Galveston (song)

"Galveston"
"Galveston"
	One of US reissues
Single by Glen Campbell
from the album Galveston
B-side	"How Come Every Time I Itch I Wind Up Scratchin' You"
Released	February 24, 1969
Recorded	November 27, 1968 and January 9, 1969; Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre	Country pop; soft rock;
Length	2:39
Label	Capitol 2428
Songwriter(s)	Jimmy Webb
Producer(s)	Al De Lory
Glen Campbell singles chronology

"Galveston" is a song written by Jimmy Webb and popularized by American country music singer Glen Campbell who recorded it with the instrumental backing of members of The Wrecking Crew.^[3] In 2003, this song ranked number 8 in CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music. Campbell's version, produced by Al De Lory, also went to number 1 on the country music charts.^[4] On other charts, "Galveston" went to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the "Easy Listening" charts.^[5] It was certified gold by the RIAA in October 1969.^[6]

Background and writing

The protagonist is a soldier waiting to go into battle who thinks of the woman he loves and his hometown of Galveston, Texas.

The song was first released in 1968 by a mournful-sounding Don Ho,^[7] who introduced Glen Campbell to it when Ho appeared as a guest on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. Campbell's recording of the song, released in early 1969, was perceived by many (who listened carefully to the lyrics) as being a Vietnam War protest song,^[8] but Campbell performed it up-tempo. In his original promo video, Campbell was dressed as a soldier in a military-style outfit. Webb has challenged the implication of Campbell's version that it was in any way "a patriotic song". According to Webb, the song is "about a guy who's caught up in something he doesn't understand and would rather be somewhere else".^[9]^[10]

In Ho's recording, the second verse was:

Galveston, oh Galveston

Wonder if she could forget me

I'd go home if they would let me

Put down this gun

And go to Galveston.^[11]

However, in both Campbell's version and in Webb’s own 1972 album Letters (and his later performances), this verse was:

Galveston, oh Galveston

I still hear your sea waves crashing

While I watch the cannons flashing

I clean my gun

And dream of Galveston.^[12]

Personnel

According to the AFM contract sheet, the following musicians appeared at the recording session.^[13]

Al De Lory — session leader
Bob Felts — contractor
Joe Osborn
Harry Hyams
Armand Kaproff
Jesse Ehrlich
Arnold Belnick
Assa Drori
Tibor Zelig
Ronald Folsom
Joseph DiFiore
William Kurasch
Sid Sharp
Ralph Schaeffer
Leonard Malarsky
Jack Redmond
Gene Cipriano
David Roberts
Lew McCreary
Roy Caton
Ollie Mitchell
Gene Estes
Leon Russell

The original Capitol single's label (2428: 45-70488) also credits producer De Lory as the arranger and conductor.

Other cover versions

Within a year of Campbell's hit version, Rolling Stone states, "recordings of 'Galveston' had sold six million copies, having been cut by 27 different artists, from fellow country star Faron Young to jazz great Dizzy Gillespie."^[14]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1969)	Peak position
Australian (Go-Set)^[15]	5
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[16]	1
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[17]	1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[18]	2
Ireland (IRMA)^[19]	9
New Zealand (Listener)^[20]	3
UK (UK Singles Chart)^[21]	14
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[22]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[23]	4
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[24]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1969)	Rank
Australian Go-Set^[25]	11
Canadian RPM Top Singles^[26]	68
US Billboard Hot 100 ^[27]	59
US Cash Box ^[28]	70

References

^ Breihan, Tom (August 6, 2019). "The Number Ones: Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 26, 2023. ...a series of lush, considered, heartsick country-pop singles that Campbell recorded with his Wrecking Crew comrades...1969's "Galveston"...
^ "Soft Rock Music Songs". AllMusic.
^ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 66.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 43.
^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Don Ho - Galveston (Reprise Promo 45 1968)". YouTube.
^ "The Pop Protest Song". Songwriter Jimmy Webb's melancholy ode to a simpler time exemplified what one might consider to be the "tonal protest song," replacing as it does more typical anti-war language with a reflection on the emotional uncertainty of war that even hawks in the heartland could identify with.
^ "Jimmy Webb - "Galveston" (Live for WFUV)". YouTube. 2010-07-28. Retrieved 2016-10-02. In a Sound Observations interview, he claimed: "If there was a statement, and obviously I was saying something, I prefer to say it wasn't anti-war – that it was more about an individual getting involved in a war and realizing that he'd rather be somewhere else." He then went on to explain that it was not to be a "hit-you-over-the-head" protest song.
^ "The Ambiguous Anti-War Underpinnings of "Galveston"". Chimes of Freedom. 2017-08-10. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
^ "Galveston". YouTube. 2012-07-27. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
^ "Glen Campbell & Jimmy Webb GALVESTON". YouTube. 2010-11-12. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
^ "Galveston AFM Contract" (PDF). The Wrecking Crew. American Federation of Musicians. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
^ Stephen L Betts (March 15, 2019). "Glen Campbell's 'Galveston' at 50: Inside the Album's Classic Title Track". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
^ "Go-Set Australian charts - 10 May 1969". Poparchives.com.au. 1969-05-10. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6003." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 5959." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6015." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Galveston". Irish Singles Chart.
^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
^ "Glen Campbell". Official Singles Chart. 4 February 1969. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
^ "Glen Campbell Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
^ "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Go-Set Magazine Charts". www.poparchives.com.au. Barry McKay. January 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
^ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969". Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2017.

