Wichita Lineman
Encyclopedia
"Wichita Lineman" is a popular song written by Jimmy Webb
in 1968, first recorded by Glen Campbell
and widely covered by other artists. Campbell's version, which appeared on his 1968 album of the same name
, reached #3 on the U.S. pop chart
, remaining in the Top 100 for 15 weeks. In addition, the song also topped the American country music chart
for two weeks, and the adult contemporary chart
for six weeks. It was certified gold by the RIAA in January 1969. In Canada
, the single also topped both the RPM
national and country singles charts. In 2004, Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" ranked "Wichita Lineman" at #192. It has been referred to as "the first existential
country song"; Music journalist
Stuart Maconie
called it "the greatest pop song ever composed"; and the BBC
referred to it as "one of those rare songs that seems somehow to exist in a world of its own – not just timeless but ultimately outside of modern music".. Wichita Lineman featured in series 12 of BBC Radio 4
's Soul Music.
The phrase "singing in the wire" can refer to the sonic vibration commonly induced by wind blowing across small wires and conductors, making these lines whistle or whine like an aeolian harp
. It could also, or even simultaneously, refer to the sounds that a lineman might hear when attaching a telephone earpiece to a long stretch of raw telephone or telegraph line, i.e. without typical line equalisation and filtering
. In the recording, a notable feature of the orchestral arrangement
is the effort of the violins and synthesizer
to mimic these ethereal sounds and morse code
, and the lyric, "I can hear you through the whine" further alludes to them. If Webb's intent was to actually mimic Morse code, the musical figure between the verses literally spells the word "aaaah" four times (.- .- .- .- ....)
Jimmy Webb's inspiration for the lyrics came while driving through rural northern Oklahoma
when he noticed a solitary lineman atop his pole. Webb then "put himself atop that pole and put that phone in his hand" as he considered what the lineman was saying into the receiver. Glen Campbell added in a statement to the Dallas Observer
that Webb wrote the song about his first love affair with a woman who married someone else.
The actual song lyrics mention the name "Wichita" without specifying its exact location; Wichita, Kansas
, in south central Kansas; Wichita County, Kansas
, in western Kansas (which is over 250 road miles away); Wichita Falls, Texas
; and Wichita County, Texas
, have all been suggested as possibilities.
The musicians used on the recording were Campbell, Al Casey
and James Burton
(guitar), Carol Kaye
(bass), Jim Gordon
(drums), and Al DeLory (piano). The orchestral arrangement
s were by DeLory.
On a compositional note, the rhythmic syncopation referred to above as "morse code" can be found in other Jimmy Webb compositions including "MacArthur Park" (in the third section of the song) and "Up Up & Away" (in the intro).
released a cover version
, which peaked at #55 on the U.S. country music charts. It was to have been included on an album titled Tore Up from the Floor Up, but due to its poor chart performance, the album was delayed. That album was finally released in 1998 as When the Wrong One Loves You Right
, with the "Wichita Lineman" cover excluded.
Homer Simpson sang a version of this song in the 5th episode of season 15 "Co-dependents day."
Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He wrote numerous platinum selling classics, including "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "The Worst That Could Happen", "All I Know", and "MacArthur Park"...
in 1968, first recorded by Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
and widely covered by other artists. Campbell's version, which appeared on his 1968 album of the same name
Wichita Lineman (Glen Campbell album)
Wichita Lineman is the 12th album by American singer/guitarist Glen Campbell, released in 1968 .-Track listing:Side 1:# "Wichita Lineman" - 3:05...
, reached #3 on the U.S. pop chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, remaining in the Top 100 for 15 weeks. In addition, the song also topped the American country music chart
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
for two weeks, and the adult contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
for six weeks. It was certified gold by the RIAA in January 1969. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the single also topped both the RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
national and country singles charts. In 2004, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" ranked "Wichita Lineman" at #192. It has been referred to as "the first existential
Existentialism
Existentialism is a term applied to a school of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...
country song"; Music journalist
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
Stuart Maconie
Stuart Maconie
Stuart Maconie is an English radio DJ and television presenter, writer, journalist, and critic working in the field of of pop music and popular culture. He is currently a presenter on BBC 6 Music, where he hosts an afternoon show five times a week , alongside Mark Radcliffe, called the Radcliffe...
called it "the greatest pop song ever composed"; and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
referred to it as "one of those rare songs that seems somehow to exist in a world of its own – not just timeless but ultimately outside of modern music".. Wichita Lineman featured in series 12 of BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's Soul Music.
