Davis Jr., Sammy - MacArthur Park Lyrics

Sammy Davis, Jr was the greatest all around performer that America has ever produced. He could do it all -- sing, dance, act, stand up comedy -- and he did it all exceptionally well. This is an admirable cover of my favorite ever song but I have to give the nod to the originator, Richard Harris, not even a professional singer for the best version of the song.

SAMMY VOICE THE BEST LAS VEGAS PUERTO RICO SAW HIM THE BEST ALONG WITH ELVIS EVER LAS VEGAS SAW EVERY SINGER SINCE 8 YRS OLD MARLENE JUDY SOPHIE TOO MANY TO NAME LAS VEGA 1970

SAMMY DAVIS, JR. IS VERY ADMIRABLE, EVEN HIS FELLOW SINGERS GREATLY ADMIRED HIS STYLE.

THAT SONG," MACARTHUR PARK", IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
SAMMY IS TRULY ADMIRABLE.

SO, HOPEFULLY THIS SONG, " YOU LOVE ME, LITTLE FOOL", MIGHT FIT TO HIS STYLE .
IT IS SAID SAMMY IS GOOD AT CARRYING A VOICE OF SARCASM AND SNAPPINESS.

" YOU LOVE ME, LITTLE FOOL"
( COMPOSED BY: J. VILLORDON
CASTANARES)

" YOU LOVE ME, LITTLE FOOL"

THERE'S A MONDAY;
IT'S A QUIET NIGHT.
NOTHING WILL HAPPEN;
YOU WON'T BE AROUND,
WOULD YOU ?

THERE'S THE TUESDAY,
THERE'S NO MOON ABOVE;
YOU WOULD COME AROUND,
WON'T YOU ?

THERE'S THE WEDNESDAY,
IT'S A MOONLESS NIGHT;
IT'S SORT OF DARK,
YOU CAN'T BE AROUND,
I BET.

THERE'S A THURSDAY,
THERE'S A STAR ABOVE;
YOU WILL COME AROUND,
WON'T YOU ?

REFRAIN:

DON'T BE SILLY!
YOU NEED ME MORE THAN EVER,
ISN'T THAT SO ?

CAN YOU PROVE ONCE MORE,
THAT YOU CARE FOR ME,
LIKE BEFORE?

' CAUSE YOU LOVE ME,
LITTLE FOOL .

YES, YOU LOVE ME,
LITTLE FOOL.

***** END ******
"YOU LOVE ME, LITTLE FOOL" (C) 2015 J. VILLORDON CASTANARES
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
COPIES ARE SOLD, OR FREELY GIVEN TO FRIENDS.

Any thing Sammy sings makes the song so much better. Bojangles was one of his best songs ever. No one else can do Bojangles like Mr. Sammy Davis Jr.

SAMMY IS GREAT ON EVERY SONG......HIS RENDITION AWESOME......!!!

The singing is great... but who wrote this joke of a song?

I just wanted to add,i went to the London palladium many many moons ago and saw Sammy in a stage play, The play finished but Sammy was not, He came out from behind the curtain and did approx 30-minute extra entertainment, singing many of his hit s what a star,I was blown away,and the play Golden boy,of course.

I think the correct choice was made to use another take for the LP. Someone has posted it,

any human who has Sammy Davis Jr opn his/her/its YouTube is def a cool cat and i wanna be a subscriber!

Sammy Davis brilliant performer my partner saw him yrs ago when he toured Australia great arrangement too loved Harris’ version best

masterpiece

Richard Harris version still the best.

WHAT AN ARROGANT BASTARD YOU ARE ..ARROGANT..HARRIS WAS THE ORIGINAL.....

Richard's version is the gold standard. Agreed that your intro. was moronic. Stumbled on a newer version from Neal Morse... also great and proggy.

Este arreglo musical y la voz de este gran Sr. ,para mi gusto, son únicas

If you like swing is here served well! Absolutely beautiful

Super ! & A big enjoyment in spite of all criticism made by idiots

uncultivated !

Super ! & A big enjoyment in spite of all criticism made by idiots

uncultivated !

