ) `` The Yard Went On Forever '' ( 1968 ) `` Here in My Heart ( Theme from This Sporting Life ) '' ( 1963 ) `` MacArthur Park '' ( 1968 ) `` The Yard Went On Forever '' ( 1968 ) `` MacArthur Park '' is a song written and composed by Jimmy Webb. Richard Harris was the first to record the song in 1968 : his version peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number four on the UK Singles Chart. `` MacArthur Park '' was subsequently covered by numerous artists, including a hit version in 1969 by country music singer Waylon Jennings. Among the best - known covers is Donna Summer 's disco arrangement from 1978 which topped the Billboard Hot 100. `` MacArthur Park '' has been called the worst song ever written. Its flowery lyrics and metaphors ( notoriously likening lost love to a cake left out in the rain ) have been described as `` bloated '' and `` loopy. '' Webb commented : `` Those lyrics were all very real to me : there was nothing psychedelic about it to me. The cake, it was an available object. It was what I saw in the park at the birthday parties. '' Contents 1 Jimmy Webb 1.1 Composition 2 Richard Harris version 2.1 Background and release 2.2 Legacy 2.3 Charts 3 Waylon Jennings version 3.1 Background and release 4 Donna Summer version 4.1 Background and release 4.2 Chart performance 4.2. 1 Weekly charts 4.2. 2 Year - end charts 5 Other versions 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Jimmy Webb Composition `` MacArthur Park '' was written and composed by Jimmy Webb in the summer and fall of 1967 as part of an intended cantata. Webb initially brought the entire cantata to The Association, but the group rejected it. The inspiration for the song was his relationship and breakup with Susie Horton, who later married Robert Ronstadt, a cousin of singer Linda Ronstadt. MacArthur Park, in Los Angeles, was where the two occasionally met for lunch and spent their most enjoyable times together. At that time ( the middle of 1965 ), Horton worked for a life insurance company whose offices were located just across the street from the park. When asked by interviewer Terry Gross what was going through his mind when he wrote the lyric, Webb replied that it was meant to be symbolic and referred to the end of a love affair. In an interview with Newsday in October 2014, Webb explained : Everything in the song was visible. There 's nothing in it that 's fabricated. The old men playing checkers by the trees, the cake that was left out in the rain, all of the things that are talked about in the song are things I actually saw. And so it 's a kind of musical collage of this whole love affair that kind of went down in MacArthur Park... Back then, I was kind of like an emotional machine, like whatever was going on inside me would bubble out of the piano and onto paper. Webb and Horton remained friends, even after her marriage to another man. The breakup was also the primary influence for `` By the Time I Get to Phoenix, '' another song written and composed by Webb. After his relationship breakup, Webb stayed for a while at the residence of Buddy Greco, upon whose piano the piece was composed and originally dedicated. Greco closed all his shows with this number for forty years. The idea to write and compose a classically structured song with several movements that could be played on the radio came from a challenge by music producer Bones Howe, who produced recordings for The Association. The song begins as a poem about love, then moves into a lover 's lament. The song consists of four sections or movements : A mid-tempo introduction and opening section, called `` In the Park '' in the original session notes, is built around piano and harpsichord, with horns and orchestra added. This arrangement accompanies the song 's main verses and choruses. A slow tempo and quiet section follows, called `` After the Loves of My Life. '' An up - tempo instrumental section, called `` Allegro, '' is led by drums and percussion, punctuated by horn riffs, and builds to an orchestral climax. A mid-tempo reprise of the first section, concludes with the final choruses and climax. Richard Harris version Background and release `` MacArthur Park '' was first recorded by Richard Harris, after he met the composer at a fundraiser in East Los Angeles, California in late 1967. Webb had been invited to provide the musical backdrop at the piano. Out of the blue, Harris, who had just starred in Camelot, and had performed several musical numbers in the film, suggested to Webb that he wanted to release a record. At first, Webb did not take Harris seriously, but