-Next on "Great Performances"... Legendary songwriter, pianist, and composer Jimmy Webb returns to his Oklahoma roots to take you up, up and away on a journey across the landscape of his music.

-♪ Up, up and away ♪ ♪ In my beautiful, my beautiful ♪ -Here are the stories behind the songs, as Webb is joined by special guests to perform his iconic hits.

-Singers wanted to sing his songs.

-They're the American songbook of my lifetime.

-♪ I am a lineman for the county ♪ -♪ Searchin' in the sun for another overload ♪ -Buckle up for a ride from Wichita to MacArthur Park.

-♪ MacArthur Park is melting in the dark ♪ ♪ All the sweet green icing flowing down ♪ -"Jimmy Webb: American Songwriter," starts right now.

-♪ Up, up and away ♪ ♪♪ -Ladies and gentlemen, Jimmy Webb!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?

♪ ♪ Would you like to glide in my beautiful balloon?

♪ ♪ We could float among the stars together, you and I ♪ ♪ For we can fly ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Up, up and away in my beautiful ♪ ♪ My beautiful balloon ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The world's a nicer place in my beautiful balloon ♪ ♪ It wears a nicer face in my beautiful balloon ♪ ♪ We could sing a song and sail along the silver sky ♪ ♪ For we can fly ♪ ♪ We can fly ♪ ♪ Up, up and away ♪ ♪ In my beautiful, my beautiful balloon ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Suspended under a twilight canopy ♪ ♪ We'll search the clouds for a star to guide us ♪ -♪ If by some chance you find yourself loving me ♪ ♪ We'll find a cloud to hide us ♪ ♪ Keep the moon beside us ♪ ♪ Love is waiting there in my beautiful balloon ♪ ♪ Way up in the air in my beautiful balloon ♪ ♪ If you hold my hand, we'll chase your dreams ♪ ♪ Across the sky ♪ ♪ For we can fly ♪ ♪ We can fly ♪ ♪ Up, up and away ♪ ♪ In my beautiful, my beautiful balloon ♪ ♪ Up and away ♪ ♪ Up, up and away ♪ ♪ Up, up and away ♪ ♪ Up, up and away ♪ ♪ Up, up and away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Up, up and away ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Very, very happy to be back in Oklahoma tonight.

[ Applause ] I say back in Oklahoma because I started in Oklahoma 80 years ago in Elk City, Oklahoma.

[ Cheers and applause ] Yeah.

It's lovely to be here at the McKnight Center.

This is a stunning, stunning achievement, this concert hall.

[ Cheers and applause ] I know my concert halls.

But where I learned to play the piano was not quite so elegant.

I had my musical upbringing in the church.

You know, my mother put me on the piano bench when I was 6.

Shortly after, I learned to drive a tractor.

And out on that tractor one day, after I heard a Glen Campbell song on the radio, I made a decision to become a songwriter.

And my father was a Baptist minister.

Oh, boy.

[ Laughter ] That went over really well.

[ Laughter ] -I'd like to introduce Jim Webb, who is certainly one of the most talented young composers working today.

And I've got to tell you, Jim, like a great many other people, I really admire the things you're doing.

-Thank you very much.

-It really happened very, very suddenly for you.

What are you, 22 years old?

-Yes.

22 the 15th of August.

-It started really with "Up, Up and Away."

It's happened overnight.

I suppose it doesn't seem that way, even to someone as young as you.

-I guess I was -- I mean, I was writing songs so long that it really didn't seem like I was doing anything different, you know, when it did happen, so... [ Cheers and applause ] I was 21 years old when "Up, Up and Away" became a huge hit for The 5th Dimension.

-♪ Would you like to ride in my beautiful... ♪ -It was my dream realized.

-♪ Would you like to fly in my beautiful balloon ♪ ♪ We can float... ♪ -Turn on the television, and there was my song on "Ed Sullivan."

-♪ For we can fly ♪ -The song was playing everywhere.

I remember hearing it blasting out of car radios.

-♪ Balloon ♪ -TWA even used the song to paint air travel as a magical floating adventure for the jet set.

-♪ TWA ♪ ♪ Up, up and away ♪ ♪ TWA ♪ -There are moments that happen and you know they'll never happen again.

The 5th Dimension won a record-setting five Grammy awards with "Up, Up and Away," and I won Song of the Year.

Glen Campbell won two Grammys with my other song by the time I get to Phoenix.

We were just a bunch of kids.

I bought one of the two rare Shelby Cobra Super Snakes.

I was fascinated by airplanes and became a glider pilot.

Miraculously, I even walked away from a horrific crash.

Back then, I was kind of like an emotional machine.

Whatever was going on inside would flow from me into the piano and onto paper.

