Enjoy a vintage performance of one of Glen Campbell's most widely known songs, "Wichita Lineman." Also view the lyrics right here!
In 1968, Glen Campbell released one of his most beloved songs, “Wichita Lineman.” The song has gone on to be widely covered by a variety of artists, and in 2010 appeared on the Rolling Stone “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list, ranking at #195.
Songwriter Jimmy Webb gained his inspiration for the song while driving through southwest Oklahoma. As Webb drove down a straight road into the sunset, he passed a seemingly endless number of identical telephone lines. In the distance, He saw the silhouette of a lineman, alone working on a pole. Webb described the scene as the “picture of loneliness.”
Campbell recorded “Wichita Lineman” for his 1968 album of the same name. The song reached #3 on the Billboard pop charts in the United States.
Watch Glen Campbell perform “Wichita Lineman” on the The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour below!
I am a lineman for the county
And I drive the main road
Searchin’ in the sun for another overload
I hear you singin’ in the wire,
I can hear you through the whine
And the Wichita lineman is still on the line
I know I need a small vacation
But it don’t look like rain
And if it snows that stretch down south won’t ever stand the strain
And I need you more than want you,
And I want you for all time
And the Wichita lineman is still on the line
And I need you more than want you,
And I want you for all time
And the Wichita lineman is still on the line