later he received a telegram from Harris, requesting that Webb `` come to London and make a record. '' Webb flew to London and played Harris a number of songs for the project, but none seemed to fit for Harris 's pop music debut. The last song that Webb played for Harris was `` MacArthur Park, '' originally written for The Association, whose members had promptly rejected it because of its length, complex structure, and unorthodox lyrics. Harris selected `` MacArthur Park '' for his pop music debut. The track was recorded on December 21, 1967, at Armin Steiner 's Sound Recorders in Hollywood. String, woodwind and brass overdubs were recorded over two sessions on December 29 and 30. The musicians in the original studio recording included members of the famous `` Wrecking Crew '' of Los Angeles - based studio musicians who played on many of the hit records of the 1960s and 1970s. Personnel used included Hal Blaine on drums, Larry Knechtel on keyboards, Joe Osborn on bass guitar, and Tommy Tedesco and Mike Deasy on guitars, along with Webb himself on harpsichord. The song was included on Harris 's album A Tramp Shining in 1968 and selected for release as a single, an unusual choice, given the song 's length and complex structure. It was released in April 1968 and was played by 77 WABC on Tuesday 9 April 1968. It made its way onto the Hot 100 at number 79 on 11 May 1968, peaking at number 2 on 22 June 1968. It peaked at number 10 on Billboard 's Easy Listening survey and was number 8 on WABC 's overall 1968 chart. It topped the music charts in Europe and Australia and also won the 1969 Grammy Award for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist ( s ). Legacy In 1992, Miami Herald journalist Dave Barry conducted a poll among his readers who selected Harris ' recording as the worst song of all time, both in terms of `` Worst Lyrics '' and `` Worst Overall Song ''. Barry commented : `` ( I ) t 's hard to argue with survey respondents who chose it as the worst. '' The Harris version was spoofed on the comedy series `` SCTV '' in a skit called `` Mel 's Rock Pile ''. Harris was portrayed by comedian Dave Thomas. This version was also parodied by Weird Al Yankovic in his 1993 song `` Jurassic Park ''. Charts Chart ( 1968 ) Peak position Australia Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) Ireland ( IRMA ) 9 UK US Billboard Hot 100 Waylon Jennings version `` MacArthur Park '' Single by Waylon Jennings from the album Country - Folk ( with The Kimberlys ) B - side `` But You Know I Love You '' Released July 22, 1969 Format Country Recorded April 8, 1969 Genre Country Length 5 : 11 6 : 02 ( extended album version ) Label RCA Records Songwriter ( s ) Jimmy Webb Producer ( s ) Chet Atkins and Danny Davis Waylon Jennings singles chronology `` The Days of Sand and Shovels '' ( 1969 ) `` MacArthur Park '' ( 1969 ) `` I Ai n't the One '' ( 1969 ) `` The Days of Sand and Shovels '' ( 1969 ) `` MacArthur Park '' ( 1969 ) `` I Ai n't the One '' ( with Jessi Colter ) ( 1969 ) Background and release A cover version of `` MacArthur Park '' was recorded by country music singer Waylon Jennings on his 1969 album Country - Folk, which included the family group The Kimberlys. This version charted at number 23 on Hot Country Songs and number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100, making its chart debut on August 23, 1969. It also won both acts the 1969 Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Donna Summer version `` MacArthur Park '' Single by Donna Summer from the album Live and More B - side `` Once Upon a Time '' ( Live ) ( U.S. ) `` Last Dance '' ( Live ) ( France ) `` MacArthur Park '' ( Part 2 ) ( Japan ) `` One of a Kind '' ( 12 `` ) `` Heaven Knows ( 12 '' ) `` MacArthur Park Suite '' ( 12 `` ) Released September 24, 1978 Format 7 '' vinyl single 12 '' vinyl single Recorded 1978 Genre Disco Length 8 : 27 ( album version ) 3 : 59 ( single version ) Label Casablanca Songwriter ( s ) Jimmy Webb Producer ( s ) Giorgio Moroder Pete Bellotte Donna Summer singles chronology `` Je t'aime... moi non plus '' ( 1978 ) `` MacArthur Park '' ( 1978 ) `` Heaven Knows '' ( 1978 ) `` Je t'aime... moi non plus '' ( 1978 ) `` MacArthur Park '' ( 1978 ) `` Heaven Knows '' ( 1978 ) Background and release In September 1978, American singer Donna Summer released a multi-million selling vinyl single disco version of `` MacArthur Park '' : number one on the American pop music sales charts for three weeks, the track earned Summer her first nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Summer was also nominated