I wrote a song about a girl named Susan.

I was completely infatuated with her, but as you can tell by the next song, things just didn't work out for us.

I'd like to introduce you to a young man whose talent I think is, um... It's stunning.

Oh, boy, can he sing.

Ryan Shaw.

[ Applause ] [ "Worst That Could Happen" plays ] ♪♪ -♪ Girl, I heard you're getting married ♪ ♪ Heard you're getting married ♪ ♪ This time, you're really sure ♪ ♪ And this is the end ♪ ♪ They say you really mean it ♪ ♪ This guy is the one that makes you feel so safe ♪ ♪ So sane and so secure ♪ ♪ And, baby ♪ ♪ If he loves you more than me ♪ ♪ Then maybe it's the best thing ♪ ♪ Maybe it's the best thing for you ♪ ♪ But it's the worst that could happen ♪ ♪ To me ♪ ♪ I'll never get married ♪ ♪ Never get married ♪ ♪ You know that's not my scene ♪ ♪ But a girl like you ♪ ♪ Needs to be married ♪ ♪ I have known all along ♪ ♪ You couldn't live forever in between ♪ ♪ And, baby ♪ ♪ If he loves you more than me ♪ ♪ Then maybe it's the best thing ♪ ♪ Oh, maybe it's the best thing for you ♪ ♪ But it's the worst that could happen ♪ ♪ To me ♪ ♪ And, girl ♪ ♪ I don't really blame you ♪ ♪ For having a dream of your own ♪ ♪ Hey, girl ♪ ♪ I don't really blame you ♪ ♪ A woman like you needs a house and a home, baby ♪ ♪ Baby, if he loved you more than me ♪ ♪ Then maybe it's the best thing ♪ ♪ Maybe it's the best thing for you ♪ ♪ But it's the worst that could have happen ♪ ♪ To me ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ So go on and get married, baby ♪ ♪ I'll never, never, never marry, no ♪ ♪ Baby, baby ♪ ♪ It's the worst that could happen ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ Go on and get married ♪ ♪ It's the worst that can happen to me ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -All the success I had early in my career led to a kind of emotional exhaustion.

One of the biggest mistakes I made was believing I had a magic formula and, any time I wrote a song, it was gonna be a hit.

But fame, especially in the music industry, can be overwhelming and ephemeral.

So I tried to capture that cold, hard truth.

♪♪ -This song has mysterious qualities.

Like all of the songs, Jimmy creates strong visual images for us.

[ "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ See her how she flies ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Golden sail across the sky ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Close enough to touch ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But careful if you try ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Though she looks as warm as gold ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The moon's a harsh mistress ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The moon can be so cold ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Once the sun did shine ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Good Lord, it felt so fine ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The moon a phantom rose ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Through the mountains and the pines ♪ ♪ And in the darkness fell ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The moon's a harsh mistress ♪ ♪♪ ♪ It's hard to love her well ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I fell out of her eyes ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I fell out of her heart ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Fell down on my face ♪ ♪ I tripped and missed my star ♪ ♪ I fell and fell alone ♪ ♪ The moon's a harsh mistress ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The sky is made of stone ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The moon's a harsh mistress ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She's hard to call your own ♪ I would say Jimmy's an American treasure.

This song is almost a picture.

You can see it.

The lyric is very special.

Super poetic.

Like, time should stop.

And then you just take it in.

Yeah.

♪♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

-My goodness gracious, you know?

I feel like, uh, not singing anymore.

[ Laughter ] But... [ Laughs ] I'd like to introduce you to someone who's very, very special to me.

She is the absolutely stunning daughter of Glen Campbell.

Ashley, please join me on the stage.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Jimmy Webb has been a constant presence in my life.

Hi, Jimmy.

Growing up, it was made very clear right off the bat as soon as I was able to be aware of it, that he was my father's absolute favorite songwriter.

No contest.

[ "All I Know" plays ] ♪♪ "All I Know" is one of Jimmy's less flowery epic songs.

It's epic in the arrangement and the melody and the build, but lyrically, it's very simple.

A couple paragraphs.

The simplicity of it is striking.

I love that about it.

♪♪ ♪ I bruise you ♪ ♪ You bruise me ♪ ♪ We both bruise too easily ♪ ♪ Too easily to let it show ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I love you, and it's all I know ♪ ♪♪ ♪ All my plans are falling through ♪ ♪ All my plans depend on you ♪ ♪ Depend on you to help them grow ♪ ♪ I love you, and it's all I know ♪ ♪ When the singer's gone, let the song go on ♪ ♪ It's a fine line between the darkness and the dawn ♪ ♪ They say in the darkest night, there's a light beyond ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But the endings always come at last ♪ ♪ Endings always come to fast ♪ ♪ They come too fast, and they pass too slow ♪ ♪ I love you, and it's all I ♪ ♪ All I know ♪ ♪ It's all I know ♪ ♪ It's all I know ♪ ♪ I love you ♪ ♪ And it's all I ♪ ♪ Know ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

I feel like a poor substitute for my father, for sure.