Sammy sings this out of the park, but this chart has all the taste of betty crocker frosting compared to Webb's sweet buttercream.

oh Will if there's any danger I'll call the park rangers

Magnifique!!!

Richard Harris's version is fantastic but so too is Sammy Davis's version.

THROUGH the dark?!

This is the ONLY good version of this awkward, bizarre song you weirdo's!

I love the arrangement, but I always Sammi's vocals are somewhat lazy on this. Glen Campbell, Andy Williams, Dolly Parton, and of course Donna Summer's versions are actually better.

@Sublime Music Channel We can at least agree that it's better than Richard Harris' version, right?

shut up

Hey weirdo, nice to see you under this phenomenal song :D The acoustics in his voice range and in the physical instruments are so astounding, that if you close your eyes and just pick a part to focus on and listen to it, you may understand the quality of this specific (or to those with their own language "pacifically the no it allz" lol :p

@Michael K You are correct about this take. Someone has posted the take that was released on the LP - take a listen. Far superior tothis in my opinion.

This song never would have been the success it was..... had it not been for Richard Harris's seminal version. Every artist places their own imprint on the perennial classics such as this, including the wonderful Sammy Davis . Everyone from Glen Campbell to Donna Summers have recreated this song and each interpretation is a gift. Love it.

this is such a wonderful song that everyone should take the opportunity to sing it

Its a narrative!!

cada uno de los cantantes tiene su manera particular de imprimir su propio sello..pero también hay que tomar en cuenta que no es una canción común, es una CANTATA a 4 movimientos en donde está involucrada no solo la voz sino la orquesta..y hay que englobar todos esos elementos el ALEGRO por ejemplo:es para relacionar todos los elementos de la canción, los amantes la torta , las personas corriendo y un amor que se pierde..y el clímax con un coro que refleja el lamento del amante

No one can sing this song better than Great Harris.

We Miss you Sammy.

The root of my ridiculous comment is this - in the UK when I was younger, late 90's, on the TV there was some kind of call-in vote for worst songs ever. I remember Macarthur Park came 1st, and they lampooned Richard Harris being foppish in the video - I never really listened to it. years later, I'd discovered Elvis and classical music and tried to sing, and I worked on nights in an old folks home, I randomly put on an old ladies Cd while ironing and this song came on - and I straight away knew i'd found something amazing. And then I realised, oh yeh, it's that song that they said was the worst, but that was Richard Harris! It soon became one of my all time favourite tracks.. Then I actually listened to Richard Harris's version and Ha! It's so foppish and awkward and seems to have a silly kinda beat and is humourless, he doesn't rock dammit - this version, the rock n roll drums when the middle section builds up, Sammy cool flow and power and beautiful voice!

I was a big fan of Richard Harris, both as an actor, and as a singer. He was also a witty guest on talk shows. The talent was there. Nonetheless, I can't help but laugh, every time I hear his version of this song. As he gets higher and higher in pitch, the more I laugh. The only funnier song, is Frank Sinatra's awful version of Downtown. Even Frank knew that he couldn't do justice to the song, so he butchered it. Of all of the versions of this song I have heard, Sammy's is by far, the best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpEAnu46owE

Fabulous! One doesn't always realize how difficult is to sing this song.

Beautifully rendered! And very easy for those who don't speak English as their native language to understand.

Why all the "Ugly Comments" ... I loath Ugliness ... Stunning song written by a poet ... Jimmy Webb ... and so it goes ....

https://www.elyrics.net/song/s/sammy-davis-jr.-lyrics.htm

Chris Bowler you have " really, truly written the worse description of a song in the whole world."

jinxthegoto yep - I was stoned and thought I was funny! - boohooing Richard Harris fans are funny! (and not ageing well) ;)

I could not even remember who Richard Harris was until i read the comments, I guess i'm not aging very well myself!