for Favorite Pop / Rock Female at the American Music Awards where her album Live and More took the award for Favorite Disco Album. Producer Giorgio Moroder would recall that he and his collaborator Pete Bellotte had been interested in the concept of either remixing a track - as yet undecided on - which had been a hit in the 1960s or else remaking a 1960s hit as a dance track : Moroder - `` I remember that I was driving in... on the Hollywood Freeway, and I heard the original song ( i.e. `` MacArthur Park '' by Richard Harris ) on the radio. I thought : ' That 's it -- that 's the song we 've been looking for almost a year. ' '' Moroder asked Neil Bogart, president of Casablanca Records, to provide him with a copy of the Richard Harris version of `` MacArthur Park '' to serve as basis for Moroder 's envisioned discofied reinvention : Bogart obliged with an 8 - track tape containing Harris ' version, which Moroder had to specially buy an 8 - track player to hear. Moroder readily identified `` MacArthur Park '' as ( quote ) `` a great song for Donna -- with all those high notes, it was perfect ( for her )... First, I ( located ) a key that she could sing really high, but still with a big voice -- that took an hour or two. I played a little piano and she sang it with my accompaniment. We found a key and we had Greg Mathieson do the arrangement -- and then I did something very special '' - that `` something very special '' being Moroder 's recording of his own voice to form a choir heard behind Summer on the song 's chorus : `` I recorded about 20 seconds of all the notes, which I was able to sing on a 24 - track. I made a loop of those notes, and put that loop in the ( Solid State Logic ) desk. I could form eight chords by having C-E-G right on the group. I played the chords by moving the track according to the chord that I needed. '' Of basing a discofied arrangement on the template for Webb 's arrangement on the Harris version Moroder would recall : `` To be honest, it was a very difficult song to ( arrange ), especially the brass, but we had the best musicians in town. '' Summer 's recording of `` MacArthur Park '', included as part of the `` MacArthur Park Suite '' on her double album Live and More, was eight minutes and forty seconds long. The shorter seven - inch vinyl single version - which omits the song 's balladic second movement - afforded Summer her first # 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, also becoming the last of seven hit versions of compositions by Jimmy Webb to reach the Top Ten on the Hot 100, with `` MacArthur Park '' by Donna Summer being the only recording of a Webb composition to top the Hot 100. The nearly 18 - minute musical medley `` MacArthur Park Suite '' incorporated the original songs `` One of a Kind '' and `` Heaven Knows '', the latter being issued as the second single off Live and More. This medley was also sold as a 12 - inch ( 30 cm ) vinyl recording, and it stayed at number one on Billboard 's Hot Dance Club Songs chart for five weeks in 1978. The versions of this medley in Live and More and in the 12 - inch recording are notably different in the presentation of the two original songs. In the 12 - inch version, `` Heaven Knows '' was extended to incorporate the instrumental string introduction and the bridge horn solo of the single version for radio stations, but left out the second verse and `` One of a Kind '' was trimmed of a large part of the instrumental break but included the second verse. Lyrically, Summer 's rendition is also curious, in that it adds the word, `` Chinese, '' to clarify what type of checkers were being played. `` MacArthur Park Suite '' was not included on the compact disc version of Live and More because of early CD limitations ; however, the album version is available on 1987 's The Dance Collection : A Compilation of Twelve Inch Singles. The 12 '' Special One - Sided Disco DJ Single has been digitally remastered and included on the Bad Girls digipak double CD release. In 2012, `` Live and More '' was remastered in Japan and included the original Lp version of the `` MacArthur Park Suite ''. In 2013, the song was remixed by Laidback Luke for the Donna Summer remix album Love To Love You Donna ( it was also remixed by Ralphi Rosario and Frank Lamboy ), which was released to dance clubs all over America, having a successful peaking at No. 1, giving Summer her first posthumous No. 1 and her twentieth No. 1 overall. Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1978 - 79 ) Peak position Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) Canada Dance / Urban ( RPM ) Ireland ( IRMA ) 7 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 8 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 9 Spain Singles ( Promusicae ) 13 Spain Radio ( Los 40 ) 6 US Billboard Hot 100 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 24 U.S. Billboard Hot Disco Singles U.S. Cash Box Top 100 Chart ( 2013 ) Peak position U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs US Billboard Hot 100 US Hot Dance / Electronic Songs ( Billboard ) 20 Year - end charts Chart ( 1978 ) Rank Canada ( RPM ) Top Singles 33 US Cash Box 27 Other versions The Four Tops ( 1971 ) which reached # 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and # 37 in Canada. Andy Williams ( 1972 ) `` bubbled under '' the Hot 100 for four weeks that began in the August 5, 1972, issue and reached number 102. It also debuted on the Easy Listening chart in that same issue and made it to number 26 there over the course of five weeks. See also List of number - one dance singles of 2013 ( U.S. ) Jurassic Park ( song ) References ^ Jump up to : Boucher, Geoff. `` ' MacArthur Park ' Jimmy Webb 1968 '' Los Angeles Times, June 10, 2007, accessed June 1, 2015 Jump up ^ Queenan, Joe ( August 23, 2007 ). `` Recipe for disaster ''. The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved June 12, 2016. Jump up ^ Bronson, Fred ( 1988 ). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. New York : Billboard. ^ Jump up to : Fallick, Alan H. ( October 8, 2014 ). `` Jimmy Webb discusses famous lyrics in ' MacArthur Park ' ''. Newsday. Retrieved October 15, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Muse for Jimmy Webb 's ' MacArthur Park ' treasures those days ''. Los Angeles Times. July 20, 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Harris, Richard MacArthur Park -- Phonograph Recording Contract '' ( PDF ). The Wrecking Crew. Retrieved 2012 - 04 - 18. Jump up ^ `` MacArthur Park record details ''. 45cat. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 01. Jump up ^ `` The Top 100 Hits of 1968 ''. Musicradio77.com. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 02. Jump up ^ `` The Musicradio WABC Top 100 of 1968 ''. Musicradio77.com. Retrieved 2012 - 04 - 16. Jump up ^ ASCAP Candidacy filing, page 15. Jump up ^ Barry, Dave ( 2000 ). Dave Barry 's Book of Bad Songs. Andrews McMeel Publishing. pp. 18 -- 19. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7407 - 0600 - 4. The worst song in modern history, at least in the opinion of the people who responded to the Bad Song Survey is... `` MacArthur Park, '' the 1968 hit written by Jimmy Webb and sung hyperdramatically by Richard Harris... ( I ) t 's hard to argue with survey respondents who chose it as the worst. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 5741. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- MacArthur Park ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 22, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Richard Harris -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for Richard Harris. ^ Jump up to : Whitburn, Joel ( 2008 ). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 208. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 177 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Past Winners Search ''. grammy.com. Retrieved 22 December 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Key Tracks : Donna Summer 's `` MacArthur Park '' ``. RedBullMusicAcademy.com. Retrieved 6 July 2016. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2014 - 07 - 20. Retrieved 2014 - 08 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 0039a. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Adult Contemporary : Issue 0032. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Dance / Urban : Issue 4638. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- MacArthur Park ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 6, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Donna Summer -- MacArthur Park '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- week 47, 1978 '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40 ^ Jump up to : Fernando Salaverri ( September 2005 ). Sólo éxitos : año a año, 1959 -- 2002 ( 1st ed. ). Spain : Fundación Autor - SGAE. ISBN 84 - 8048 - 639 - 2. ^ Jump up to : `` Donna Summer -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for Donna Summer. Jump up ^ `` Donna Summer -- Chart history '' Billboard Adult Contemporary for Donna Summer. Jump up ^ `` Hot Dance Club Songs ''. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 28, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Donna Summer -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot Dance / Electronic Songs for Donna Summer. Jump up ^ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0070a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=o5r2l6umlaoj7j14trflhtut74 Jump up ^ `` Cashbox Top 100 ''. Cash Box Archives. December 30, 1978. Retrieved 6 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Four Tops MacArthur Park ''. www.discogs.com. Retrieved 18 March 2014. Jump up ^ `` The Four Tops - Chart History ''. Billboard. Retrieved 21 June 2017. Jump up ^ `` Item : 4240 ''. RPM. Vol. 16 no. 9. 16 October 1971. Retrieved 21 June 2017. Jump up ^ Cite error : The named reference Hot was invoked but never defined ( see the help page ). Jump up ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 296. External links Cite from Fred Bronson, The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, Billboard, 1988 Link to The Lou Gordon Home Page Preceded by `` You Needed Me '' by Anne Murray Billboard Hot 100 number one single ( Donna Summer version ) 11 November 1978 ( 3 weeks ) Succeeded by `` You Do n't Bring Me Flowers '' by Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond Preceded by Instant Replay by Dan Hartman ( all cuts ) Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number - one single ( Donna Summer version ) 21 October 1978 - 18 November 1978 Succeeded by `` Le Freak '' / `` I Want Your Love '' / `` Chic Cheer '' by Chic Richard Harris Studio albums A Tramp Shining ( 1968 ) The Yard Went On Forever ( 1968 ) Singles `` MacArthur Park '' `` The Yard Went on Forever '' `` Did n't We ? '' `` My Boy '' Related Filmography Elizabeth Rees - Williams ( first wife ) Damian Harris ( son ) Jared Harris ( son ) Jamie Harris ( son ) Ann Turkel ( second wife ) Annabelle Wallis ( niece ) Jimmy Webb Original albums Jim Webb Sings Jim Webb ( 1968 ) Words and Music ( 1970 ) And So : On ( 1971 ) Letters ( 1972 ) Land 's End ( 1974 ) El Mirage ( 1977 ) Angel Heart ( 1982 ) Suspending Disbelief ( 1993 ) Ten Easy Pieces ( 1996 ) Twilight of the Renegades ( 2005 ) Live and at Large ( 2007 ) Just Across the River ( 2010 ) Still Within the Sound of My Voice ( 2013 ) Collaborative albums Up, Up, and Away ( 1966 ) The Magic Garden ( 1967 ) Rewind ( 1967 ) A Tramp Shining ( 1968 ) The Yard Went On Forever ( 1968 ) Sunshower ( 1969 ) The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb ( 1972 ) Reunion : The Songs of Jimmy Webb ( 1974 ) Earthbound ( 1975 ) Live at the Royal Festival Hall ( 1977 ) Watermark ( 1977 ) Breakwater Cat ( 1980 ) The Last Unicorn ( 1983 ) The Animals ' Christmas ( 1986 ) Light Years ( 1988 ) Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind ( 1989 ) Only One Life : The Songs of Jimmy Webb ( 2003 ) This Kind of Love ( 2008 ) Cottonwood Farm ( 2009 ) Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb : In Session ( 2012 ) Compilation albums Tribute to Burt Bacharach and Jim Webb ( 1972 ) And Someone Left the Cake Out in the Rain... ( 1998 ) Archive ( 1994 ) Reunited with Jimmy Webb 1974 -- 1988 ( 1999 ) Tunesmith : The Songs of Jimmy Webb ( 2003 ) The Moon 's a Harsh Mistress : Jimmy Webb in the Seventies ( 2004 ) Archive & Live ( 2005 ) Songs `` All I Know '' `` By the Time I Get to Phoenix '' `` Did n't We '' `` Galveston '' `` The Girls ' Song '' `` Highwayman '' `` Honey Come Back '' `` MacArthur Park '' `` Still Within the Sound of My Voice '' `` The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress '' `` Up, Up and Away '' `` Where 's the Playground Susie '' `` Wichita Lineman '' `` The Worst That Could Happen '' Related articles Jimmy Webb discography Donna Summer Discography ( Albums ) ( Singles ) Awards Cover versions Studio albums Lady of the Night ( 1974 ) Love to Love You Baby ( 1975 ) A Love Trilogy ( 1976 ) Four Seasons of Love ( 1976 ) I Remember Yesterday ( 1977 ) Once Upon A Time ( 1977 ) Bad Girls ( 1979 ) The Wanderer ( 1980 ) I 'm a Rainbow ( 1981 / 1996 ) Donna Summer ( 1982 ) She Works Hard for the Money ( 1983 ) Cats Without Claws ( 1984 ) All Systems Go ( 1987 ) Another Place and Time ( 1989 ) Mistaken Identity ( 1991 ) Christmas Spirit ( 1994 ) Crayons ( 2008 ) Live albums Live and More ( 1978 ) Live & More Encore ( 1999 ) Notable compilations On the Radio : Greatest Hits Volumes I & II ( 1979 ) The Summer Collection : Greatest Hits ( 1985 ) The Dance Collection : A Compilation of Twelve Inch Singles ( 1987 ) The Donna Summer Anthology ( 1993 ) Endless Summer ( 1994 ) The Ultimate Collection ( 2003 ) The Journey : The Very Best of Donna Summer ( 2003 ) Gold ( 2005 ) Donna ( 2014 ) Hits, Singles and More ( 2015 ) The Ultimate Collection ( 2016 ) U.S. Top 10 Hit singles `` Love to Love You Baby '' `` I Feel Love '' `` Last Dance '' `` MacArthur Park '' `` Heaven Knows '' `` Hot Stuff '' `` Bad Girls '' `` Dim All the Lights '' `` No More Tears ( Enough Is Enough ) '' `` On the Radio '' `` The Wanderer '' `` Love Is in Control ( Finger on the Trigger ) '' `` She Works Hard for the Money '' `` This Time I Know It 's for Real '' Concert tours Once Upon a Time Tour Bad Girls Tour The Wanderer Tour Hard for the Money Tour Silver Girl Tour All Systems Go Tour Mid Summer Nights Dream Tour Live & More Encore Tour Greatest Hits Tour Crayons Tour Related topics Brooklyn Dreams Pete Bellotte Joe `` Bean '' Esposito Giorgio Moroder Bruce Sudano Neil Bogart Paul Jabara Sunshine Theme From The Deep ( Down Deep Inside ) Book : Donna Summer Waylon Jennings Albums Singles Studio albums Waylon at JD 's Folk - Country Leavin ' Town Nashville Rebel Waylon Sings Ol ' Harlan Love of the Common People The One and Only Hangin ' On Only the Greatest Jewels Just to Satisfy You Waylon Singer of Sad Songs The Taker / Tulsa Cedartown, Georgia Good Hearted Woman Ladies Love Outlaws Lonesome, On'ry and Mean Honky Tonk Heroes This Time The Ramblin ' Man Dreaming My Dreams Are You Ready for the Country Ol ' Waylon I 've Always Been Crazy What Goes Around Comes Around Music Man Black on Black It 's Only Rock + Roll Waylon and Company Never Could Toe the Mark Turn the Page Sweet Mother Texas Will the Wolf Survive Hangin ' Tough A Man Called Hoss Full Circle The Eagle Too Dumb for New York City, Too Ugly for L.A. Ol ' Waylon Sings Ol ' Hank Cowboys, Sisters, Rascals & Dirt Waymore 's Blues ( Part II ) Right for the Time Closing In on the Fire Waylon Forever Goin ' Down Rockin ' : The Last Recordings Live albums Waylon Live Never Say Die : Live Live from Austin, TX Never Say Die : The Final Concert Notable singles 1960s `` That 's the Chance I 'll Have to Take '' `` Stop the World ( And Let Me Off ) '' `` Anita, You 're Dreaming '' `` Time to Bum Again '' `` ( That 's What You Get ) For Lovin ' Me '' `` Green River '' `` Mental Revenge '' `` The Chokin ' Kind '' `` Walk On Out of My Mind '' `` I Got You '' with Anita Carter `` Only Daddy That 'll Walk the Line '' `` Yours Love '' `` Something 's Wrong in California '' `` The Days of Sand and Shovels '' `` Brown Eyed Handsome Man '' 1970s `` Singer of Sad Songs '' `` The Taker '' `` ( Do n't Let the Sun Set on You ) Tulsa '' `` Mississippi Woman '' `` Under Your Spell Again '' with Jessi Colter `` Cedartown, Georgia '' `` Good Hearted Woman '' `` Sweet Dream Woman '' `` Pretend I Never Happened '' `` You Can Have Her '' `` We Had It All '' `` You Asked Me To '' `` This Time '' `` I 'm a Ramblin ' Man '' `` Rainy Day Woman '' `` Dreaming My Dreams with You '' `` Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way '' `` Ca n't You See '' `` Are You Ready for the Country '' `` Luckenbach, Texas ( Back to the Basics of Love ) '' `` I 've Always Been Crazy '' `` Do n't You Think This Outlaw Bit 's Done Got Out of Hand '' `` Amanda '' `` Come With Me '' `` I Ai n't Living Long Like This '' 1980s -- 1990s `` Clyde '' `` Good Ol ' Boys '' `` Storms Never Last '' with Jessi Colter `` Shine '' `` Just to Satisfy You '' with Willie Nelson `` Women Do Know How to Carry On '' `` Lucille ( You Wo n't Do Your Daddy 's Will ) '' `` Breakin ' Down '' `` Hold On, I 'm Comin ' '' with Jerry Reed `` The Conversation '' with Hank Williams Jr. `` I May Be Used ( But Baby I Ai n't Used Up ) '' `` Never Could Toe the Mark '' `` America '' `` Waltz Me to Heaven '' `` Drinkin ' and Dreamin ' '' `` The Devil 's on the Loose '' `` Working Without a Net '' `` Will the Wolf Survive '' `` What You 'll Do When I 'm Gone '' `` Rose in Paradise '' `` Fallin ' Out '' `` My Rough and Rowdy Days '' `` If Ole Hank Could Only See Us Now '' `` How Much Is It Worth to Live in L.A. '' `` Which Way Do I Go ( Now That I 'm Gone ) '' `` Trouble Man '' `` You Put the Soul in the Song '' `` Wrong '' `` Where Corn Do n't Grow '' `` What Bothers Me Most '' `` The Eagle '' `` Just Talkin ' '' `` Too Dumb for New York City '' `` Wild Ones '' `` I Know About Me Do n't Know About You '' `` Outlaw Shit '' Collaborations Waylon & Willie Albums : Waylon & Willie WWII Take It to the Limit Clean Shirt Super Hits Singles : `` The Wurlitzer Prize ( I Do n't Want to Get Over You ) '' `` Mammas Do n't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys '' `` ( Sittin ' On ) The Dock of the Bay '' `` Take It to the Limit '' `` If I Can Find a Clean Shirt '' Other collaborations Country - Folk with The Kimberlys Leather and Lace with Jessi Colter Heroes with Johnny Cash Old 97 's & Waylon Jennings with Old 97 's Collaboration singles `` MacArthur Park '' with The Kimberlys `` Suspicious Minds '' with Jessi Colter `` Good Hearted Woman '' with Willie Nelson ( Re-recording ) `` Suspicious Minds '' with Jessi Colter ( Re-release from Wanted ! The Outlaws ) `` There Ai n't No Good Chain Gang '' with Johnny Cash `` Wish I Was Crazy Again '' with Johnny Cash `` The Wild Side of Life / It Was n't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels '' with Jessi Colter `` Leave Them Boys Alone '' with Hank Williams Jr. and Ernest Tubb `` Even Cowgirls Get the Blues '' with Johnny Cash `` Ballad of Forty Dollars '' with Johnny Cash `` Somewhere Between Ragged and Right '' with John Anderson `` High Ridin ' Heroes '' with David Lynn Jones `` One Good Love '' with Neil Diamond Compilations The Best of Waylon Jennings Do n't Think Twice Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town Only Daddy That 'll Walk the Line Heartaches by the Number Greatest Hits Waylon 's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 The Best of Waylon New Classic Waylon Only Daddy That 'll Walk the Line : The RCA Years The Journey : Six Strings Away The Journey : Destiny 's Child The Restless Kid : Live at JD 's 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection : The Best of Waylon Jennings RCA Country Legends Ultimate Waylon Jennings 16 Biggest Hits Nashville Rebel The Essential Waylon Jennings Related The Waylors Outlaw country Wanted ! The Outlaws `` We Are the World '' The Highwaymen Old Dogs Jessi Colter Waylon Albright `` Shooter '' Jennings Four Tops singles discography 1960s 1964 `` Baby I Need Your Loving '' `` Without the One You Love ( Life 's Not Worth While ) '' 1965 `` Ask the Lonely '' `` I Ca n't Help Myself ( Sugar Pie Honey Bunch ) '' `` It 's the Same Old Song '' `` Something About You '' 1966 `` Shake Me, Wake Me ( When It 's Over ) '' `` Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever '' `` Reach Out I 'll Be There '' `` Standing in the Shadows of Love '' 1967 `` Bernadette '' `` 7 - Rooms of Gloom '' / `` I 'll Turn to Stone '' `` You Keep Running Away '' 1968 `` Walk Away Renée '' `` If I Were a Carpenter '' `` Yesterday 's Dreams '' `` I 'm in a Different World '' 1969 `` What Is a Man '' `` Do What You Gotta Do '' `` Do n't Let Him Take Your Love from Me '' 1970s 1970 `` I Ca n't Help Myself ( Sugar Pie Honey Bunch ) '' ( re-issue ) `` It 's All in the Game '' `` Still Water ( Love ) '' `` River Deep -- Mountain High '' ( with The Supremes ) 1971 `` Just Seven Numbers ( Can Straighten Out My Life ) '' `` You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart '' ( with The Supremes ) `` In These Changing Times '' `` MacArthur Park ( Part II ) '' 1972 `` A Simple Game '' `` Bernadette '' ( re-issue ) `` Walk with Me, Talk with Me, Darling '' `` ( It 's the Way ) Nature Planned It '' `` Keeper of the Castle '' 1973 `` Ai n't No Woman ( Like the One I 've Got ) '' `` Are You Man Enough '' `` Sweet Understanding Love '' `` I Just Ca n't Get You Out of My Mind '' `` One Chain Do n't Make No Prison '' `` Midnight Flower '' `` Seven Lonely Nights '' `` We All Gotta Stick Together '' 1976 `` Catfish '' `` I 'm Glad You Walked into My Life '' 1980s 1981 `` When She Was My Girl '' `` Do n't Walk Away '' 1982 `` Let Me Set You Free '' `` Back to School Again '' `` Sad Hearts '' `` Tonight I 'm Gonna Love You All Over '' `` I Believe in You and Me '' `` I Just Ca n't Walk Away '' 1985 `` Sexy Ways '' `` Reach Out I 'll Be There '' ( re-issue ) `` If Ever a Love There Was '' ( with Aretha Franklin ) `` Indestructible '' `` Loco in Acapulco '' Book : Four Tops Andy Williams Studio albums Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen Andy Williams Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein Two Time Winners To You Sweetheart, Aloha Lonely Street The Village of St. Bernadette Under Paris Skies Danny Boy and Other Songs I Love to Sing Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes Warm and Willing Days of Wine and Roses and Other TV Requests The Andy Williams Christmas Album The Wonderful World of Andy Williams The Academy Award - Winning `` Call Me Irresponsible '' and Other Hit Songs from the Movies The Great Songs from `` My Fair Lady '' and Other Broadway Hits Andy Williams ' Dear Heart Merry Christmas The Shadow of Your Smile In the Arms of Love