Thank you very much.

But it's just such an honor that Jimmy seems to care for me so much, and -- and I -- I see Jimmy as a member of my family.

Thank you, Jimmy.

[ Cheers and applause ] -When John Lennon was shot on the streets of New York, It's one of those moments when you can say, "I kind of remember where I was when that happened."

It's very vivid to me.

When I saw a picture of his glasses, it broke my heart.

And the tears were rolling down my face.

And I was inspired to write this song.

♪♪ Not because of some close relationship I had with John.

Though I had a bit part in his infamous lost weekend.

But because his death, to me, signified the end of an era, a way of thinking and a hope that mankind could live in peace, you know?

Like, is that too much to ask?

Really?

Um, Sheléa is coming out, a protégé of Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder.

Sheléa, come out and join me and sing my John Lennon song, would you, hon?

-I would love that.

Hello, everyone.

[ Applause ] [ "Shattered" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Shattered ♪ ♪ Like a window pane ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Broken by a storm ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Each tiny piece of me lies alone ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And scattered ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Far beyond repair ♪ ♪♪ ♪ All my shiny dreams ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Just lying there ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Just lying there ♪ ♪ I'm broken ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I'm laughing ♪ ♪♪ ♪ It's the sound of falling glass ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I hope that you won't mind if I should cry ♪ ♪ In public while I wait for this to pass ♪ ♪♪ ♪ 'Cause, sweet darling ♪ ♪ I'm shattered ♪ ♪ Into fragments cold and grey ♪ ♪ Sweep the pieces all away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Then no one will ever know how much it mattered ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You dropped me, and my precious love is shattered ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm broken, but I'm laughing ♪ ♪♪ ♪ It's the sound of falling glass ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I hope that you won't mind if I should cry ♪ ♪ In public while I wait for this to pass ♪ ♪ 'Cause, sweet darling, I'm shattered ♪ ♪ Into fragments cold and gray ♪ ♪ Sweep the pieces all away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Then no one will ever know how much it mattered ♪ ♪ You dropped me ♪ ♪ And my precious love ♪ ♪ Is shattered ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Sweet darling ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm shattered ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

Thank you.

One in a million.

When I step on the stage to bring one of Jimmy Webb's songs to life, I think, "How blessed am I that I have been able to be in his orbit?"

-I don't even know what to say about that.

[ Laughter ] I feel like I just got run over by a bus.

[ Laughter ] A very beautiful bus.

[ Laughter ] -There's certain songwriters that people just want to sing their songs.

And for me to now be able to be in that number that gets to bring my interpretation, it feels really, really good.

-Now I'm gonna talk about songs a little bit.

Um, I have a kind of a bad reputation in the business for writing rangy songs.

Like, a lot of people won't record my songs because they start too low and they finish too high.

[ Laughter ] Glen Campbell was an exception because Glen had a five-octave range, so that meant he could sing from here... [ Low-tone notes play ] ...to here.

[ High-tone note plays ] He could sing like Brian Wilson.

He could sing like Elvis Presley.

It was Glen's secret, but he could sing like Mr.

Sinatra.

He could sing like anybody.

He just chose to sing like Glen.

[ Laughter ] He was the one guy that was capable of recording "Still Within the Sound of My Voice."

And Linda Ronstadt, who was also extraordinarily gifted, vocally, she managed to sing it.

[ Cheers and applause ] Because we have two most gifted people here tonight, and they're -- so they're sort of at my beck and call.

[ Laughter ] Ryan, Sheléa, come out and join me and sing "Still Within the Sound of My Voice," an impossible song to sing.

♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Where have you gone, my darling one?

♪ ♪ Are you on your own?

♪ ♪ Are you having fun?

♪ ♪ Is there someone to hold when you need it bad?

♪ ♪ Is it uncontrolled like the love we had?

♪ -♪ Does a day go by like a memory?

♪ ♪ Do you ever try to remember me?

♪ ♪ In an automobile or a crowded bar?

♪ ♪ Well, I hope you're alright, wherever you are ♪ ♪ If you're still within the sound of my voice ♪ ♪ Over some radio ♪ ♪ I just want you to know ♪ ♪ You were always my only choice ♪ ♪ And wherever you go, then I still love you so ♪ ♪ If you're still within the sound of my voice ♪ ♪♪ ♪ In the dead of night, do you hear me call?