External links

[Breihan_2019-1] Breihan, Tom (August 6, 2019). "The Number Ones: Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 26, 2023. ...a series of lush, considered, heartsick country-pop singles that Campbell recorded with his Wrecking Crew comrades...1969's "Galveston"...

[2] "Soft Rock Music Songs". AllMusic.

[3] Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.

[4] Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 66.

[5] Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 43.

[6] "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2016-10-02.

[7] Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Don Ho - Galveston (Reprise Promo 45 1968)". YouTube.

[8] "The Pop Protest Song". Songwriter Jimmy Webb's melancholy ode to a simpler time exemplified what one might consider to be the "tonal protest song," replacing as it does more typical anti-war language with a reflection on the emotional uncertainty of war that even hawks in the heartland could identify with.

[9] "Jimmy Webb - "Galveston" (Live for WFUV)". YouTube. 2010-07-28. Retrieved 2016-10-02. In a Sound Observations interview, he claimed: "If there was a statement, and obviously I was saying something, I prefer to say it wasn't anti-war – that it was more about an individual getting involved in a war and realizing that he'd rather be somewhere else." He then went on to explain that it was not to be a "hit-you-over-the-head" protest song.

[10] "The Ambiguous Anti-War Underpinnings of "Galveston"". Chimes of Freedom. 2017-08-10. Retrieved 2020-06-20.

[11] "Galveston". YouTube. 2012-07-27. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-10-02.

[12] "Glen Campbell & Jimmy Webb GALVESTON". YouTube. 2010-11-12. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-10-02.

[13] "Galveston AFM Contract" (PDF). The Wrecking Crew. American Federation of Musicians. Retrieved December 31, 2022.

[14] Stephen L Betts (March 15, 2019). "Glen Campbell's 'Galveston' at 50: Inside the Album's Classic Title Track". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 21, 2020.

[15] "Go-Set Australian charts - 10 May 1969". Poparchives.com.au. 1969-05-10. Retrieved 2016-10-02.

[sc_Canadaadultcontemporary_-16] "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6003." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.

[sc_Canadacountry_-17] "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 5959." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-18] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6015." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.

[sc_Ireland2_Glen_Campbell-19] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Galveston". Irish Singles Chart.

[20] "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2016-10-02.

[21] "Glen Campbell". Official Singles Chart. 4 February 1969. Retrieved 18 April 2018.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Glen_Campbell-22] "Glen Campbell Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Glen_Campbell-23] "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Glen_Campbell-24] "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[25] "Go-Set Magazine Charts". www.poparchives.com.au. Barry McKay. January 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2017.

[26] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-02.

[27] "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.

[28] "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969". Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2017.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

