it was pretty simple:
“Wichita Lineman”
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
[Instrumental Interlude]
And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time
And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line
[Instrumental to end]
Jimmy wrote it in his mind just driving through Kansas (or wherever) and seeing a man on a pole, wondering what was he doing. What could he be thinking about?
To have that talent is God given.
There is something, to me, that is damned haunting about that song.
It exudes the longing of a man who works hard for a living at a solitary job, would rather be somewhere else, with someone, but...he has a job to do.
For me, it conjures up a scene from the Sixties of men whose job was their life, and they felt a responsibility to that job because that was what being a man was.
It seems haunting to me.
Before Glen became “Glen Campbell”, he was a VERY highly acclaimed guitarist who was a part of the famous “Wrecking Crew” - the best of the best LA session players. He played on a Who’s Who - from Sinatra to most if not all of the Beach Boys hits.
When he recorded “Wichita Lineman”, he borrowed the 6-string bass from his fellow Wrecking Crew member, Carol Kaye.
So Glen’s solo is on a 6-string bass - not his lead guitar.