Young Glen Campbell Gives Live Performance Of “Wichita Lineman”

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Over the years, Glen Campbell has become a household name.  With a resume that consisted of singer, guitar player, television host, and actor, this Arkansas-native also has multiple Grammy Awards to his name.

One of those Grammy Awards is a Grammy Hall of Fame Award for the song “Wichita Lineman” in 2000, which was written by Jimmy Webb, Campbell’s frequent collaborator. “Wichita Lineman” made Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” A music journalist even called the song the “greatest pop song ever composed.”

The Song’s Inspiration

Webb’s inspiration for this song came to him when he was driving through a rural county in Oklahoma where there were endless telephone poles. He noticed a man working on top of a pole and imagined how the man would feel working up there alone every single day.  The song describes the loneliness that a telephone or electric power lineman feels while he works and his longing for his absent love.

Performing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Campbell accompanied himself on electric guitar surrounded by what looks to be several telephone poles. Now that he has passed on, this performance means so much more to us as fans. His talent was truly one-of-a-kind and he is missed by all.

You can watch Campbell’s rare, live performance of this hit song below.