About the song
Background:
- Written by Jimmy Webb in 1968 for Glen Campbell.
- Inspired by Webb seeing a solitary lineman working on a vast Oklahoma highway.
- Intended as a follow-up to Campbell’s hit “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” another “geographical” song by Webb.
- Became a major hit for Campbell and a signature song for his career.
Themes:
- Loneliness and Isolation: The song portrays the lineman’s solitary life, working high above the ground in a vast, empty landscape.
- Connection and Longing: Despite the isolation, the lineman yearns for connection with a loved one. The famous line “And I need you more than want you, And I want you for all time” expresses this deep longing.
- Work and the Everyday: The song elevates the ordinary job of a lineman to a metaphor for the human condition, with its struggles and dreams.
- Existentialism: Some consider “Wichita Lineman” the first existential country song. The lyrics explore themes of loneliness, the meaning of life, and finding connection in a vast and indifferent world.
Additional Notes:
- The song’s imagery is vivid, painting a picture of the endless plains and the lineman’s solitary work.
- The use of contrasting musical keys (F major and D major) reflects the contrast between the lineman’s work life and his inner thoughts.
- “Wichita Lineman” has been covered by many artists and is considered an American classic.
Video
Lyrics
I am a lineman for the county
And I drive the main roadSearchin’ in the sun for another overload
I hear you singing in the wireI can hear you through the whineAnd the Wichita linemanIs still on the line
I know I need a small vacationBut it don’t look like rainAnd if it snows that stretch down southWon’t ever stand the strain
And I need you more than want youAnd I want you for all timeAnd the Wichita lineman
Is still on the line
And I need you more than want youAnd I want you for all timeAnd the Wichita linemanIs still on the line