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Worst That Could Happen
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Wikipedia article
"'Worst That Could Happen'" is a song with lyrics and music written by singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb. Originally recorded by The 5th Dimension on their 1967 album of nearly all-Jimmy Webb songs, 'The Magic Garden', "Worst That Could Happen" was later recorded by The Brooklyn Bridge and reached the 'Billboard' Hot 100's top 40, at #38 on January 4, 1969, peaking at #3 on February 1-8, 1969.
The song tells about a man wishing well to a woman with whom he is still in love, but because the man was unwilling to settle down, she left him and is about to marry someone else who is more stable; the singer accepts the marriage but still feels that it is "the worst (thing) that could happen to (him)". It has been stated that, along with "MacArthur Park" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Worst That Could Happen" is about a relationship that Webb had with a woman named Susan.
The song is noted for the quoting of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" from the incidental music to 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', which is heard at the end.
According to BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) the legal title of the song is "Worst That Could Happen."[http://repertoire.bmi.com/DetailView.aspx?detail=titleid&keyid=1695770&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&blnAltTitles=True BMI repertoire]
The Brooklyn Bridge version appeared on the list of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001, attacks.[https://www.kerrang.com/features/here-are-the-164-songs-that-were-banned-from-american-radio-after-9-11/ Here Are The 164 Songs That Were Banned From American Radio After 9/11 - We look at the songs deemed too lyrically questionable to play on the radio right after the 9/11 attacks.] Published by online music site Kerrang and Posted on September 11th 2019, 5:00pm. Accessed online May 5, 2020
Chart history
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Other cover versions
* B.J. Thomas on his 1969 LP, 'Young And In Love'.
* The Lettermen in 1969 on their 'I Have Dreamed' album.
* Hajji Alejandro recorded a Tagalog version titled Panakip-Butas in 1977 in his 'Hajji' album. It was released as a single and was a big hit in the Philippines.
* Jimmy Webb on his 1996 album 'Ten Easy Pieces'.
See also
* List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States
References
Category:1967 songs
Category:1968 debut singles
Category:The 5th Dimension songs
Category:Johnny Maestro songs
Category:Songs written by Jimmy Webb
Category:Buddah Records singles
Category:Songs about marriage
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