MacArthur Park Lyrics

How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

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About

Genius Annotation

“MacArthur Park” is about a relationship that was doomed from the start, but that the singer still can’t believe is over.

It was written by Jimmy Webb, one of the most popular songwriters of the 20th Century.

In this song, Jimmy Webb is in particular thinking of his breakup with Susan Horton, a talented singer who never found much commercial success.

Bones Howe, a fellow producer, had asked Webb to create a song with classical elements. Webb presented the suite he had written to Howe who loved it. Howe’s intended recipients, his new act The Association, however, refused to record it. Around that time, Webb was working with some Hollywood stars and met actor Richard Harris, who had recently completed the film musical Camelot. Harris decided he wanted to make a pop album and convinced Webb to produce it.

One thing to note: Harris never correctly pronounces the song’s title. He says “MacArthur’s Park”. It is “MacArthur Park”.

How we made MacArthur Park – Interview with Jimmy Webb

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

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