Background and content
The lyrics describe the loneliness that a telephone or electric power lineman feels while he works and his longing for an absent lover.The phrase "singing in the wire" can refer to the sonic vibration commonly induced by wind blowing across small wires and conductors, making these lines whistle or whine like an aeolian harp
Aeolian harp
An aeolian harp is a musical instrument that is "played" by the wind. It is named for Aeolus, the ancient Greek god of the wind. The traditional aeolian harp is essentially a wooden box including a sounding board, with strings stretched lengthwise across two bridges...
. It could also, or even simultaneously, refer to the sounds that a lineman might hear when attaching a telephone earpiece to a long stretch of raw telephone or telegraph line, i.e. without typical line equalisation and filtering
Electronic filter
Electronic filters are electronic circuits which perform signal processing functions, specifically to remove unwanted frequency components from the signal, to enhance wanted ones, or both...
. In the recording, a notable feature of the orchestral arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
is the effort of the violins and synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
to mimic these ethereal sounds and morse code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
, and the lyric, "I can hear you through the whine" further alludes to them. If Webb's intent was to actually mimic Morse code, the musical figure between the verses literally spells the word "aaaah" four times (.- .- .- .- ....)
Jimmy Webb's inspiration for the lyrics came while driving through rural northern Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
when he noticed a solitary lineman atop his pole. Webb then "put himself atop that pole and put that phone in his hand" as he considered what the lineman was saying into the receiver. Glen Campbell added in a statement to the Dallas Observer
Dallas Observer
The Dallas Observer is a free alternative weekly newspaper distributed around the Dallas, Texas . At its inception, it was conceived as a weekly local arts and cinema review publication, with the credo "Advocate for Excellence in the Arts" on the cover. For a time during the early years, the paper...
that Webb wrote the song about his first love affair with a woman who married someone else.
The actual song lyrics mention the name "Wichita" without specifying its exact location; Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, in south central Kansas; Wichita County, Kansas
Wichita County, Kansas
Wichita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,234...
, in western Kansas (which is over 250 road miles away); Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
; and Wichita County, Texas
Wichita County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 131,664 people, 48,441 households, and 32,891 families residing in the county. The population density was 210 people per square mile . There were 53,304 housing units at an average density of 85 per square mile...
, have all been suggested as possibilities.
The musicians used on the recording were Campbell, Al Casey
Al Casey (rock & roll guitarist)
Alvin W. Casey was an American guitarist. He was mainly noted for his work as a session musician, but also released records and scored three Billboard Hot 100 hits in the United States...
and James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
(guitar), Carol Kaye
Carol Kaye
Carol Kaye is an American musician, best known as one of the most prolific and widely heard bass guitarists in history, playing on an estimated 10,000 recording sessions in a 55 year career....
(bass), Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon (musician)
James Beck "Jim" Gordon is an American recording artist, musician and songwriter. The Grammy Award winner was one of the most requested session drummers in the late 1960s and 1970s, recording albums with many well-known musicians of the time, and was the drummer in the blues-rock supergroup Derek...
(drums), and Al DeLory (piano). The orchestral arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
s were by DeLory.
On a compositional note, the rhythmic syncopation referred to above as "morse code" can be found in other Jimmy Webb compositions including "MacArthur Park" (in the third section of the song) and "Up Up & Away" (in the intro).
Cover versions
In 1997, Wade HayesWade Hayes
Tony Wade Hayes is an American country music artist. Signed to Columbia Records in 1994, he made his debut that year with his gold-certified album Old Enough to Know Better...
released a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
, which peaked at #55 on the U.S. country music charts. It was to have been included on an album titled Tore Up from the Floor Up, but due to its poor chart performance, the album was delayed. That album was finally released in 1998 as When the Wrong One Loves You Right
When the Wrong One Loves You Right
When the Wrong One Loves You Right is the third studio album released by American country music artist Wade Hayes. Released in January 1998 as his final album for Columbia Records Nashville, it includes the singles "The Day That She Left Tulsa " and "How Do You Sleep at Night", which peaked at #5...
, with the "Wichita Lineman" cover excluded.
Homer Simpson sang a version of this song in the 5th episode of season 15 "Co-dependents day."
Chart positions
| Chart (1968-9) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Go-Set Chart | 15 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 12 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 10 |
| U.K. Singles Chart | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
Year-End Chart
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Cashbox Top 100 | 13 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 17 |
| U.K. Singles Chart | 56 |