# Help rewrite the lyrics to MacArthur's Park **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 24, 2018, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724 "2018-05-24T12:10:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/1 "2018-05-24T12:10:38Z")
Sometimes I listen to a song but only hear the words subconsciously if at all. MacArthur’s Park is one of those; I was certainly aware of the singer’s regret about the lost recipe but that’s it. I found the song quite poignant so maybe the lyrics penetrated my subconscious but I was unaware of them consciously. (Rather than being too bored to listen to the words, I wonder if the song’s strength put me in a trance?) Anyone else like this with some songs? Anyway, I finally read the lyrics. (Maybe I had to because Dopers mentioned the cake left out in the rain one too many times. 🆒 ) I decided the sentiment of the song was special. There are many MANY songs about a lost love but none like this one. > [@](#): > > 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 in 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 > Oh after all the loves in my life > I’ll be thinking of you > And wondering why This, to me, is fine poetry. The meaning is vivid. But overall the song suffers from horridly silly metaphors. The “striped pair of pants” might be almost as bad as the lost wedding cake recipe. _ **So… Several Dopers are excellent poets. Take up the challenge!** _ Re-engineer a few lines of lyrics and change MacArthur’s Park from a beautiful but failed song into a masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/2 "2018-05-24T14:13:25Z")
MacDonald’s food is clogging up your heart. All the cheap and greasy phony cow. Someone said their tea was AOK. I don’t think that I can eat there Cos you won’t find decent meat there So I’m heading down the road to Chick-fil-A, oh yeah! ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/3 "2018-05-24T14:54:38Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > MacDonald’s food is clogging up your heart. > All the cheap and greasy phony cow. > Someone said their tea was AOK. > I don’t think that I can eat there > Cos you won’t find decent meat there > So I’m heading down the road to Chick-fil-A, oh yeah! There will be other brands of fries And I will eat them There will be lots of other meals for me Someone will bring them I will drink the Pepsi™ while it’s cold And never let you catch me Thinking it’s all a joke But after all the tacos and KFC’s And food from Wendy’s and Arby’s I’ll still lust for Mac ‘n’ Coke™ ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/4 "2018-05-24T15:30:18Z")
So far, so good! Maybe Weird Al is monitoring the thread. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/5 "2018-05-24T15:40:45Z")
You got it in the OP - perform only the middle section, with nothing about cakes and pants. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/6 "2018-05-24T16:28:25Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > So far, so good! Maybe Weird Al is monitoring the thread. [Jurassic Park.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh4zvQfDhi0) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/7 "2018-05-24T16:47:19Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Jurassic Park.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh4zvQfDhi0) ::tenting my fingers:: Excellent! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/8 "2018-05-24T16:56:48Z")
I can’t think of any changes. I actually like the song. Always have since it was new. Its weird metaphors work in the song. They aren’t the best, but they work. It was a different time, you understand. But I do like the parodies in posts 2 and 3. Classic! ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/9 "2018-05-24T17:24:24Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Jurassic Park.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh4zvQfDhi0) > [@](#): > > The uploader has not made this video available in your country. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/10 "2018-05-24T17:42:19Z")
Jimmy Webb is a great song writer. Up, Up and Away", “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”, “Wichita Lineman”, “Galveston”, “The Worst That Could Happen”, “All I Know”, any many more. But you write one stupid song… ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/11 "2018-05-24T18:39:32Z")
…and I found that recipe again, (cause I looked it up on the internet) I watched cake boss last night and they made a giant green cake, the recipe looked so good I tried it myself I thought I could bake it but it took so long to make it and that recipe was a disaster again ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/12 "2018-05-25T01:46:09Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Jimmy Webb is a great song writer. Up, Up and Away", “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”, “Wichita Lineman”, “Galveston”, “The Worst That Could Happen”, “All I Know”, any many more. But you write one stupid song… You know of course, it’s 60’s lyrics. _I am I said. To no one there. And no one heard at all, not even the chair_, for example. They didn’t have to make sense. Something about drugs and acid and shit. MacArthur Park is a truly beautiful song. I’ve heard Jimmy Webb [sing it as a ballad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bys4jBX68k). It’s perfect. The problem is simply the over produced, over orchestrated aria that Mr. Harris tried to make it. But, I actually always liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/13 "2018-05-25T02:08:57Z")
Maynard Ferguson does a kick-ass instrumental version of it. It works quite well without the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/14 "2018-05-25T02:15:02Z")
Waylon Jennings had a big hit with McArthur Park. He and The Kimberlys won a Best Country Performance, by a duo Grammy in 1969 for it. I don’t think the song can be improved. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/15 "2018-05-25T14:27:38Z")
[I thought so!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8JlQNIvIfI) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/16 "2018-05-25T17:05:49Z")
If you parse it out line by line, the song works well in most parts: _Spring was never waiting for us, girl It ran one step ahead As we followed in the dance_ Okay, that makes sense. Then the metaphor goes in the wrong direction. I’m not a poet, or a songwriter, but here’s one way to pull it back \*Between the parted pages and were pressed In life’s sweet, bitter book Like a feather from a nest \* Now we get to the real trainwreck, with the park and the cake and the rain and all that. But there’s still some vivid imagery we should try to preserve. _Our love died there in MacArthur Park Someone left the cake out in the pouring rain The sweet, green icing flowing down 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!_ We throw the word “love” in so people understand IT’S A SONG ABOUT A BREAKUP, NOT A CAKE. The flip a couple of lines so that people understand 1) Love is like a cake 2) that’s falling apart and 3) really hard to put back together. By the way, I saw Richard Harris on stage in Camelot. That hyperemotive delivery may not work well on a record, but it’s electrifying in a theater. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/17 "2018-05-25T22:19:33Z")
_MacArthur’s Park’s now sleeping in the dark, All the picnic trappings fallen down. Forgotten dead balloons haunt all my dreams: Though love’s memory’s still yearning, Like yesterday there’s no returning, And I’ll never have a dream like that again. Oh no!_ ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/18 "2018-05-26T00:21:35Z")
It simply cannot be improved. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/19 "2018-05-26T02:28:21Z")
MacArthurs Park is closed down, to be paved A garage is needed for our cars! Now there will be no more destroyed cakes The old park will now be covered! Tons of concrete poured all over! So fuck your park, I just got sweet revenge! A-gain! ---
**Author:** ![JOEZEN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@JOEZEN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JOEZEN)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724/20 "2026-02-19T14:15:00Z")
This song only made sense to me when I replaced the “someone left the cake out in the rain …” with my own lyric: “Someone left the chicken enchiladas out in the rain, its green chile sauce flowing down.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-rewrite-the-lyrics-to-macarthurs-park/814724.md?page=2)