Where am I?: "Wichita Lineman" Glen Campbell (1968)

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“I am a lineman for the county And I drive the main roads Searching in the sun for another overload I hear you singing on the wires I can hear you through the whine And the Wichita lineman is still on the line” This somber song was another hugely successful collaboration between Rock and Roll Hall of Fame songwriter Jimmy Webb and Glen Campbell. Webb’s inspiration for his critically acclaimed song came from his driving through Oklahoma and seeing telephone linemen at work. Webb thought it the picture of loneliness and Campbell’s interpretation is almost mournful. Campbell recorded “Wichita Lineman” with the Wrecking Crew backing as usual for the album of the same title. The gold single rose to Billboard #3. The song has been covered by a diverse range of artists including Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Johnny Mathis, James Taylor, Smokey Robinson, Kool and the Gang and R.E.M.