MacArthur Park Is Melting In The Dark...All The Sweet Green Icing Flowing Down...

My Water Post For Today.

Yes, I am back at MacArthur Park...but for a very important reason.

Jimmy Webb, the man who wrote the song MacArthur Park 45 years ago, came to the park on last Saturday evening, to perform his hit song. Not like it is a surprise to us Angelenos, but this park was the inspiration for the song.

As he said in the article, he lived in nearby Silverlake and he would walk down Sunset and turn at Alvarado, to get to the park. I want to mention, that this is quite a bit of a hike.

His girlfriend at the time, Suzy Horton, worked in the area, so he would sit at the park and watch the people. As he mentions, everything in the song, comes from the things he saw. He said he more then once saw cakes left at the tables, after parties would break up. I am sure that probably one or two, ended up sitting in the rain...maybe even with sweet green icing... ;-)

You can read the entire fascinating article, HERE.

...and those cryptic lyrics, here.

"MacArthur Park"

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, nooooo

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, nooooo

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

[Instrumental Interlude]

MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet green icing flowing down
Someone left my cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to make it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, nooooo
Oh, nooooo