Glen Campbell had a hit song about the life and loves of a man who worked for which city power company?

Glen Campbell (April 1936 – August 2017) had a hit song titled "Wichita Lineman" (1968). It was written by Jimmy Webb and was the first top 10 single for country singer Glen Campbell. The song is about the life and loves of a man who works in Wichita, Kansas, USA. The city is the largest in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Sedgwick County. In the song, a simple tale is told of a lonely telephone repairman working in the vast open plains of the American Midwest.

A few years after its release, "Wichita Lineman" was called a perfectly realized pop song according to several music review articles, in magazines such as 'Omaha Rainbow', 'New Musical Express', and 'Country Music'.

Like his fans, Campbell's reaction to the song was immediate and tender according to Campbell. He told 'Mastertapes', a BBC Radio 4 program in 2011, "When I heard it I cried. It made me cry because I was homesick."

The specific lyrics describe a lineman who is pining for home and imagines he can hear his absent lover "singing in the wire". "I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time," he tells her. "And the Wichita Lineman, is still on the line."

The song was created because Campbell asked Webb to write it. This was done after Campbell had found success with another of Webb's songs, "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (1967).

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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21 Comments

Kenneth Jacobs

I saw Glen Campbell perform live on stage in Torrington, Connecticut. It was during his final tour which he mad with his children. Sadly, the Alzheimer's disease was progressing very rapidly at that point, but is daughter kept him on track, gently encouraging him to keep going after each song. He had in reality already become a mere shadow of the man we had known as the "Rhinestone Cowboy". But he performed masterfully, as his fingers slid effortlessly along the neck of his guitar as he plucked each string and the words of his old hits songs flowed from his soul in perfect sequence, but days on the road were numbered. Glen completed his final performance in early 2013, just months after I had pleasure of seeing him grace the stage one last time, a performance I hope I will never forget.

Johnny Rock

I was thinking about him the other day and just how huge of a star he was in the late 60's and 70's. "Rhinestone Cowboy" for how silly the title is is like so moving. Iconic songs.

Shelley Welch Dunivan

I get goosebumps every time I hear that song. Wichita Lineman still on the line

Joris van Pelt

"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"

belindawilliams

I used to watch his show on television. Rest In Peace Glen Campbell 🙏🏽

Jas Newman

The inspiration for the lyrics was a lone telephone lineman Webb saw in Oklahoma. He ended up using "Witchita" in the lyrics for the rhythm.

dmarkc

A distant relative. He could play guitar with the best.

Camille Curran

Thank you. Kenneth Jacobs,

Shirley Dutt

Love his music. Years ago we would invite friends over for "Southern Fried Night". We always played his music and everyone enjoyed it.

earlepg

When formulating my answer to this question, I started to hear Glen singing the the song in my head. Made it easy.

Pam Omasta

I had to sing this in my head to get to Wichita. 😂

Jan Lembeck

Kenneth Jacobs, I saw him on that tour as well. He was amazing.

Ken Putnam

Susanna Viljanen, Then it wasn't this song, was it?

Ken Putnam

Len Johnson, Read the explanation "In the song, a simple tale is told of a lonely telephone repairman working in the vast open plains of the American Midwest." But the reference is the WIKI, so what can you expect?