<P> `` MacArthur Park '' was written and composed by Jimmy Webb in the summer and fall of 1967 as part of an intended cantata . Webb initially brought the entire cantata to The Association , but the group rejected it . The inspiration for the song was his relationship and breakup with Susie Horton , who later married Robert Ronstadt , a cousin of singer Linda Ronstadt . MacArthur Park , in Los Angeles , was where the two occasionally met for lunch and spent their most enjoyable times together . At that time ( the middle of 1965 ) , Horton worked for a life insurance company whose offices were located just across the street from the park . When asked by interviewer Terry Gross what was going through his mind when he wrote the lyric , Webb replied that it was meant to be symbolic and referred to the end of a love affair . In an interview with Newsday in October 2014 , Webb explained : </P>
<P> `` MacArthur Park '' was written and composed by Jimmy Webb in the summer and fall of 1967 as part of an intended cantata . Webb initially brought the entire cantata to The Association , but the group rejected it . The inspiration for the song was his relationship and breakup with Susie Horton , who later married Robert Ronstadt , a cousin of singer Linda Ronstadt . MacArthur Park , in Los Angeles , was where the two occasionally met for lunch and spent their most enjoyable times together . At that time ( the middle of 1965 ) , Horton worked for a life insurance company whose offices were located just across the street from the park . When asked by interviewer Terry Gross what was going through his mind when he wrote the lyric , Webb replied that it was meant to be symbolic and referred to the end of a love affair . In an interview with Newsday in October 2014 , Webb explained : </P>
lyrics to macarthur park what do they mean
lyrics to macarthur park what do they mean
meant to be symbolic and referred to the end of a love affair
meant to be symbolic and referred to the end of a love affair