"MacArthur Park" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb that was recorded first in 1967 by Irish actor and singer Richard Harris.

[1] "MacArthur Park" was subsequently covered by numerous artists, including a 1970 version by country singer Waylon Jennings that won a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group at the 12th Annual Grammy Awards and a number one Billboard Hot 100 disco version by Donna Summer in 1978.

[2] When asked by interviewer Terry Gross what was going through his mind when he wrote the song's lyrics, Webb replied that it was meant to be symbolic and referred to the end of a love affair.

In 1967, the group's producer, Bones Howe, asked Jimmy Webb to create a pop song with different movements and changing time signatures.

[7] "MacArthur Park" was first recorded by Richard Harris after he met the composer at a fundraiser in East Los Angeles, California, in late 1967.

Out of the blue, Harris, who had just starred in the 1967 film Camelot and had performed several musical numbers in it, suggested to Webb that he wanted to release a record.

In August 1978, American singer Donna Summer released a multi-million selling vinyl single disco version of "MacArthur Park".

Italian producer Giorgio Moroder would recall that he and his collaborator Pete Bellotte had been interested in the concept of either remixing a track – as yet undecided on – which had been a hit in the 1960s or else remaking a 1960s hit as a dance track: Moroder – "I remember that I was driving in ... on the Hollywood Freeway, and I heard the original song [i.e. "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris] on the radio.

Record World reported that this version produces a "dazzling" effect and that "the syn-drums and inspired production techniques are occasional and dramatic.

"[22] The nearly 18-minute musical medley "MacArthur Park Suite" incorporated the original songs "One of a Kind" and "Heaven Knows" featuring Brooklyn Dreams, the latter being issued as the second single off Live and More.

This medley was also sold as a 12-inch (30 cm) vinyl recording, and it stayed at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart for five weeks in 1978.

The 12-inch special one-sided disco DJ single has been digitally remastered and included on the Bad Girls digipak double CD release.

A cover version of "MacArthur Park" was recorded by country music singer Waylon Jennings on his 1969 album Country-Folk, which included the family group the Kimberlys.

[49] The Andy Williams version from his 1972 album Love Theme from "The Godfather" debuted on the Easy Listening chart in early August and rose to number 26 over the course of five weeks.

[50] A cover version of "MacArthur Park" was recorded by Scottish progressive rock band Beggars Opera on their 1972 album Pathfinder.

[51] In 1993, "Weird Al" Yankovic released a parody of the song, entitled "Jurassic Park," as the lead single to his album Alapalooza.