McArthur Park - An eXplanation please

[Shatnerfan]

Sharon lambasted Rowetta on The X Factor for singing tthis song, which was about food. Rowetta said the real meaning was too rude for family viewing. I always assumed that this song was metaphorical, but a metaphor for what?

[aurelia]

The way that Kate Thornton reacted when Rowetta whispered the meaning of it - it must have a sexual connetation - I have to agree with Louis on the point that many people wouldn't know it - I only heard it for the first time earlier this year when Donna Summer was a guest on American Idol 3 and sang it and I absolutely hated it - so I'm with Sharon on that one - I can't stand the song

[ermintrude35]

macarthur park at the time was  notorious for the drug taking ,  and "free love" associated with the 60s ..when you read the lyrics it could be refering to either but more than likely an acid trip?

 

Spring was never waiting for us, girl
It ran one step ahead
As we followed in the dance
Between the parted pages and were pressed
In love's hot, fevered iron
Like a striped pair of pants

MacArthur 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, no!

I recall the yellow cotton dress
Foaming like a wave
On the ground around your knees
The birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing checkers by the trees

[chorus]


There will be another song for me
For I will sing it
There will 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
And after all the loves of my life
After all the loves of my life
You'll still 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
And after all the loves of my life
After all the loves of my life
I'll be thinking of you
And wondering why



MacArthur 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, no!
Oh, no
No, no
Oh no!!

[galltin]

It's about an acid trip as far as I remember.

[llanelliboy]

There are masses of different answers to the metaphor question but what did Rowetta say?