Jimmy Webb wrote the song “MacArthur Park.”

Quick Scoop: Who wrote “MacArthur Park”?

  • “MacArthur Park” was written and composed by American singer‑songwriter Jimmy Webb in 1967.
  • It was first recorded and made famous by Irish actor and singer Richard Harris, whose 1968 version became a major hit.
  • The song was originally part of a longer cantata that Webb had offered to the pop group The Association, who turned it down.
  • Webb has said the lyrics were inspired by his breakup with Susie Horton and their time spent together in MacArthur Park in Los Angeles.

So if you’re seeing debates online about “who wrote MacArthur Park,” the clear answer is: it’s a Jimmy Webb composition, with Richard Harris as the first famous performer.

TL;DR: When people ask “who wrote MacArthur Park,” the answer is Jimmy Webb (writer/composer), not Richard Harris (the first hit singer).

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