This week, I’ve had Glenn Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” #OnRepeat. I actually heard a cover of this song performed by fellow musicians a year ago and came across the original performance because I couldn’t get the song out of my head after I saw the character, Ron Swanson, sing it on an episode of Parks and Recreation.
Glenn Campbell is a singer, songwriter, actor, and television host from Arkansas who performs Rock and Country music. He won four Grammy Awards in 1967 in the Country music and Pop music categories, and is most well-known for his variety t.v. show, The Glenn Campbell Goodtime Hour, that aired during the early 1970s.
“Wichita Lineman” was written by Jimmy Webb in 1968 and tells the story of a lineman (telephone power line technician), his job, and what he thinks about when he works. It doesn’t seem like something so simple or ordinary could be so beautiful, but the song is.
Glenn Campbell’s performance of the lyrics and melody exemplify the theme of an ordinary man who desires and thinks of extraordinary things. The melody is simple and the lyrics are poignant and to the point, reading like an internal dialogue that you would hear in the head of an everyday person. The vulnerability of Campbell’s voice also fits within the framework of the simplicity of the song, making you want to stop and listen when you hear the first notes that he sings.
Take a listen below:
Below is the clip of Ron Swanson singing “Wichita Lineman” in Parks and Recreation for reference:
Are there any songs that you can’t stop listening to? Let us know in the comments below!