"And I need you more than want you. And I want you for all time."

I love this song. You can listen to it here. I first heard that Glen Campbell original and was immediately arrested by the languorous melody and the lilting, pulsating "whine". Plus the orchestration is so sweet, with a little country twang/Ennio Morricone splash in there. Not to mention the soaring horns. Wow.

And check it, there is a great cover by Dennis Brown that I'm really addicted to right now.

There's a blog post I found by someone that has a little homage to the author of this fine piece of music, Jimmy Webb. You will discover some other interesting covers in that post.

"Wichita Lineman" was even featured on an episode of the Simpsons. See 16:33, where Homer sings it and then mixes it with another Webb-penned tune, "MacArthur Park." I remember when I first saw it air and I couldn't stop laughing because Dan Castanella's rendition was just so antithetical to the original's reflective, gorgeously sneaky power. Plus, in that episode they go to Northern California wine country!

While you're at it, listen to the lovely song "The Engine Driver" by the Decemberists. Colin Meloy pays tribute with the verse,

"I'm a county lineman
On the high line, on the high line
So will be my grandson
There are powerlines in our bloodlines."

I guess great songwriting about the yearning of unshakable love never goes out of style.