Born Free Love, Andy Honey Happy Heart Get Together with Andy Williams Raindrops Keep Fallin ' on My Head The Andy Williams Show Love Story You 've Got a Friend Love Theme from `` The Godfather '' Alone Again ( Naturally ) Solitaire The Way We Were Christmas Present You Lay So Easy on My Mind The Other Side of Me Andy Let 's Love While We Can Greatest Love Classics Close Enough for Love I Still Believe in Santa Claus Nashville We Need a Little Christmas I Do n't Remember Ever Growing Up Compilations Andy Williams Andy Williams ' Best Million Seller Songs Canadian Sunset Andy Williams ' Newest Hits May Each Day The Andy Williams Sound of Music Andy Williams ' Greatest Hits The Impossible Dream Love Story Andy Williams ' Greatest Hits Vol. 2 ( CBS ) Andy Williams ' Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Reflections The Best of Andy Williams ( 1992 ) Personal Christmas Collection 16 Most Requested Songs : Encore ! The Best of Andy Williams ( 1996 ) The Love Songs In the Lounge with... The Very Best of Andy Williams ( 2000 ) Andy The Essential Andy Williams B Sides and Rarities Music to Watch Girls By : The Very Best of Andy Williams Moon River : The Very Best of Andy Williams The Very Best of Andy Williams ( 2009 ) The Classic Christmas Album Live albums Greatest Hits The New Andy Williams Christmas Album Singles `` Walk Hand in Hand '' `` Canadian Sunset '' `` Butterfly '' `` I Like Your Kind of Love '' `` Lips of Wine '' `` Are You Sincere ? '' `` Promise Me, Love '' `` The Hawaiian Wedding Song '' `` Lonely Street '' `` The Village of St. Bernadette '' `` Danny Boy '' `` Fly by Night '' `` Stranger on the Shore '' `` Do n't You Believe It '' `` Twilight Time '' `` Ca n't Get Used to Losing You '' `` Days of Wine and Roses '' `` Hopeless '' `` A Fool Never Learns '' `` Charade '' `` Wrong for Each Other '' `` On the Street Where You Live '' `` Almost There '' `` Dear Heart '' ``... and Roses and Roses '' `` Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars ( Corcovado ) '' `` May Each Day '' `` You 're Gonna Hear from Me '' `` Bye Bye Blues '' `` How Can I Tell Her It 's Over '' `` In the Arms of Love '' `` Music to Watch Girls By '' `` Holly '' `` Ca n't Take My Eyes Off You '' `` Sweet Memories '' `` Battle Hymn of the Republic '' `` Happy Heart '' `` Live and Learn '' `` A Woman 's Way '' `` Ca n't Help Falling in Love '' `` One Day of Your Life '' `` It 's So Easy '' `` Home Lovin ' Man '' `` ( Where Do I Begin ? ) Love Story '' `` A Song for You '' `` You 've Got a Friend '' `` Speak Softly Love ( Love Theme from The Godfather ) '' `` MacArthur Park '' `` Solitaire '' `` Love 's Theme '' `` Another Lonely Song '' `` Cry Softly '' `` Sad Eyes '' `` The Other Side of Me '' `` Tell It Like It Is '' `` It 's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year '' B - Sides `` I 'm So Lonesome I Could Cry '' `` I Want to Be Wanted '' `` Summertime '' `` So Rare '' `` Emily '' `` Red Roses for a Blue Lady '' `` I 'll Remember You '' `` Something '' `` My Love '' `` They Long to Be Close to You '' `` I Love My Friend '' Related articles Discography The Williams Brothers Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MacArthur_Park_(song)&oldid=803821499 '' Categories : 1968 singles 1972 singles 1978 singles Songs written by Jimmy Webb Richard Harris songs Andy Williams songs Donna Summer songs Waylon Jennings songs Glen Campbell songs Billboard Dance Club Songs number - one singles Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Number - one dance singles in Canada Song recordings produced by Giorgio Moroder Song recordings produced by Pete Bellotte RCA Records singles Disco songs Pop ballads Rock ballads Songs about Los Angeles Songs about California Four Tops songs Song recordings produced by Frank Wilson ( musician ) 1968 songs 1960s ballads Dunhill Records singles Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist ( s ) Casablanca Records singles RPM Adult Contemporary number - one singles RPM Top Singles number - one singles Hidden categories : Pages with reference errors Pages with broken reference names Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Canadaadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Canadadance Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboarddanceelectronic Talk Contents About Wikipedia Português Suomi Edit links This page was last edited on 4 October 2017, at 21 : 15. 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Question: lyrics to macarthur park what do they mean
Answer: meant to be symbolic and referred to the end of a love affair