MacArthur's Park - what does it mean?
HRQ
2,849 Posts
A local radio station is conducting a "Terrible Tunes" contest. Each night, two previously submitted songs are pitted against each other and listeners call in to vote which song is worse. Last night's songs were MacArthur's Park vs. Da Da Da (think of the Volkswagen commercials)
A caller was insulted that MacArthur's Park was in the contest because "it's a Vietnam anthem. It's about the dead bodies and the imperialists!"
The opening lyrics of the song, as I remember them are;
MacArthur's park is melting in the dark
The sweet green icing is running down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't know if I can make it
It took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Apparently the song was written in 1967. Does anybody know what the song means?
A caller was insulted that MacArthur's Park was in the contest because "it's a Vietnam anthem. It's about the dead bodies and the imperialists!"
The opening lyrics of the song, as I remember them are;
MacArthur's park is melting in the dark
The sweet green icing is running down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't know if I can make it
It took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Apparently the song was written in 1967. Does anybody know what the song means?
Comments
I agree with Beagle about Richard Harris. I think that's why they had him talk his way through most of the song.
Was that done by Strawberry Alarm Clock or the 1910 Fruitgum Company? :-?
Physical, by Olivia Newton John (I liked that one)
Seasons in the Sun, by ? (I also liked that one)
Turning Japanese, by ? (from the 80's, I believe. Liked this one too)
Disco Duck, by Rick Dees I think (OK, I did NOT like this one)
I can't recall the others right now. Most of the songs I actually liked, though!
Re: MacArthur's Park - an acid trip would explain the "sweet green icing running down". Ooooh - the colors!
Spring was never waiting for us, girl
It ran one 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
CHORUS
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 around your knees
The birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing checkers by the trees
CHORUS
There will be another song for me
For I will sing it
There will 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
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, no!
Oh, no
No, no
Oh NO!! (upon which Harris suffers an irreversible gender change
Beagle, I know it doesn't take all that long to find lyrics, so your okay by me. Your not ready to be taken away (Napolean XIV) - that only happens when you can't figure out or find the words or title to a song and it keeps rolling around in your head until you just go beserk 8-}!
Okay Yummy yummy yummy was by the 1910 Fruitgum Company, as was 1-2-3-Redlight. Incense and Peppermint and Tomorrow (right now I am with you and together we can make it groove) were by Strawberry Alarm Clock.
I admit to having four of the five 45s mentioned herein.
I cooked your food
I cleaned your house
And this is how you pay me back
For all my kind, unselfish, loving deeds, huh?
Well, you just wait
They'll find you yet
And when they do they'll put you in the ASPCA
You mangy mutt!
Chorus 8-}
It's about a missed opportunity - at love, making the perfect green cake, acid, or all three.
This is my absolute favorite part of the song, now that I know the words;
"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"
I tried to stifle the laughter which resulted in my making snorting noises, so I had to explain myself to the one person in the office at hte moment. Apparently it's not as humorous when I describe it out loud. She failed to make snorting noises like I did, and instead just said "oh - that is funny."
>too............ I really crank it up when it plays on the radio. Only
>problem is, is that when I have my windows down, I get some really
>strange looks...... Every time I hear it, I have to think that
>Richard Harris is a very brave man to take on this tune, or maybe it
>was the drugs? Hum..................
How about the next time some punk rapper in the car next to you is playing their stereo so loud your windows are rattling, you crank up MacArthur's Park and blast them away? I did that to a kid once, just blasted Gimme Shelter and grinned a big grin. The kid didn't know what to do, but finally turned down his stereo.
"From what I've read and heard about the song over the years, the lyrics don't really mean anything. The song was meant to be a private joke between Harris and Jimmy Webb. There was some sort of weird wager between the two that Jimmy could write the worst song of all time and Harris would record it. Then they woud see if it was a hit.
Back in 1969, it went to #2. Today, it has been voted as being one of the worst songs of all time.
I guess the fact that the lyrics didn't really mean anything at all is why it became so popular. Interpretation of the words is still wide open today."
A public service brought to you by Nrdgrrl, and the letters Q, Y and the number 4.
Well, the flip side of that one was a ditty called "Here's to the Crabgrass" - a song about suburban living in the sixties. Every time I see a question regarding capri pants, I remember that song, which includes the following:
"Here's to mosquitos,
clam dip and Fritos,
To golf and bridge and scuba there.
Men wearing knee pants,
Women in capri pants,
Discussing what's with Cuba there."
I guess this is why I can't take any discussions on capri pants seriously!8-}
Here are two more detestable tunes to get stuck in your head. Hope somebody remembers them beside me!
"No parking by the sewer sign.
Hot dog.
My razor broke.
Water dripping up the spout.
I don't care.
Let it all hang out!"
"You're red scarf matches your eyes.
You close your cover before stri-i-i-king.
Your father has the ship-fitter blues.
Loving you has made me bananas."
Please, somebody say you know these.
"Sam"
>Hot dog.
>My razor broke.
>Water dripping up the spout.
>I don't care.
>Let it all hang out!"
Actually I like that song. Got one of the best guitar riffs even if the lyrics don't make any sense. When I was a kid, we used to do the slide to that song.
Your second one, I'm afraid, has left me baffled. If I have heard it, my mind has mercifully blotted out the memory. x:-)
>A public service brought to you by Nrdgrrl, and the letters Q, Y and
>the number 4.
Okay, are you truly a member of the Sesame Street generation or are you just trying to make me feel better? x:-)
It wasn't a local thing. It was a voice like Tiny Tim singing into a megaphone.
Please, someone come forward and back me up! "I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired, right now, I know you don't care." (I would put the "silly" face here but don't know how).