I love this more with every passing year. Smokey was THE coolest and most talented of men.
Thank you for posting.

you are a musical atheist , shame on you

Bowler Chris...Is it the worst song "in your opinion"? Is it because, heaven forbid, his voice cracks during it? Because there's emotion seeping through it? I love Sammy but this sounds robotic

In my opinion,Richard Harris is not in the same league as Sammy

Sammy Davis was the greatest entertainer ever

In answer to your eloquent post, this version is the most hilarious, overblown, piece of unintentional parody!! funny as shit!!!!!!

If you want to hear the best version! Check out Waylon Jennings from the Are You Ready For The Country Album!

Sammy gives a great performance and holds the extreme notes better than the rest. The consummate entertainer. He makes it swing of course adding to the manic drama.

This version sounds contrived, including orchestration.

I guess just anybody can create one of these sites and say anything they wish to say, nice or not.  There is simply NO sense for you to air a song here and denigrate ANYONE else who sang or will sing this song.  Shame on you!  Actually some others who are well known sang this song but left off some of the lyrics.  The lyrics are what the author saw in MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, and are merely a description of what he saw, (and made up) but Richard Harris sings it just fine, considering what the song is about.  MANY SINGERS recorded this song; Sinatra and Bennett both sing this song beautifully, leaving off some of the verses, making it into a beautiful ballad.

This version is superb and Sammy was one of the all time greatest singers. Having said that and as much as I love him this version would never have achieved the iconic status that Richard Harris did. Harris was no singer but he knew how to emote and gave it his all and its an all time classic. Its not a competition, both and others do a wonderful job.

Sammy is great, and his version is ...OK.

But the definitive version is sung by Richard Harris. That version is superior in every way, vocally and musically. It's a genuine classic.

Preciosa canción, samy davis jr la hace única 😍

this is a really nice rendition
good on ya Sammy

EI, VOCÊ ! PORQUE NÃO ME OLHAS ?
EI, VOCÊ ! QUE PASSA E NÃO ME VÊ !
EI, VOCÊ ! ONDE ESTÃO ÀQUELAS NOITES DAS CALÇADAS CHEIAS DE GENTE ?
EI VOCÊ ! QUAL É A SUA ? QUE VOTOU NO PT E HOJE NEGA TUDO !
EI, VOCÊ ! ONDE ANDA OS BARES DA MINHA JUNDIAI FRIA E CHUVOSA - URSO BRANCO, SAVEIROS, CRISTAL CHOPP, BLUE LAKE, AVEIROS, CANTINA JUNDIAI, HAITY, BRASILIA BAR, PASSARIM, DAS CARPAS, CANTINA DO JARBAS, BALAIO, BELVEDERE, TARDES DOCES NA DÉCADA DE 60 NO LAGO AZUL DA VIA ANHANGUERA !
EI, VOCÊ ! ONDE ANDA ESTE CORPO QUE ME DEIXOU LOUCO DE TANTO PRAZER ?
IVAN BOCALON

Sam was the greatest entertainer ever. We were very blessed to have him in our lives.

sammy the great

Neither is better than the other. Dont forget that each one is coming at the song from different worlds. Sammy and his commandeer with the Rat Pack and Richard from the then evolving progressive hipster world of Woodstock. Sammy blows the socks off the song. Wish I could have seen him do it live. Richard's pain haunts me when I hear him sing it. Dam its a great song.

Yoko should've covered this.

The melody and words to this song moves me to the point that all versions can be appreciated. In all honesty, I've never heard a rendition that I didn't love! And I'm 67 years young,and a true music lover.

I love how inclusive your appreciation is! We need more like you!

To my oponion, Sammy was one of the best performers in the world, and all around talented man. But in this case is not even about that, this lyric was not tailored for his vocal style and definitely was not meant to be a jazz piece. Richard Harris might have had limitations as a vocalist but, I'd have to go with his heart felt interpretation. Specially his live version !

It's a great arrangement , the orchestra is professional. It's a very dramatic piece of music. I don't know if Jimmy Web had that in mind when he wrote it. Richard Harris was a great actor. He semi sang it " singspiel " sang and spoke it . In all due respect Mr. Davis at this time , his voice , was on the down side. Both did a great job with it .

WOW ... I couldn't listen to this and shut it off @ 1:31 , and then read some of the comments and  saw what the person who posted the video said ----------------- that is just crazy . Richard Harris OWNS this song , but Glen Campbell ... he does fantastic !

