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- Best Relationship Advice "MacArthur Park" Donna Summer, 1978
Best Relationship Advice "MacArthur Park" Donna Summer, 1978
by LaDena Kailing Garr, Your Romance Fulfillment Leader, Certified Life Coach since 2011
LaDena Kailing Garr
February 25, 2026
Fun fact, find the answer at the bottom of this email.
US Figure Skater, Alysa Liu, just won the Olympic Gold Medal after her free skate. Why did she choose to skate to “MacArthur Park Suite”?
Feel-Good Relationship Advice from the Greatest Love Songs!
Spring was never waiting for us, Dear
For those who need to relish in a breakup
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Read time: 5 minutes
Lyrics
Spring was never waiting for us, dear
It ran one step ahead
As we followed in the dance
MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no
Donna Summer’s music is quintessentially disco, and this song may be the top of the disco anthems of the 1970s. It starts out slow, sad, and somber. Then, the momentum builds to a swirl of techno pop and pulsing up tempo dance song. The “joyous yet bitter” laughter during that transition lets us all know, this this gonna shake things up!
There is such a thing as a celebratory sad song.
Leaving the "cake out in the rain"—metaphorically represent a lost, beautiful relationship that took immense effort to build, leaving the singer unable to love again.
The phrase "I'll never have that recipe again" signifies that the singer believes he will never experience such a profound love again.
A farewell to lost love: Ultimately, the song is a bittersweet and highly emotional expression of loss.
Lyrics
I recall the yellow cotton dress
Foaming like a wave
On the ground beneath your knees
The birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing Chinese checkers by the trees
This song was written by Jimmy Webb. The inspiration for the song comes from Webb’s relationship and breakup with girlfriend, Susie Horton, who worked in LA, for Aetna Insurance, whose offices were across the street from MacArthur Park where they spent time. He states that everything in the song is factual, all things he saw in the park.
Fully feel it.
You can’t heal if you’re in denial, and not wanting to feel something is a form of denial. You’re going through a loss. It meant something. It was a part of your life. Don’t deny or minimize it. Accept it. Fully. I’m not saying lock yourself in your room and replay old songs, but you must allow yourself to feel the pain. That's how you heal. Take a day or three and be sad. You invested your heart in this. It deserves to be felt.
You’ll look back one day and realize it was a gift. It was meant to happen. It was a part of your story.
Every morning I start my day with my “hour of power”, quiet time dedicated to getting my heart, mind and spirit on the right track. This process is something my mentor taught me 16 years ago, using my time for deep meditation and sincere prayer. This helps me channel and share energy in the most important areas of my life; romance, friendships, health, creativity, finances, and spiritual growth. In 2022 I learned that our Theta brainwaves create a powerful flow state and can be activated using a sound wave. I’ve been using Genius Wave effectively since then. I have affiliate links that will educate you about the process.
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Perspective is a choice.
A positive attitude is not a switch you can turn off and on. You have to practice it on a daily basis. If you are a praying, or meditation person, there are two important things to focus on everyday. In the morning you pray for strength to face the battles ahead of you. At night, with gratitude in your heart, you pray to be healed so that you are prepared for the next day’s battle.
I believe it’s true that we cannot fully experience joy without fully experiencing loss. Having a deep, emotional, romantic break up, teaches us to treasure a future love that is invested on every level. The break up prepares our minds and hearts for what is to come.
We live in a universe where the most dominant law is that everything has an opposite and those opposites have to exist in equal balance.
Think about this…
What has helped you the most while processing a break up?
Are you proud of yourself for overcoming the loss, and being strong enough to open your heart to a new love?
It’s not always easy to know what to say to generate deeper conversations and intimacy with your sweetheart. That’s why I’ve created 4 conversation starters to strengthen your romance. You can get your free guide, as well as the details to the Remarkable Romance Program available now: remarkable-romance-program.teachable.com/p/remarkable-romance-program
Key Take Aways
You will look back one day and see the break up was a gift
We cannot fully experience joy without fully experiencing loss
Fun Fact Trivia:
US Figure Skater, Alysa Liu, just won the Olympic Gold Medal after her free skate. Why did she choose to skate to “MacArthur Park Suite”?
Answer: According to The Sporting News, Summer's disco anthem -- a cover of Richard Harris' 1968 track of the same name -- predates Alysa Liu by nearly 30 years. That hasn't prevented her from whirling across the rink as it spills from stadium speakers, however.
The tune was the brainchild of coach Phillip DiGuglielmo and choreographer Massimo Scali. Ahead of the 2024-25 competitive season, DiGuglielmo and Scali attempted to find a free skate program befitting of Liu's acrobatics. They settled on "MacArthur Park", a groovy number replete with synths, horns and funk.
Liu wasn't familiar with the track -- most people at her age aren't. But after listening to a 16-minute version of it ("MacArthur Park Suite") Liu was sold. She twirled and whirled to the ditty for the remained of the season, using the program to skate to gold in the 2025 World Championships.
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, Liu wanted to make a change. Liu was desperate to try her luck with a medley of Lady Gaga songs. But they were ill-fitting and hadn't quite enchanted audiences. After months of deliberations between coach, choreographer and skater, they settled on "MacArthur Park Suite."
Remarkable Romance Program by LaDena Kailing Garr, CLC in partnership with the late Mark Kailing, PsyD
Love is the greatest adventure!
~LaDena, CLC, Your Romance Fulfillment Leader
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