Strong Songs

"Wichita Lineman" by Jimmy Webb & Glen Campbell


Listen Later

I hear you singin' in the wire... I can hear you through the whine... and the Strong Songs podcast is talking about one of the best songs of all time.

On this episode, Kirk takes on Jimmy Webb & Glen Campbell's ethereal workin' song "Wichita Lineman," an ode to the profound poetry within all of us. It's a song without a chorus or a bridge that still feels complete, thanks largely to the way it subtly climbs from the street, to the wire, and up into the heavens. 

Written by: Jimmy Webb

Produced by: Al De Lory

Performed by: Glen Campbell w/ The Wrecking Crew

Album: Wichita Lineman, 1968

Listen/Buy via Songwhip

ALSO FEATURED/DISCUSSED:

  • “God Only Knows” by Brian Wilson & The Beach Boys from Pet Sounds, 1966
  • Excerpts from "The Wrecking Crew!" documentary directed by Danny Tedesco, 2008
  • Excerpts from Dylan Jones' book Wichita LIneman: Searching in the Sun for the World’s Greatest Unfinished Song, 2019
  • “Galveston” by Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell from Galveston, 1969
  • Glen Campbell performing “Wichita Lineman” with a Fender Bass VI on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

OUTRO SOLOIST: Carlos "Insaneintherainmusic" Eieine

Carlos Eienie is a prolific multi-instrumentalist and YouTube creator who's done some extremely fun jazz arrangements of great video game music, among other things. You can find him on most social media as some variant of @insaneintherainmusic, and on his website at https://www.insaneintherainmusic.com/.

--------------------

MAY 2022 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS

Patrick – Sean D. Winnie – Daniel Hannon-Barry – RR Prince M. Levy-Benitez – Elliot Rosen – Ashley Hoag – Mark and Michelle – Kelsair – Rob Bosworth – Donald Mackie – Melissa Osborne – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joshua Jarvis – Niko – Joe Laska – Laurie Acreman – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Simon Cammell – Guinevere Boostrom – Narelle Horn – Bill Rosinger – Erin – Aidan Coughlan – Jeanneret Manning Family Four – Doug Paton – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – AccessViolation – Ryan Torvik – Glenn – Jim Chokey – Andre Bremer – Mark Schechter – Dave Florey

MAY 2022 HALF-NOTE PATRONS

Ken Is Wearing a Hat – Tony – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Michael Flaherty – Chad Hivner – Travis Pollard – Jeff Ulm – Jeff Newman – Jamie – Max Dickstein – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Adam Ray – Anupama Raghavan – Demetri Detsaridis – Carrie Schneider – Alenka Grealish – Anne Gerry – Richard Sneddon – David Judson – Julian Roleff – Janice Berry – Doreen Carlson – Mtwolf – David McDarby – Abigail Duffield – Rapha David – Wendy Gilchrist – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Dennis M. Edwards – Jeffrey Ferris – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jungben – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jason Reitman – Greg Burgess – Ailie Fraser – Paul McGreal – Karen Arnold – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Phino DeLeon – Schloss Edward J., MD – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W – Kelli Brockington – Stephen Rawlings – Ben Machta – Victoria Yu – Kevin Rivers – Brad Clark – Christopher – Michael J. Cunningham – Mark Boggs – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – Sarah – David Joske – Emma Sklar – Bernard Khoo – David Blackman – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Richard Cambier – Madeleine Mader – Timothy Dougherty – Jason Pratt – Stewart Oak – Caroline Miller – Abbie Berg – Sam Norton – Nicole Schleicher – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Olivia Bishop – John Gisselquist – Elaine Martin – Kouroth – Bonnie Prinsen – Sharon Tree – Belinda McGrath-Steer – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Pete Simm – Susan Plein – Dallas Hockley – Jana J – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Will Dwyer – Alethea Lee – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Spencer Shirley – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Jeffy Thanadros – David Friedman – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Kenneth Tiong – Jo Sutherland – Michael Casner – Barb Courtney – Derek Bender – Jen Small – Lowell Meyer – Etele Illes – Stephen Tsoneff – Lorenz Schwarz – Wen – Jack Sjogren – Geoff Golden – Robyn Fraser – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – JC – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Tijs Soete – Mark Perry – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jake Roberts – Bill Fuller – Steven Maron – Michael Flaherty – Jarrod Schindler – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Duncan – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Matt Gaskell – Jules Bailey – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Mueller – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Jon O’Keefe – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Kevin Pennyfeather – Emily Williams

--------------------

💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺
July 11, 2026 | Portland, OR
Buy Tickets Here

----LINKS-----

💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
Patreon | One-Time Donation

🏠 HOMEPAGE

👚 MERCH

💬 DISCORD SERVER

📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER

🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS

🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC

📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky

🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

🎨 SHOW ART:
Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Strong SongsBy Kirk Hamilton

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

1,974 ratings


More shows like Strong Songs

View all
Song Exploder by Hrishikesh Hirway

Song Exploder

5,996 Listeners

The Allusionist by Helen Zaltzman

The Allusionist

3,014 Listeners

Sodajerker On Songwriting by Sodajerker

Sodajerker On Songwriting

386 Listeners

Twenty Thousand Hertz by Dallas Taylor

Twenty Thousand Hertz

4,201 Listeners

Chat 10 Looks 3 by Chat 10 Looks 3

Chat 10 Looks 3

241 Listeners

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia by Slate Podcasts

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

2,068 Listeners

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond by Pushkin Industries

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

4,110 Listeners

You'll Hear It by Peter Martin & Adam Maness

You'll Hear It

20 Listeners

If You're Listening by ABC

If You're Listening

323 Listeners

Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles by Gamut Podcast Network

Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles

390 Listeners

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford by Pushkin Industries

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

5,135 Listeners

Life of the Record by Life of the Record / Talkhouse

Life of the Record

221 Listeners

Triple Click by Maximum Fun

Triple Click

1,163 Listeners

Not Stupid by ABC News

Not Stupid

72 Listeners

One Song by Hartbeat

One Song

1,227 Listeners