A Walk Through "MacArthur Park" Quiz

Answer: Richard Harris

Richard Harris was born on 1 October 1930 in Limerick, Ireland. His promising career in rugby football was cut short when he contracted TB, and upon recovery he moved to London where he studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He is probably best known as an actor: King Arthur in "Camelot", Rafer Janders in "The Wild Geese", English Bob in "Unforgiven", Emperor Marcus Aurelius in "Gladiator" and most recently Dumbledore in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets".

He also sang, and released a dozen albums. He died on 25 October 2002.

Answer: dance

Originally named Westlake Park, MacArthur park is in the Westlake area of Los Angeles, California. It is bisected by Wiltshire Boulevard. A lake takes up most of one half, while the other has a bandshell, ampitheatre and playground. It was renamed after General Douglas MacArthur.

"Spring was never waiting for us, girl
It ran one step ahead
As we followed in the dance"

Answer: striped pair of pants

MacArthur Park went from being a high-class recreational area to a den of thieves in the 1980s. Drug dealers and other felons took over the area, and when the lake was drained to allow construction of an underground rail line, old weapons were found on the lake bed.

"Between the parted pages and were pressed,
In love's hot, fevered iron
Like a striped pair of pants"

Answer: green

Throughout the song, Harris sang "MacArthur's Park" rather than the correct "MacArthur Park". Songwriter Jimmy Webb (who I do NOT accuse of having partaken of the aforementioned pharmaceuticals) tried to correct Harris, but finally gave up.

"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!"

Answer: yellow

The song was released as a single from Harris' 1968 album, "A Tramp Shining". It reached #2 on the Billboard chart in the US.

"I recall the yellow cotton dress
Foaming like a wave
On the ground around your knees"

Answer: playing checkers

Humourist Dave Barry polled his readers to find the worst song ever written. MacArthur Park took the number one place - ahead of such benefits to the world of music as "Yummy Yummy Yummy I Got Love in My Tummy" (Ohio Express), "You're Having My Baby" (Paul Anka), "Honey" (Bobby Goldsboro), "Timothy" (The Buoys) and "Achy Breaky Heart" (Billy Ray Cyrus).

It was hard work to beat those out for worst song!

"The birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing checkers by the trees"

Answer: another dream

Despite its rather unusual lyrics, and the abuse it has received over the years (and not just from Dave Barry), over 50 covers of the song have been recorded by such luminaries as Donna Summer (she topped the charts with it), Andy Williams, The Fifth Dimension, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four Tops, and even Frank Sinatra.

"There will be another song for me
For I will sing it
There will be another dream for me
Someone will bring it"

Answer: warm

The song is also cited in a number of other works, including They Might Be Giants' "It's Not My Birthday", the B-52s' "Detour Thru Your Mind" and Yes' "Leave 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."

Answer: worship

The song is found in a number of films, including "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert", "Airplane II" and "Vertical Limit".

"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"

Answer: through the sky

The song seems to relate a lost love - first romance (spring), lust (hot, fevered iron), loss (I'll never have that recipe again), memory (yellow cotton dress), hope (another song to sing) and determination (take my life into my hands and I will use it). Jimmy Webb, more noted for songs like "Witchita Lineman", "Up Up and Away" and "Galveston" apparently initially intended the song to be part of a longer piece for the Association (who didn't choose to record it). Nevertheless, no matter how one feels about the song, the lyrics will remain in the memories of most of us of a 'certain age'. Who could possibly forget the pictures painted by the song?


"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."