I also heard that at a golf pro-am he was asked his handicap. He replied , " Short Black, one eyed, Jew."

I believe Sammy was ambidextrous and one of his accomplishments was to mark a spot on a wall, stand at a distance and throw a knife, then draw a revolver and fire. The knife would go into the bullet hole. No slouch.

Ricky harris version of this is great too. Every version of it is great. Will lee did a wonderful job on david letterman when jj webb was guest

Sammy is awesome! This is a great version of macadamia park.

Sammy Davis version is the best

Mostly meaningless lyrics but that man could sing!

I don't agree at all with your views about Richard Harris's version accept that like Sammy's version it's too long and convoluted, and include those silly lyrics about cakes and bloody recipes, but both their orchestral arrangements are great. But the the most wonderful version is Frank Sinatra's. He shortens the song down to it's sensible lyrics and his voice is stunning.

tout en fumant sa cigarette .....quels cabots en ce temps là !

OK I wrote that, those description words 6 years ago, I was stoned and thought I was funny. I let it hang there because it was provocative and led to many comments and views! I still basically believe the same that Richard Harris sucked and this version is incredibly masterful :)

His version of Mr Bojangles is better than jerry walkers as well. he was very special.

Listen to Waylon Jennings version

Bowler Chris ......... you really have no concept of interpretation do you? Jimmy Webb's songs tend to the confessional so all that pomp and orchestration is overblown and completely wrong. These versions are 'vehicles' for lounge performers looking for a hit. Jimmy Webb's early, live renditions are definitive classics.
The rest are AOR and stultifying.

I like them all. But only cause I could not do any better.

Richard Harris version was from Day 1 THE version. Donna Summer's version is great and Glen Campbell does a fine job, but the original is still the one for me.

Richard Harris' version was very good. It came from his heart and spirit.
Sammy Davis' version is more polished, and also captures the heart; even with the flamboyance by the orchestra and his ending.
It is a most difficult song and these two capture it to near perfection where others fail by lack of heart.
Again, Sammy's version does add some overblown sections were he does not sing, save the end. But still, the spirit is there.
Namaste and care,
mhikl

I like the version on Sammy Davis Jr Now better

Richard Harris may not be able to sing but he gave it feeling, he sung it like it meant something to him. This version simply does not do that, he is simply singing a song without any idea of the meaning of it, and I normally like his singing.

Agreed! Richard Harris is all passion...the words burn right through me as he sings them. Sammy's version, well, it's not doing one damn thing from me.

I have respect for both singers, but Richard Harris brought this song to life with his passion.

sammy sung it the best hands down.

The music arrangement is quite excellent.. Sammy Davis, is well, Sammy Davis.. I could never fault him,, he was a truly great entertainer.. This version is certainly slicker.. Still love Richard Harris's version the most.. He 'lived' the song when he sang it.. Maybe not the chops of SD... I'm happy to hear both versions..

The arrangement and the different movements far outweighed the Beatles in their 'concept' projects.. Although this song can get pretentious if not delicately handled.. It is a marvel for piecing different movements into on pop song.. This song was first offered to the 5th Dimension who rejected it.. I would have loved to hear their interpretation.

The thing about great music is that it can elicit many interesting and beautiful interpretations. All great artists speak the truth. As listeners our lives are enriched by them.

F or me Ray Charles and his singers

I think it's annoying how Sammy Davis Jr chooses not to deliver the line "McArthur park is melting..." on time every time. that delay is freaking disturbing. His voice is obviously better than Richard's but I don't like the way he sings it.

What an arrogant description...:) You should write "in my opinion" or "I think" because what you wrote is not a fact just your opinion. I think it's Richard Harris' song, Jimmy Webb wrote it to him. Richard had a beautiful, sad voice and it was perfect for this song, he seems the only one who really understood it. I adore Sammy but noone could sing it better than Richard did.

I wrote "I think"

I wish people did that with medical advice, religious beliefs, politics, etc., but NO ONE ever says "I believe. . . " They just proclaim their baloney/hot air as if it is THE ONLY way to feel/think/believe.