♪ ♪ Something's not quite right ♪ ♪ No one's there at all ♪ ♪ Did you make a mistake?

♪ ♪ Was it in your head?

♪ ♪ Was it merely me talking to your heart instead?

♪ ♪ And if you're still within the sound of my voice ♪ ♪ Watching this video ♪ ♪ I just want you to know ♪ ♪ That it always made me rejoice ♪ ♪ Just to have you so near, there's a place for you here ♪ ♪ If you're still within the sound of my voice ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I am calling like the echo ♪ ♪ Of a passing train that cries ♪ ♪ One last time before it fades ♪ ♪ Into the distant hills and dies ♪ ♪ I am sending out a message ♪ ♪ Like a ship out on the sea in distress ♪ ♪ But only you can send the lifeline out to me ♪ ♪ Are you still within the sound of my voice?

♪ ♪ Why don't you let me know ♪ ♪ I just can't let you go ♪ ♪ If it's wrong, then I have no choice ♪ ♪ I have no choice ♪ ♪ But to love you until I no longer have a will ♪ ♪ If you're still within the sound of my voice ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I am calling like an echo of a passing train that cries ♪ ♪ One last time before it fades ♪ ♪ To the distant hills and dies ♪ ♪ Mmm, mm-mm-mm-mmm ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Oh, ohh ♪ ♪ Still within the sound of my voice ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, yes, you are ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, you are ♪ ♪ Still within the sound of my ♪ ♪ Voice ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Jimmy is kind of in a class of his own.

I look at all the different kind of artists he wrote for, like my favorite Glen Campbell.

I cannot get enough of Glen Campbell lately.

I've been just listening to every version of his songs, you know, in the Jimmy Webb catalogue.

-I heard my first Glen Campbell song out in the middle of a wheat field, driving a big International Harvester tractor.

And I'm listening to the radio, and I hear this.

♪ I'm going to Surf City, gonna have some fun ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, I'm going to Surf City ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's two-to-one ♪ ♪ Two girls for every boy ♪ I stopped my tractor.

[ Laughter ] The very next record, it was Glen Campbell.

♪ There is someone ♪ ♪ Walking behind you ♪ -♪ Turn around ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Look at me ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And there's someone ♪ ♪ Watching your footsteps ♪ -And I said, that's the guy I want to sing my songs.

And... from then on, I was writing Glen Campbell songs.

I had a suitcase full of them.

-Glen Campbell can scarcely remember a time when he hasn't had a Jimmy Webb song close to his heart.

Their hit-making partnership began exactly 20 years ago.

-I went down to -- to the studio and met Mr.

Campbell for the first time.

And I walked in, and I was wearing a yak vest and a tie-dyed T-shirt.

Glen looked at me.

The very first thing he ever said to me, he says, "Don't you think it's time you got a haircut?"

he said.

[ Both laugh ] -We're gonna do what we affectionately refer to as the Glen segment.

And we have a couple of nice surprises.

And one of those is that, um, a friend of mine from Texas is here tonight.

He's a household name in this country, Lyle Lovett.

He's here.

Come on, Lyle.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Jimmy Webb creates an entire world that you get to inhabit when you sing one of his songs.

Getting inside his song, you're in a world that Jimmy has imagined and created and described perfectly.

[ "If These Walls Could Speak" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ If these old walls ♪ ♪ If these old walls could speak ♪ ♪ Of things that they remember well ♪ ♪ Of partisan people raising hell ♪ ♪ Couple in love, living week to week ♪ ♪ Rooms full of laughter ♪ ♪ If these walls could speak ♪ ♪♪ ♪ If these old halls ♪ ♪ Hallowed halls could talk ♪ ♪ These would have a tale to tell ♪ ♪ Of sun going down and dinner bells ♪ ♪ And children playing at hide-and-seek ♪ ♪ From floor to rafter ♪ ♪ If these halls could speak ♪ ♪♪ ♪ They would tell you that I'm sorry ♪ ♪♪ ♪ For being cold and blind and weak ♪ ♪♪ ♪ They would tell you that it's only ♪ ♪ That I have a little bit of a stubborn streak ♪ ♪ Yes, I do ♪ ♪ If these walls could speak ♪ ♪♪ ♪ If these old-fashioned ♪ ♪ Window panes were eyes ♪ ♪ I guess they would have seen it all ♪ ♪ Each little tear and sigh and foot fall ♪ ♪ And every dream that we came to seek ♪ ♪ Or followed after ♪ ♪ If these walls could speak ♪ ♪♪ ♪ They would tell you that I owe you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ More than I could ever pay ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Here's someone who really loves you ♪ ♪ Don't ever go away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ That's what these walls would say ♪ ♪♪ ♪ They would tell you that I owe you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ More than I could ever pay ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Here's someone who really loves you ♪ ♪ Don't ever go away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ That's what these walls would say ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] When you hear a song and you think, "Well, that's like nothing I ever heard before," you can pretty well figure that Jimmy Webb must have written it.