v t e Glen Campbell
Studio albums	Big Bluegrass Special Too Late to Worry – Too Blue to Cry The Astounding 12-String Guitar of Glen Campbell The Big Bad Rock Guitar of Glen Campbell Burning Bridges Gentle on My Mind By the Time I Get to Phoenix Hey Little One A New Place in the Sun Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell That Christmas Feeling Wichita Lineman Galveston True Grit Try a Little Kindness Oh Happy Day Norwood The Glen Campbell Goodtime Album The Last Time I Saw Her Anne Murray / Glen Campbell The Artistry of Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell I Knew Jesus (Before He Was a Star) I Remember Hank Williams Houston (I'm Comin' to See You) Reunion: The Songs of Jimmy Webb Ernie Sings & Glen Picks Rhinestone Cowboy Bloodline Southern Nights Basic Highwayman Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like It's the World Gone Crazy Old Home Town Letter to Home No More Night It's Just a Matter of Time Still Within the Sound of My Voice Light Years Favorite Hymns Walkin' in the Sun Unconditional Love Show Me Your Way Rock-A-Doodle Wings of Victory Somebody Like That Home for the Holidays The Boy in Me Christmas with Glen Campbell A Glen Campbell Christmas My Hits and Love Songs Meet Glen Campbell Ghost on the Canvas See You There I'll Be Me Adiós
Live albums	Glen Campbell Live Live in Japan Live at the Royal Festival Hall Glen Campbell Live Glen Campbell Live! His Greatest Hits Glen Campbell in Concert with the South Dakota Symphony Through the Years Live - Ultimate Collection Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb: In Session
Compilations	The 12 String Guitar of Glen Campbell Glen Campbell Plays 12 String Guitar Portrait Country Soul Country Music Star No. 1 The Glen Campbell Album Limited Collector's Edition A Satisfied Mind Glen Campbell's Greatest Hits Gentle on My Mind The Good Time Songs of Glen Campbell I'll Paint You a Song Arkansas The Best of Glen Campbell Glen Campbell's Twenty Golden Greats The Great Hits of Glen Campbell The Glen Campbell Collection The Very Best of Glen Campbell Classics Collection Greatest Country Hits Best of the Early Years Merry Christmas All-Time Greatest Hits The Essential Glen Campbell Volume One The Essential Glen Campbell Volume Two The Essential Glen Campbell Volume Three Jesus and Me: The Collection Home at Last The Glen Campbell Collection (1962–1989) Gentle on My Mind The Capitol Years 65/77 Reunited with Jimmy Webb 1974–1988 Love Songs Glen Campbell Christmas Super Hits 20 Greatest Hits Rhinestone Cowboy/Bloodline The Lambert & Potter Sessions 1975–1976 All the Best The Legacy (1961–2002) Rhinestone Cowboy (New Studio Recordings) Glen Campbell Collection Rhinestone Cowboy Live, on the Air & in the Studio Sings the Best of Jimmy Webb 1967–1992 The Platinum Collection Classic Campbell Words and Music Greatest Hits
Singles	"Turn Around, Look at Me" "Too Late to Worry - Too Blue to Cry" "Long Black Limousine" "Guess I'm Dumb" "Universal Soldier" "Burning Bridges" "Gentle on My Mind" "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" "Hey Little One" "I Wanna Live" "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife" "Wichita Lineman" "Let It Be Me" (with Bobbie Gentry) "Galveston" "Where's the Playground Susie" "True Grit" "Try a Little Kindness" "Honey Come Back" "All I Have to Do Is Dream" (with Bobbie Gentry) "Oh Happy Day" "Everything a Man Could Ever Need" "It's Only Make Believe" "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)" "The Last Time I Saw Her" "I Say a Little Prayer" "Oklahoma Sunday Morning" "Manhattan, Kansas" "Bonaparte's Retreat" "Rhinestone Cowboy" "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.)" "Don't Pull Your Love/Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" "Southern Nights" "Sunflower" "Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like" (with Rita Coolidge) "I Love How You Love Me" "Faithless Love" "A Lady Like You" "It's Just a Matter of Time" "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" (with Steve Wariner) "Still Within the Sound of My Voice" "I Remember You" "I Have You" "She's Gone, Gone, Gone" "I'm Not Gonna Miss You"
Related articles	Discography Collaborative discography Videos Goodbye Tour The Wrecking Crew The Beach Boys Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me soundtrack The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour Ashley Campbell

v t e Jimmy Webb
Original albums	Jim Webb Sings Jim Webb (1968) Words and Music (1970) And So: On (1971) Letters (1972) Land's End (1974) El Mirage (1977) Angel Heart (1982) Suspending Disbelief (1993) Ten Easy Pieces (1996) Twilight of the Renegades (2005) Live and at Large (2007) Just Across the River (2010) Still Within the Sound of My Voice (2013) SlipCover (2019)
Collaborative albums	Up, Up, and Away (1966) The Magic Garden (1967) Rewind (1967) A Tramp Shining (1968) The Yard Went On Forever (1968) Sunshower (1969) The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb (1972) Reunion: The Songs of Jimmy Webb (1974) Earthbound (1975) Live at the Royal Festival Hall (1977) Watermark (1977) Breakwater Cat (1980) The Last Unicorn (1983) The Animals' Christmas (1986) Light Years (1988) Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind (1989) Only One Life: The Songs of Jimmy Webb (2003) This Kind of Love (2008) Cottonwood Farm (2009) Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb: In Session (2012)
Compilation albums	Tribute to Burt Bacharach and Jim Webb (1972) And Someone Left the Cake Out in the Rain... (1998) Archive (1994) Reunited with Jimmy Webb 1974–1988 (1999) Tunesmith: The Songs of Jimmy Webb (2003) The Moon's a Harsh Mistress: Jimmy Webb in the Seventies (2004) Archive & Live (2005)
Songs	"All I Know" "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" "Didn't We" "Galveston" "The Girls' Song" "Highwayman" "Honey Come Back" "MacArthur Park" "Still Within the Sound of My Voice" "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" "Up, Up and Away" "Where's the Playground Susie" "Wichita Lineman" "Worst That Could Happen"
Related articles	Jimmy Webb discography