The REAL* Story of MacArthur Park *possible

The most famous song ever to be written about an event in the Inland Empire is MacArthur Park.

But wait, you say. MacArthur Part is in downtown LA, which is correct, but that is not what the song is about.

The song is about how 2 Colton High students fell in love and the time they spent with each other. The 2 students were Suzy Horton who was a cheerleader, dancer, and became Miss Colton, and the composer of the song Jimmy Webb, who also was a student at CHS and SBVC.

The song was a reflection of events that happened in MacArthur Park one afternoon, and Jimmy realized the relationship was over with Suzy, and dealt with it by writing and composing a number of songs about Suzy.

I think MacArthur Park may be my favorite song from the 60’s. It definitely would be in the top 5. I compare it to my favorite movie of all time: 2001 A Space Odyssey. When I first saw/heard both of them my first thought was “what the heck was that about”. I also think they are the greatest work of their creators Jimmy Webb and Stanley Kubrick.

At the beginning of this video, you will watch KFXM’s “Dirty” Don McCoy talking with Suzy about the meaning of the song. It is followed by a music video I edited using actual pictures that Suzy shared with us along with actual footage of MacArthur Park. It is my interpretation of what MacArthur Park, based on conversations with Suzy and reading (and rereading) the book Jimmy wrote called “The Cake and the Rain” The song is divided up into 4 movements, and this is what I think each movement represents:

Movement 1 (The setup) is Jimmy coming to the painful realization that their relationship from the Inland Empire days is gone forever as he has lunch with Suzy in MacArthur Park one afternoon.

Movement 2 (the melancholy recollections) is Jimmy remembering those days and realizing and admitting how he felt back then, and currently.

Movement 3 (Allegro) represents the next half of century with a collage of pictures representing their separate lives went, and how fast time went by.

Movement 4 (Reflection of life) In the sunset of life, reflection of all the events.

This is my interpretation only (and probably wrong) I do not have a fraction of the ability as an introspective wordsmith that Jimmy has, but to me, had it not it been for events that happened in the Inland Empire, this song would not have any kind of plausible explanation.

I would like to thank Suzy for sharing all of her personal pictures that were used in this video.

[leefer]

No one could hit the emotion that this song needed but a great actor(who could sing) like Richard Harris.

[yanzhao]

Love lost and pain and regrowth. Jimmy Webb’s best song.

[SilverioDiez]

I LOVE this song so much. Mr. Richard Harris put his soul into this beautiful song. Tank you so much?

[shellakers]

Ive always wanted to know! It remains one of the only songs that can make me cry and the ONLY song i never knew the meaning of. I can feel his heartbreak and the intense love he had for someone! Im glad to know who that lucky lady is after all these years! Beautiful! ❤

[raymondfryar]

When I hear this song I am instantly transported back to my childhood back in the 60s. I think it's the cake in the rain thing, that stuck in my head. The lyrics were kinda odd but very descriptive. When I hear the song today I can't help but think what a great song it is truly brilliant.

[RichardStephens-btor]

You know what I don't care about symbolism but as a teenager growing up in the UK I just loved this song 67 years old now still love it. Take care everybody.

[gfghjfgfghfj]

So, THIS is the woman who broke that poor man's heart!!!

Oh, well, at least I know that there was another song for him; I heard him sing it.

[sushifornico]

OMG thank you for this!! I will not spoil anything - but worth watching Beetlejuice!!!

[quickdrawmcgraw]

I understood the songs symbolism completely. It happen to me.

[cynthiakiive]

I have been to that park many times.
Great memories. 🤗💛💚
Thanks Mike

[ScottJ-fl-ci]

My whole life, ever since I first heard this song as a child, I always felt that this song was about a young wife that passed away and her husbanded struggling with the pain of saying goodbye, fading memories, loneliness, and dealing with moving forward in life without her. Listen to the song in this context and try to hold it together. It is good to know this isn’t the story behind the song, but I still can’t get past the imagery in my head every time I hear it.

[laramaui]

Thank you for granting this interview and for the lovely images.

[johnshields]

I listen to this song everyday when I workout. Thank you.

[QuentinRolfe-bddq]

Big thanks to Richard Harris, Glen Campbell, Vic Damone, Sammy Davis Jr, Lainie Kazan, The 3 Degrees, The Supremes and Donna Summer ! ❤️💕👏👏

[suraya]

The lyrics were NOT " symbolic", as many ppl assumed. It was his true story of unrequited love, w/ Susie.

[hiltonroberts]

When I heard this song first time back in the late 60's/ early 70's, I read it as symbolism to do with the second world war, particularly the Pacific front. General MacArthur having to leave the Philipines after the defeat to the Japanese, had promised to return. After all the effort by the USA military and the many lives lost, who could rewrite history, the calamity of war? "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 the recipe again....

[johnshields]

Boston kid in the 1960's, 70's it was WBCN Boston rock and pop station. I remember all the DJ's full names, I don't remember my teacher's names😉

[jamesdaniel]

Terry Gross interviewed Webb. Great story how these west coast DJs started playing it on the radeo. A 7:30 minutes long song was unimaginable. After that it swept the country all the way to #1! Thanks Jimmy for not making a short version.

[oldmoviesinbwwithsubtitles]

Do a search for Letterman MacArthur Park. They do rendition of the song plus Jimmy Webb is playing with them

[laramaui]

❤️ Donna Summer made it unforgettable.