His chord changes, his melodies, the way he says things, the images he creates... The images he creates are unique to him.

-So, Lyle, how you doing this evening?

-Jimmy, I'm doing great.

You know, that is such a beautiful reflection of home and family.

That song says to me that there's hope and salvation.

Uh, I just love it.

-I believe it, I believe it.

[ Applause ] Well, I thank you for being here.

And I -- I owe you a lot.

Every time I've ever asked you to do anything, you've been there.

You've been there every time.

-I and all of us here this evening, Jimmy Webb, are honored -- honored to be with you and to get to be inside your wonderful, unique songs.

-Well, thank you.

Um... [ Cheers and applause ] I'm going to bring out an Okie.

[ Cheers and applause ] He's -- he's my favorite Okie.

[ Laughter ] Uh, I love him to bits.

Vince Gill.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Whoo!

Thank you, folks.

Jimmy, isn't it great to have your feet back in Oklahoma dirt?

-Oh, it is.

It's -- -It's the best feeling in the world.

[ Cheers and applause ] -I appreciate you having me out here to sing some of your great songs.

-Well, thank you.

Um... [ Applause ] -He paints the most beautiful pictures with his words.

-♪ By the time I get to Phoenix ♪ ♪ She'll be rising ♪ -That's what great songs do.

They take you to that place that that song sits in.

-♪ She'll find the note I left hanging on her door ♪ -I've driven that road, and I know how all those cities lay and where they are and how many miles it is between Phoenix and Albuquerque and Albuquerque to Amarillo and Amarillo to Oklahoma City.

-Jimmy's use of sense of place is so powerful.

You're on that road.

-♪ 'Cause I've left that girl so many times before ♪ -You know, Glen made such remarkable records with these songs, and they're untouchable.

You know, they truly are.

[ "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" plays ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪ By the time I get to Phoenix ♪ ♪ She'll be rising ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She'll find the note I left hanging on her door ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She'll laugh when she reads the part ♪ ♪ That says I'm leaving ♪ ♪♪ ♪ 'Cause I've left that girl so many times before ♪ ♪♪ ♪ By the time I make Albuquerque ♪ ♪ She'll be working ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She'll probably stop at lunch and give me a call ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She'll just hear that phone keep on ringing ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Off the wall ♪ ♪♪ ♪ That's all ♪ ♪♪ ♪ By the time I make Oklahoma ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ She'll be sleeping ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She'll turn softly and call my name out low ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Though time and time, I've tried to tell her ♪ ♪ Tell her so ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She just didn't know ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I would really go ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ooh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Beautiful song, Jimmy.

[ Cheers and applause continues ] Thank you very much.

-You know, I remember hearing Jimmy's music for the first time on the radio.

-Glen Campbell, "Galveston, Galveston."

-♪ Galveston, oh, Galveston ♪ ♪ I still hear your sea winds blowing ♪ -"Galveston" is so powerful.

I grew up watching the Vietnam War on the news every day.

-♪ When I left Galveston ♪ -Galveston, from the point of view of that soldier is such a heart-wrenching, heart-wrenching story.

-When I went into the Army in the late 1960s, I carried Jimmy's lyrics with me.

But then I'm in Vietnam, and the song "Galveston" comes out one month before I leave Vietnam.

-Serving the Central Highlands, from South Vietnam, this is AFVN, AM and FM Saigon.

♪♪ -♪ Galveston, oh, Galveston ♪ -Armed Forces Radio is playing the heck out of that song, and it gave me that connection with home.

-♪ While I watch the cannons flashing ♪ ♪ I cleaned my gun ♪ ♪ And dream of Galveston ♪ ♪♪ -It is the bridge between my time and country and my return home to my mother and my family.

Jimmy Webb brought me safely back home through "Galveston."

-1, 2... 1, 2, 3.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -♪ Galveston, oh, Galveston ♪ ♪ I still hear your sea winds blowing ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I still see her dark eyes glowing ♪ ♪ She was 21 ♪ ♪ When I left Galveston ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Galveston, oh, Galveston ♪ ♪ I still hear your sea waves crashing ♪ ♪♪ ♪ While I watch the cannons flashing ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I clean my gun ♪ ♪ And dream of Galveston ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I still see her standing by the water ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Standing there looking out to sea ♪ ♪ And is she waiting there for me?

