# MacArthur Park **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [May 26, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414 "2026-05-26T20:52:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/61 "2026-05-27T20:21:38Z")
No sir, I didn’t like it! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8JNuqEz_GCQ/hqdefault.jpg "Ren & Stimpy Mr. Horse - No Sir I Didn't Like It") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JNuqEz_GCQ) ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/62 "2026-05-27T20:51:05Z")
“God Only Knows” has a similar effect. Brian Wilson said it was the only song he ever wrote that didn’t settle on a key. And both songs have gorgeous chords and a dream-like feel. Such good songwriting, both… ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/63 "2026-05-27T21:24:37Z")
The thought occurs to me that in the 50 years I worked in the radio biz that I never once played that song. It was never in the library of any station I ever worked, and I got into radio in 1971, just a few years later. It fell off the charts and was gone forever. There have always been songs that were big hits in their day that just disappeared after their run on the charts. Mostly, making an educated guess, because the people stocking the Oldie libraries at radio stations (or consultants) hated the song and never wanted to hear it again. Or they tested badly with listeners. Or if they were in the library, DJs just passed them by. Novelty drek like “Winchester Cathedral” and the dreadfully sappy “Feelings” would fall into that category, despite being #1 songs. Ugh! ---
**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 27, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/64 "2026-05-27T21:28:48Z")
Sweet, green frosting tastes a lot better after a little rain. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/65 "2026-05-27T21:45:46Z")
> [@digs](#): > > What could be worse? Well, it’s not some poetic journey through a dying relationship. > He just wrote down what actually happened: > > He really did face a breakup by baking his (no-longer-wanting-to-be-a) girlfriend a huge cake, like a wedding cake. > > Poor Jimmy brought it to a park where he knew she’d be. It started raining and he watched _all the sweet green icing flowing down…_ In the spirit of “every great song shares some fundamental human emotion”, perhaps MacArthur Park has been underestimated all these years, as the lyrics deliver these powerfully evocative themes: - When planning an outdoor activity, always check the weather forecast first - A cake is really a poor gift when trying to mend a relationship – consider instead offering a romantic Mediterranean vacation in a villa on the Amalfi coast of Italy or one of the Greek islands. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/66 "2026-05-27T21:51:30Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > No one quotes me as to why, say, Paradise By The Dashboard Light (8’28") is the fucking most annoying song ever made. More than Total Eclipse of the Heart (6’58") or Making Love Out of Nothing at All (5’43") or every other Jim Steinman theatrically-overproduced bombast. Some people, may god help them, actually _like_ it. It’s me I’m some people. Steinman’s solo album, _Bad For Good_, is legitimately one of my all-time favorites. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/67 "2026-05-27T21:54:44Z")
I love _MacArthur Park_. The Richard Harris version. I’ve never heard the disco version. ---
**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 27, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/68 "2026-05-27T21:55:43Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > consider instead offering a romantic Mediterranean vacation in a villa on the Amalfi coast of Italy or one of the Greek islands. Does she go by herself, or do I get to come along? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/69 "2026-05-27T22:13:01Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Does she go by herself, or do I get to come along? If she chooses to go by herself, Jimmy Webb could write another whiny song complaining about it: _Amalfi villa’s melting in the dark Italian vacation dreams have gone kaput She tore up my first-class ticket I don’t think that I can take it 'Cause it took so long to make it And I’ll never have that money back again, oh no_ ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/70 "2026-05-27T22:50:21Z")
Well played! I now have a favorite version. And in my mind, that “Oh no” went on for a while… ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/71 "2026-05-28T00:19:36Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [It is.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacArthur_Park#Music) The park got renamed for the general in '42. Yes, I know. Why I said it. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/72 "2026-05-28T12:17:43Z")
That was for the benefit if @RTFirefly. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/73 "2026-05-28T16:03:48Z")
Sorry, I was the one replied to, so I thought it was for me. No prob. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/74 "2026-05-28T16:06:51Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > No one quotes me as to why, say, Paradise By The Dashboard Light (8’28") is the fucking most annoying song ever made. Not “most annoying” but damn close. Wife loves it and plays it often ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/75 "2026-05-28T16:49:16Z")
Maybe it would be better if performed by Rutger Hauer. I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Old men playing checkers by the trees. Striped pairs of pants pressed in love’s hot fevered iron. All those moments will be lost in time, like cake in rain. ---
**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 28, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/76 "2026-05-28T17:34:14Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > like cake in rain. Time…to diet. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/77 "2026-05-28T17:39:35Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Time…to diet. Bravo, golf clap ! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/78 "2026-05-28T19:09:26Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > We eventually rescued the cake from the rain. No buttercreme frosting ran down, and the cake was delicious. That sounds yummy! Can I get the recipe? ---
**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 28, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/79 "2026-05-28T19:10:32Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Can I get the recipe? Oh, NOOOOOO! ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414/80 "2026-05-28T21:20:32Z")
I vow that this thread shall never flow down the memory hole. I don’t think that I could take it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-park/1030414.md?page=5)