ANDY WILLIAMS DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
https://youtu.be/4GFjzZcrEig

You're right,  Bowler's comment it was a bit arrogant.   Every singer has a way of making it their "own".  Sammy's is definitely great! Glenn Campbell and Jimmy Webb with Glenn's phenomenal guitar riff tops my list. Of course Richard Harris is the face of MacArthur Park but there are some very respectable covers.  GIVE THEM ALL CREDIT!!!

@Janet T It was written for the Association. Webb didn't want Harris to record it. He agreed only after Harris didn't like the other songs he suggested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ8wJdjQ4Gw

in 1979, mexican pop singer Yuri loose in OTI contest, because her song was a copy of this song

Glen Campbell did two performances of this song that will knock your socks off like Sammy puts this across. One was done when Glen was still in his thirties and the other when he was about twenty years older. One was with the Boston Pops Orchestra and both are up here on YouTube.

I know more than 10 versions of this song and, IMO, this one is the best (2:23!). Not the greatest fan of the orchestration, though.

I surely hope there is an afterlife and I am lucky enough to be somewhere I can hear this magnificent entertainer.

Richards song undoubtedly can't you hear , he sang that perfect .

A great singer, a great song!

Folk....
What about the Four Top????
Their rendition was wonderful, at least I feel it is.

I love the Richard Harris version, although the Sammy Davis Jnr version comes a good second. Davis's version has more control, is more sophisticated, but somehow loses a lot in the interpretation. It is almost on one level. Time for a real revival of this song. Robbie Williams perhaps? I read with interest the comment dated 17 May 2010. Now that Les Mis is on film, Crowe's version of Stars has to be the most badly performed song of all time!

They made be pretty good buy they all fall way short of RH's timeless rendition of this timeless classic. It's Richard's song

+Robert Long , sorry but it's Jim Webb song. He wrote the music and the lyrics,

+Robert Long Indeed, NOBODY sang this Jim Webb song with such emotion as Richard Harris that has moved so many people. While Sammy's jazzy technically good renditon is OK, it sound mechanic and rehearsed. Richard Harris sang with his soul, it's his song and no one else's.

The Original version by Richard Harris is the best version.Whoever wrote this post and insulted Richard Harris is an ignorant knuckledragger.

+aaron kramer
You are joking???? Even Donna Summer version better than Richard Hatchet-Job Harris!

+agfagaevart IMHO, this song was meant to be a beautiful story about lost love (the cake) not a jazz or disco ballroom piece. Sorry, RH is the only one who sang it from his soul as it was meant to be.

I can see not preferring this version, I can. But Davis always sang any song like he meant it, give him the credit he earned. He also came from another time and the "style" was from that time, right on to people of his age group.

aaron kramer
Actually, in my opinion, Waylon Jennings had the best version. The song has to be sung with force. Only Richard Harris and Waylon Jennings got it right.

Just fair. While pleasant and entertaining, it is far from his best work, does not approach the Summer version, and falls far short of the Original. Please note that, despite his unorthodox singing style, Harris invested his performance with more genuine passion and remorse than any of the others who have attempted this masterpiece! A poor singer, you say? I don't see how anyone could sing or have sung it better!

I think Donna Summer's live version of MacArthur Park trumps this one as far as the best singing and arrangement goes, her voice is amazing on that version. The song is a very difficult one to cover without sounding pretentious...sorry Sammy. Still got a soft spot for the original.

Weirdly non-orthodox shortening of "Junior".

Sammy always delivers!

you talk some garbage whoever wrote the intro

FWIW I most prefer Donna summers..Richard Harris version def grows on you, Glen Cample and this one are ok but nothing special, but the second part of Sammys version does pick up more than the start, A few more people to listen to though like Aretha Franklin and the Four TopsAndy Williams does a decent version but a bit too much performance and of course the writer does a bit crazy version but cant knock it.

What ? I don't believe his emotions at all . Richard Harris was a worse singer, but he really sounds sad!

Thanks, it was a lot of fun recording that session.