♪ ♪ On the beach where we used to run ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Galveston, oh, Galveston ♪ ♪ I am so afraid of dying ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Before I dry the tears she's crying ♪ ♪ Before I watch ♪ ♪ Your sea birds flying in the sun ♪ ♪ At Galveston ♪ ♪ At Galveston ♪ ♪♪ -Jimmy's songs deal in sadness and regret, but always you hear hope in the melody, you hear hope in the arrangement, in the chord changes.

♪♪ It's one of the things that makes them great.

♪♪ ♪ Galveston, oh, Galveston ♪ ♪ I am so afraid of dying ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Before I dry the tears she's crying ♪ ♪ Before I watch ♪ ♪ Your sea birds flying in the sun ♪ ♪ At Galveston ♪ ♪ At Galveston ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Yeah!

[ Cheers and applause continues ] See that, Vince?

He's getting up there and hitting that high stuff.

-He's up there singing where the women go.

[ Laughter ] Way I like it.

That sounded great, buddy.

-A couple of years back, the United States government saw fit to honor Glen.

The record "Wichita Lineman" was deemed a national treasure, and it was put in a nuclear-proof bunker.

[ Laughter ] I always thought that Glen would, first, laugh his, you know, fanny off.

But secondly, I thought he would be secretly pleased that no nuclear harm can come to "Wichita Lineman."

[ Laughter ] -When you heard "Wichita Lineman" coming on the radio, man, where did this come from, you know?

It was just an image that Jimmy had driving through the panhandle of Oklahoma and seeing these guys up on this telephone pole.

What's that guy like?

What's his life like?

Is he in love?

What's his story, right?

-♪ I am a lineman for the county ♪ [ Applause ] ♪ And I drive the main road ♪ ♪ Searching in the sun for another ♪ -We can just know what that character's doing.

It falls on your ears a certain way, and it puts you right there in that moment.

♪♪ -♪ And I need you more than want you ♪ ♪ And I want you for all time ♪ -He left us with, "I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time," which, uh, a lot of my songwriter friends say that's the greatest line in a pop song ever.

-One of the best songs I've ever heard.

-1, 2... ♪♪ [ Applause ] ♪ I am a lineman for the county ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And I drive the main road ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Searching in the sun for another overload ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I hear you singing 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 ♪ ♪♪ ♪ 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 ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Mm, mmm ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Mm, mmm, mm mm ♪ ♪ Mm, mmm ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

What occurred on that stage was a chance to be grateful to someone that's been so impactful in my life.

Those songs are so timeless.

They're so -- they're so rich.

They're so rich in history.

They're so rich in story.

They're the American songbook of my lifetime.

And the collaboration between him and Glen Campbell was one of the greatest combining of two people that's ever happened.

You know, it's like Lennon and McCartney.

It's -- it's -- it just doesn't happen very often.

-You didn't write the "Honey Come Back" just especially for me.

-Well, I was in high school and I was working in a coffee shop in Rubidoux, California, called the Three Bears Coffee Shop.

And while I washed egg yolk and cigarettes off these plates, I played a game with myself where I wrote a line that began the next line.

-Yeah.

-So it says,"Honey, come back.

I just can't stand each lonely day's a little bit longer than the last time I held you seems like a hundred years ago back to the..." So, in a way, it was a mental exercise just to keep the boredom away of working as a busboy.

-I'm gonna never forget the first time I did it on stage.

You know?

♪ Honey, come back ♪ ♪ I just can't stand ♪ ♪ Each lonely day ♪ ♪ Is a little bit longer ♪ ♪ Than the last time I held you ♪ ♪ Seems like a hundred years ago ♪ ♪ Back to his arms and never know ♪ -The first time I vividly remember watching their sound check, it was just like watching two people who were so comfortable together and so much respect between the two of them that I just remember feeling at ease watching them and also feeling like I was in the presence of giants.

-The impact that those songs have had on Glen's career and other people's career, it's not just Glen that recorded his songs.

There is a ton of people that were drawn to his gift, and with that, he has an amazing legacy of song that just pretty hard to beat.

-Well, things are about to get interesting here, ladies and gentlemen.

[ Laughter ] Once upon a time, I had a dream, and I was fleeing from a scene of a crime.

Of course.

And these dragoons were chasing me on these stallions, and they were getting closer and closer and closer, and I woke up in a cold sweat.

It was like a night terrors.

But I had a piano right beside my bed.

[ Laughter ] And I rolled off that bed and wrote the first verse of "Highwayman."

And the first person I played it for, it was Glen Campbell, because everything I ever played, I played for him first.

His ears did not fail.

And then, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, and the guy with the pigtails.

Uh... [ Laughter ] Uncle Willie.

And so they're all making a record, and they can't get along anyway.

I mean, if you imagine those four voices making a chord... And so Glen came down, and he said, "Listen, I got a song with four verses.

