The inspiration for "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" originated in Jimmy Webb's breakup with Susan Horton. They remained friends after her marriage to Bobby Ronstadt, a cousin of singer Linda Ronstadt. Their relationship, which peaked in mid-1965, was also the primary influence for "MacArthur Park", another Webb composition. Webb stated that the song was not intended to be geographically literal. "A guy approached me one night after a concert and he showed me how it was impossible for me to drive from L.A. to Phoenix, and then how far it was to Albuquerque. In short, he told me, 'This song is impossible.' And so it is. It's a kind of fantasy about something I wish I would have done, and it sort of takes place in a twilight zone of reality." Webb called the song a "succinct tale" with an "O. Henry-esque twist at the end, which consists merely of the guy saying, 'She didn't really think that I would go,' but he did." Although the protagonist in the song plans to leave his lover, Webb did not leave Horton.
Covers
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" was named the third-most performed song from the period between 1970 and 1990, by Broadcast Music, Inc. on September 14, 1990. Many cover versions have been recorded. Charted versions include:
Isaac Hayes' version of the song, included on the albumHot Buttered Soul, runs for 18 minutes and 40 seconds, and recounts the events that transpired before the actual roadtrip. The track was edited down to under seven minutes for single release, hitting #37 on both the US pop and R&B charts in 1969, and #48 in Canada.
The Peddlers recorded a studio version of the song for their 1969 album Birthday.
Anne Murray and Glen Campbell recorded a medley of "I Say a Little Prayer" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" in 1971. The track hit #1 on the Canadian country charts, and also charted on the US country charts and the US and Canadian pop charts.
Isaac Hayes and Dionne Warwick released the song as a live medley with "I Say a Little Prayer" in 1977. The single reached #65 on the R&B singles chart.
Charlie Rich released his version of the song on his 1968 album Set Me Free.
Billy Stewart released his version of the song as a single through Chess Records in 1969, which was featured on his album "Cross My Heart" of the same year.
Hundreds of other cover versions exist. Engelbert Humperdinck covered the song in 1968 for his album A ManWithout Love. It was the title song of Marty Robbins' 1968 album By the Time I Get to Phoenix. Harry James released a version in 1981 on his album For Listening and Dancing. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds covered the song on their 1986 album Kicking Against the Pricks. John Peel, the British 'alternative music' radio disc jockey, considered Cave's version to be "by some considerable distance" the best version of the song ever recorded. Brídín Brennan, sister of singer Enya, sampled the song for her second single on her Eyes of Innocence album. Reba McEntire recorded the song for her 20th anniversary album in 1995, Starting Over. Paul Frees recorded it as a recitation on his album The Poster People, in the voice of Clark Gable.
