: MacArthur Park in Los Angeles was a frequent lunch spot for Webb and his then-girlfriend, Susie Horton.
: Webb observed local residents playing Chinese checkers under the park trees during their dates. That Infamous Cake in the Rain Donna Summer MacArthur Park 1978 Lyrics
In 1978, the "Queen of Disco" released an ambitious, high-energy reimagining of the Jimmy Webb ballad "MacArthur Park" . While the original 1968 version by Richard Harris was a dramatic pop piece, Summer’s version transformed the song into a Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper and a defining anthem of the disco era. The Surreal Story Behind the Lyrics : MacArthur Park in Los Angeles was a
: A direct reference to an outfit Horton wore while they sat in the park. While the original 1968 version by Richard Harris
Despite its trippy imagery, songwriter Jimmy Webb has stated that the lyrics are a literal musical collage of a real-life breakup.
The Sweet, Green Icing: Decoding Donna Summer ’s 1978 "MacArthur Park"