It's got a different persona in it for each -- each person.

And so it'll -- it'll be peace in the valley.

No more --" So they're sitting in the studio, and they're playing "Highwayman" for Johnny Cash for the first time.

And it does make some suggestions about reincarnation and, you know, spirituality.

And it got to the end, and it's like dead quiet in the studio.

And you could hear a pin drop.

And everybody's looking at Johnny Cash.

And Johnny Cash looked at him and said, "Well, I want to fly the starship."

[ Laughter ] [ Applause ] Now, we don't have a complete posse out here tonight.

We're, like, one compadre short.

So I think we're gonna call out a Campbell.

Always call a Campbell when you're in a -- in a tight spot.

Ashley?

[ Cheers and applause ] -1, 2, 3, 4... ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ I was a highwayman ♪ ♪ Along the coach roads I did ride ♪ ♪♪ ♪ With sword and pistol by my side ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Many a soldier left his life blood upon my blade ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The bastards hung me in the spring of '25 ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I am still alive ♪ ♪♪ -♪ I was a sailor ♪ ♪ I was born upon the tide ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And with the sea I did abide ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I sailed the schooner 'round the horn to Mexico ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I went aloft to furl the mainsail in a blow ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And when the yards gave way, they say that I was killed ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I am living still ♪ ♪♪ -♪ I was a dam builder ♪ ♪ Crossed the river deep and wide ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Where steel and water did collide ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Place called Boulder on the wild Colorado ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below ♪ ♪♪ ♪ They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I am still around ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And always be around and around and around ♪ ♪ And around and around and around and around ♪ ♪♪ -♪ I'll fly a starship across the universe divide ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And when I reach the other side ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Or perhaps I may become a highwayman again ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Or I may simply be a single drop of rain ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I will remain ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And I'll be back again and again and again ♪ ♪ And again and again and again and again ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Again and again and again and again ♪ ♪ And again and again and again ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] ♪♪ -Now all you've got's me.

[ Laughter ] [ Cheers and applause ] Um... I lived in two different worlds when I was a kid.

My first job was at Motown Records in Hollywood.

Motown was essential for me in my development.

That's where my education really began.

You know, in the -- in the Motown office, high above the lights of Los Angeles.

And I thought, "I've made it.

I'm here.

I've done it, man."

Of course, I was not quite there yet.

♪♪ I lived in that world, and at the same time, I was on the Rolodex over at Sinatra Music.

Every once in a while, I would get a call from the right-hand man over there and say, "Mr.

S wants to see you."

And he would sit there for hours and listen to me play the piano.

Really had a weak spot for songwriters.

♪♪ And one day, he said to me -- I'd played this little ballad for him, and he said, "That's a good song."

He says, "That reminds me of somebody."

And he recorded this song, and I firmly believe that he recorded it for Ava Gardner.

♪♪ ♪ This time, we almost made it ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The pieces fit ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Didn't we?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ This time, we almost made ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Some sense of it ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Didn't we, girl?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ This time, I had the answer ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Right here in my hand ♪ ♪ Then I touched it and ♪ ♪ It had turned ♪ ♪ To sand ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ This time we ♪ ♪ Almost sang our song in tune ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Didn't we?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ This time, we almost made ♪ ♪ Almost made it to the moon ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Didn't we, girl?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ This time ♪ ♪ We almost made our poem rhyme ♪ ♪♪ ♪ This time ♪ ♪ We are almost made ♪ ♪ That long ♪ ♪ Hard climb ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Didn't we almost make it?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Didn't we almost take it, baby?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Didn't we ♪ ♪ Almost make it ♪ ♪♪ ♪ This time ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ And Mr.

Sinatra always added... ♪♪ ♪ This time ♪ ♪♪ [ Applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr.

Sinatra.

[ Chuckles ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] ♪♪ All right.

You know, there was a period in songwriting when the guys that I worshiped, like Yip Harburg and Harold Arlen and all the old traditional guys -- Johnny Mercer, Rodgers and Hart -- and those kind of songwriters had kind of disappeared.

And I came along, and I wrote some of those ballads, and, God, they were happy to see me -- Tony Bennett and Liza Minnelli.

And, you know, my phone was ringing all the time.

♪♪ And the guys in my generation, you know, it was a little perplexing sometimes.

There was a group called Procol Harum, you know, and they had a song called "Whiter Shade of Pale," and I always worried about the 13 vestal virgins.

[ Laughter ] You know, whether the 13 vestal virgins made it to the coast.

[ Laughter ] And still, you know, I mean, it's been years, but sometimes I wake up out of a sound sleep and I go, "I wonder what happened to those 13 vestal virgins."

