Jimmy Webb is responsible for writing numerous popular and Top 10 hits sung by a disparate group of artists, including Glen Campbell ("Galveston"); Art Garfunkel ("All I Know"); Donna Summer and many others.
Webb's father was a Baptist minister and a former Marine. His mother died when he was a teenager. His most popular songs were all composed when he was between 19 and 21 years of age.
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century.
He is noted for having written songs that were hits in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and is the only person to receive Grammy Awards in all three categories: music, lyrics and orchestration. Webb has also written the music for the animated film The Last Unicorn.
Webb is also a performer of his own music, although his solo output has never matched the commercial success of recordings of his work by other performers.
He was elected to the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986.
Galveston
Jimmy Webb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I still hear your sea winds blowing
I still see her dark eyes glowing
She was twenty-one
When I left Galveston
Galveston, oh Galveston
I still hear your sea waves crashing
And I clean my gun
And I dream of Galveston
I still see her standin' by the water
Standin' there lookin' out to sea
And is she waiting there oh for me?
On the beach where we used to run
Galveston, oh Galveston
I am so afraid of dyin'
Before I dry the tears she's cryin'
Before I see, your sea birds flyin'
In the sun at Galveston
At Galveston
Oh, at Galveston
Oh, at Galveston
At Galveston
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Ooh, ooh
The song Galveston by Jimmy Webb is a powerful narrative about a soldier who is fighting in the Vietnam War and missing his hometown in Texas. The soldier sings about how he can still hear the sea winds blowing and see the dark eyes of his lover. He left her behind in Galveston, Texas, when he joined the military. The soldier goes on to describe how he can still hear the sea waves crashing while he watches the cannon flashing, cleaning his gun and dreaming of being back in Galveston. He reminisces about his lover, seeing her standing by the water looking out to sea, waiting for him to return.
The chorus repeats the name Galveston several times, highlighting the soldier's longing for his hometown. He expresses his fear of dying before he can return to Galveston, noting how he wants to see the sea birds flying in the sun at Galveston. The song paints a vivid picture of homesickness and the horrors of war, as well as the strong emotional ties that exist to one's homeland.
In conclusion, Galveston is a poignant song with evocative lyrics that captures the powerful emotions of homesickness, longing and fear. It's a song that resonates with many people who have felt the pull of their hometowns or felt the overwhelming emotions of being separated from loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Galveston, oh Galveston
I still feel a strong emotional connection to Galveston, Texas.
I still hear your sea winds blowing
I can still hear the sound of the wind passing through the coastal city of Galveston.
I still see her dark eyes glowing
I have vivid memories of a woman I left behind, whose dark eyes continue to captivate me.
She was twenty-one
The woman I left behind was young, just twenty-one years of age.
When I left Galveston
This was the point in time when I departed Galveston.
I still hear your sea waves crashing
The roar of the waves on Galveston's shores still lingers in my mind.
While I watch the cannon flashing
As I perform my military duties, I am reminded of Galveston by the sight of flashing cannons.
And I clean my gun
I am currently busy with military tasks such as cleaning my firearm.
And I dream of Galveston
Despite being immersed in the military, I am preoccupied with thoughts of Galveston.
I still see her standin' by the water
I have a vivid memory of the woman I left behind standing near the water in Galveston.
Standin' there lookin' out to sea
She was looking out at the sea, and I wonder if she was waiting for me to return.
And is she waiting there oh for me?
An unanswered question circles in my mind as to whether she waits for my return.
On the beach where we used to run
Our memories together are kept alive by the beach in Galveston where we spent time running together.
I am so afraid of dyin'
My thoughts frequently turn to my own mortality, and I'm scared of death.
Before I dry the tears she's cryin'
Before I have a chance to comfort the woman I left behind, she might cry tears of sadness for my departure.
Before I see, your sea birds flyin'
My departure could occur before I have a chance to see the unique sea birds that populate Galveston.
In the sun at Galveston
I have fond memories of enjoying the sun on the beaches of Galveston.
At Galveston
My attachment to Galveston is strong and deeply felt.
Oh, at Galveston
The sentiment behind my connection to Galveston permeates everything I do.
Hmm, hmm, hmm
A reflective pause, indicating a mix of emotions that are hard to articulate.
Ooh, ooh
An expression of emotion, perhaps a longing for the past.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Jimmy L Webb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carbon Crank
god, I love this version so much. open guitar tuning and progression full of dissonant sounds and tension, release, tension, and sonically confusing sounds that perfectly reflect the madness of the era. The tuning conveys fear and dread and madness. This is the intent he had behind the song, not Campbell's flag-waving patriotic march. Per Webb, it's "about a guy who's caught up in something he doesn't understand and would rather be somewhere else." and honestly portrayed the feelings of a majority of draftees around the time of the 4000 killed in the 4 months of the Tet Offensive in 1968 (the year I registered for the draft) This is recorded after he had taken home the Grammy's so he keeps the changes to his original lyrics Glen made, but clearly, the intent of this song is the polar opposite to Campbell's version. For those who might be curious here is the verse Webb original wrote.
Galveston oh Galveston
Wonder if she could forget me.
I'd go home if they would let me
Put down this gun and go to Galveston.
Glen changes it to the bravado of "watch the cannon flashing and clean my gun".
By the way. I've been playing a kind of in-between version of this in standard tuning for decades using as many suspensions as I can come up with to create the tension. If someone knows or can figure out the tuning he is using please let me know. I'm a better guitar player than I was when I first tried learning this version.
kathryn linkjendal
I've never heard this version of Galveston sung by the lyricist. It is so much more haunting than the Glen Campbell recording, almost heartbreaking to listen to it sung in this style. Chills.
Plenti Nough
Though I love the popular versions of his songs, I have more so enjoyed him singing his songs.
Nixer Doyle
Jimmy's not just the lyricist. He wrote it. This is the original and Glen Campbell covered it.
Brown 25
He is not just the lyricist, he wrote the music too.
Paul Krupa
I always remember the Glen version growing up as a pop song. Hearing this and listening to the words I am floored. Voice, arrangement, sentiment, so good!
Mary Krupa
I agree, Paul. However, I will always remember Glenn's version as part of the good music memories of my childhood. His uptempo and soaring quality of his voice as it fit this song will always stir me.
Steven Barton
I must have listened to this album a thousand times. It is woven deep into the fabric of my life.
matt jackson
Jimmy Webb has been regarded as one of the greatest pop/country/ballad songwriters for the last 50 years. Time to wake up kids,,,the good stuff is timeless
ReallyInterestingName
what loads of bol locks
ReallyInterestingName
u r saying he is shyte