You know you're having a bad day when you spend a long time baking a cake and then someone goes and leaves it out in the rain. And you can't find the recipe so you'll never be able to bake the damned thing again.
Argh, don't you just hate that?
MacArthur Park is a song that was written by Jimmy Webb in 1968 and describes the frustrations of leaving baked goods out in bad weather. It is one of those songs that after you listen to the lyrics, you think "eh?" but then you find out it was written in the 60s and everything makes sense. (sorta)
Here are the lyrics in case you don't know 'em.
Spring was never waiting for us, girl
it ran one step ahead
as we followed in the dance.
Between the parted pages
we were pressed,
in love's hot, fevered iron
like a striped pair of pants.
Mac Arthur'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, nooo!
I recall the yellow cotton dress
foaming like a wave
on the ground beneath your knees
birds like tender babies in your hands
and the old men playing
Chinese checkers
by the trees
(chorus)
(chorus)
There'll be another song for me
and I will sing it
there'll be another dream for me
someone will bring it
I will drink the wine while it is warm
and never let you catch me
looking at the sun, oh yeah
and after all the loves of my life
after all loves in my life
you'll be the one
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
I will have the things that I desire
and my passion flow
like rivers through the sky
oh and after all the loves in my life
after all the loves in my life
you'll still be the one
and I'll ask myself why.
(chorus)
(chorus)
I'm okay with the strange cake metaphor but the line that really cracks me up is:
Between the parted pages
we were pressed,
in love's hot, fevered iron
like a striped pair of pants.
Like a striped pair of pants? Uh huh. Go back and have another toke there, Jimmy.
My favorite recording (and probably the best known) is by Donna Summer. It was first recorded by Richard Harris (yep, that's the original Dumbledore to you Harry Potter fans) back in 1968.
MacArthur Park is a real park located in the heart of Los Angeles. Although its early history can be fondly remembered (and Jimmy Webb apparently spent some romantic time there with his girlfriend), the 80s were not kind to this area and the park became known as a haven for criminals, drugs, killings and drownings. Although the area has been cleaned up considerably, the reputation still lingers; when I told people that I was going to check out MacArthur park, the first thing I was told was to not get shot.
To get there, I took the L.A. metro. Yup, it does exist and is not a bad way of getting around the city, at least some of the city.
The L.A. metro is surprisingly clean and you're not allowed to eat, drink or play loud music. Looking creepy and homeless is apparently quite acceptable.
To be completely honest, I was a little freaked out while riding the train. I kept on thinking what would happen if an earthquake happened while I was down there. I suppose there really is only one thing that you could do; put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye! Yahoo!
While the song talks about inclement weather, the day I went was bright and sunny. It was funny to read the rules at the entrance to the park. It didn't say you couldn't shoot, kill or maim. I guess those things are implied.
MacArthur park was actually a very pretty park ... from a distance. There was a large lake, a tall fountain, ducks and a great view of downtown L.A.
There were jungle gyms and a soccer field ...
And even some interesting artwork. The quote "crazy as a pair of waltzing mice" is from a Raymond Chandler novel Farewell, My Lovely. I'm not sure why there were two humans dancing and not two mice but that's MacArthur park for you; a little strange but with a certain degree of charm.
But not everything was so pretty; the lake water was polluted green, the sidewalks were covered with seagull crap, the war monuments were in a state of decay and I saw a rather large condom floating lazily by the water's edge. I got asked a couple of times if I wanted to buy fake IDs and I'm pretty sure I could've bought some good drugs if I had wanted them.
There were also plenty of people passed out on the grass. It was really difficult to tell if they were homeless or just on a lunch break.
Note to self: probably okay to walk here during the day but if you're coming here at night, you're just asking for it. And "it" is probably pretty bad.
But the police were there. Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
HOW TO GET THERE: If you're anywhere near a metro station, it's very easy. Just take the redline to the Westlake/MacArthur Park stop. If you're using your own gas, then it's below the 101 and to the west of the 110.
WORTH THE TREK? 3/9. Hmmm, probably not. It was fun to see a different side of L.A. but the park is a little too sketchy, even during the day. It's best to listen to the song instead.
No comments:
Post a Comment