[ Laughter ] And then, you know, there was "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

Gee, I wonder what that's about.

[ Laughter ] Huh.

And I put one lousy little cake out in the rain.

[ Laughter and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] And I have to live with it for the rest of my life.

[ Laughter ] -So, "MacArthur Park."

[ Laughs ] Oh, my goodness, what a monster of a song.

♪♪ -♪ 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... ♪ -I know it was Richard's song, but there's so many ways to even see the song.

And there's Glen Campbell's version.

-♪ Spring was never waiting for us, girl ♪ ♪ It ran one step ahead as we followed in a dance ♪ -That version is so beautiful in the way that he interprets those lyrics.

-♪ Between the parted pages and were pressed ♪ -Donna Summer obviously had a huge hit with it.

♪♪ -♪ I recall the yellow cotton dress ♪ ♪ Foaming like a wave ♪ ♪ On the ground beneath your knee ♪ -She brought something really special to it, as well, so... And hopefully Sheléa will bring something, too.

[ Laughs ] ♪♪ Here we go.

♪♪ "MacArthur Park," everybody.

[ Cheers and applause ] Timeless classic.

♪♪ ♪ Spring was never waiting for us, girl ♪ ♪ It ran one step ahead as we followed in the dance ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Between the parted pages and were pressed ♪ ♪ In love's hot, fevered iron ♪ ♪ Like a striped pair of pants ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I recall the yellow cotton dress ♪ ♪ Foaming like a wave ♪ ♪ On the ground around your knees ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And birds like tender babies in your hands ♪ ♪ And the old men playing checkers by the trees ♪ ♪♪ ♪ MacArthur 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 ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ There will be another song for me ♪ ♪♪ ♪ For I will sing it ♪ ♪♪ ♪ There will be another dream for me ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Someone will bring it ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I will drink the wine while it is warm ♪ ♪ And never let you catch me looking at the sun ♪ ♪♪ ♪ After all the loves of my life ♪ ♪♪ ♪ After all the loves of my life ♪ ♪ You'll still be the one ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I will take my life into my hands ♪ ♪ And I will use it ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I will win the worship in their eyes ♪ ♪ And I will lose it ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I will have the things that I desire ♪ ♪ And my passion flow like rivers through the sky ♪ ♪ Oh, after all the loves of my life ♪ ♪ God knows, after all the loves of my life ♪ ♪ I'll be thinking of you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And wondering why ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ MacArthur 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 make it ♪ ♪ And I'll never have that recipe again ♪ ♪ Oh, no ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, no ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, oh, no ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] Oh, Jimmy.

[ Laughs ] I love you so much.

Thank you so much.

God bless.

[ Cheers and applause continues ] -Ladies and gentlemen, Jimmy Webb!

[ Cheers and applause ] Jimmy Webb!

[ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] -Ending the concert with "Adios" is definitely going to be emotional for me, personally, because "Adios" was the title of my father's final studio album, and it's one of my favorite songs that Jimmy wrote.

[ Cheers and applause ] What a marriage of melody and lyrics.

And that's Jimmy's thing.

But that one in particular has such a... It just strikes deep for me.

So I'm honored to get to do that and be a part of the final song of the show.

[ Chuckles ] -♪ I ran away from home when I was seventeen ♪ ♪♪ ♪ To be with you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ On the California coast ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Drinking margaritas all night in the old cantina ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Out on the California coast ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Don't think that I'm ungrateful ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And don't look so morose ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Adios ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Adios ♪ ♪♪ ♪ We never really made it, baby ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But we came pretty close ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Adios, adios ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Going up north where the hills are winter green ♪ ♪ I have to leave you ♪ ♪ On the California coast ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Going where the water's clear and the air is cleaner ♪ ♪ Than on the California coast ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Our dreams of endless summer ♪ ♪♪ ♪ They were just too grandiose ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Adios ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Adios ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And I'll miss the blood-red sunset ♪ ♪ Oh, but I'll miss you the most ♪ ♪ Adios, adios ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Adios, adios ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Adios ♪ ♪ Adios ♪ ♪♪ -Jimmy Webb!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Good night.

[ Cheers and applause continues ] -♪ If you see me getting smaller, I'm leaving ♪ -♪ I'm leaving ♪ -♪ Don't be grieving ♪ ♪ Just got to get away from here ♪ ♪ If you see me getting smaller, don't worry ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm in no hurry ♪ -♪ No hurry ♪ -♪ I got a right to disappear ♪ ♪♪ -To find out more about this and other "Great Performances" programs, visit pbs.org/greatperformances and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

♪♪ -♪ If you see me getting smaller ♪ ♪ Don't have to worry ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm not in a hurry ♪ ♪ I got a right to disappear ♪