MacArthur Park
Donna Summer Lyrics


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

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

I recall the yellow cotton dress
Foaming like a wave
On the ground beneath your knees
The birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing Chinese checkers by the trees

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

MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left my cake out in the rain
And 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, oh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Donna Summer's hit song MacArthur Park are full of vivid imagery, creating a beautiful, surreal landscape that contrasts with the melancholic tone of the song. The opening lines "Spring was never waiting for us, dear / It ran one step ahead / As we followed in the dance" suggest that time and nature are constantly moving forward, without waiting for us. The metaphor of a dance highlights the idea that life is a process of following the lead, unable to control the pace or direction.


The chorus "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" may sound nonsensical and absurd, but the lyrics reveal a deeper meaning. MacArthur Park, a real park in Los Angeles, is the setting where the singer had a romantic encounter with their lover. The melting of the park could represent the fleeting nature of this relationship and the realization that it has ended. The cake left out in the rain is a symbol of the bitter aftertaste of the failed relationship, as it cannot be salvaged or fixed. The singer regrets not being able to get back what they have lost and feeling overwhelmed by the realization that they will never have that "recipe" again.


Line by Line Meaning

Spring was never waiting for us, dear
Spring signifies new beginnings, but it never waited for them. It moved on, even faster than them.


It ran one step ahead
They were always following Spring, but it kept going ahead of them, never letting them catch up.


As we followed in the dance
Life is a dance and they followed Spring, trying to keep up with its fast pace.


MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
MacArthur's Park is symbolically melting or deteriorating. It's a metaphor for how things can change and decay over time.


All the sweet, green icing flowing down
The beautiful parts are disappearing fast, like water going down a drain. It's a sad and bittersweet image.


Someone left the cake out in the rain
Something beautiful was destroyed or ruined by someone who didn't care enough to protect it. They left it exposed to the elements or to harm.


I don't think that I can take it
It's overwhelming or painful to witness something they cherished being ruined or destroyed.


'Cause it took so long to bake it
It's referring to the effort and time they put into creating this beautiful thing or moment that's being destroyed. It's a reminder that beautiful things take time to create.


And I'll never have that recipe again
They're mourning the loss of something that cannot be recreated, like a beautiful moment or memory that has passed.


I recall the yellow cotton dress
It's a nostalgic memory of a moment that's gone. The yellow cotton dress is a reminder of a beautiful time or person that they've lost.


Foaming like a wave
It's a beautiful and powerful image of the yellow cotton dress billowing and moving, like a wave of memories that they cherish.


On the ground beneath your knees
It's a romantic and tender image of someone on their knees, like a proposal or a romantic gesture.


The birds, like tender babies in your hands
It's a beautiful image of holding tender things, like babies or birds. It's a reminder of the beauty in life and the importance of cherishing the small things.


And the old men playing Chinese checkers by the trees
It's a juxtaposition of old men and children's games. It's a reminder that life is fleeting and the importance of finding joy and beauty in simple moments.


Someone left my cake out in the rain
It's personalizing the loss, making it even more painful. The loss of something beautiful or cherished is something deeply personal and unique to that individual.


And I don't think that I can take it
It's emphasizing the overwhelming feeling of loss, making it clear that it's not just a passing sadness, but something more profound and painful.


'Cause it took so long to bake it
It's a solemn reminder of the effort and time that went into creating this beautiful thing or moment. It's a lament for the things we create that can be lost forever.


And I'll never have that recipe again
It's a final recognition that some things cannot be recreated or replaced, like a beautiful moment or memory. It's a poignant reminder that we must cherish what we have while we have it.


Oh, no, oh
It's an emotional exclamation, expressing pain and grief over the loss of something beautiful or meaningful. The repetition emphasizes the seriousness of the loss.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Webb

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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