“If I knew I might toss out my anchor.” – Jimmy Buffett
No truer words were ever spoken by one James William Buffett, He was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on December 25, 1946 and became a Christmas gift that just kept giving. Whatever you thought about his “island escapism” lifestyle, his business empire, or his mellow tropical rock catalog of never ending songs about beaches, boats, bars or ballads, Jimmy Buffett lived a fascinating life that captured the hearts and imaginations of thousands through his words and music.
Like many Gen Xers, my first Buffett cd was “Songs You Should Know By Heart,” a collection of songs featuring his biggest hit “Margaritaville.” What I quickly learned though was that Jimmy was a nautical poet more than just the sum of a song about tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. He could tap into your inner explorer and plant adventurous fantasies within your mind.
We had parties in college (in Oklahoma) where “Margaritaville” was a staple and usually played late into the night where some 20 or 30 half baked students would sing along at the top of their lungs… “but I know… it’s my own damn fault!” I subscribed to the official Jimmy Buffett “Coconut Telegraph Newsletter” for a few years in the 90’s when I was finishing college. The newsletter would have stories and concert dates and merch to buy, but like most print media, went the way of the dinosaur as the internet grew and took away the need for such paper escapism.
It was also during those final few college summers where I would spend many long, hot summer days painting houses in Illinois for a local real estate agent. Many times when I just wasn’t feeling like Pearl Jam or Nirvana or Boys II Men, I would have Jimmy Buffett playing on my personal cd player (Discman) instead where I would dream of being on a beach or at an island bar with nary a care in the world. I had scraped together enough painting money to buy his four cd box set entitled “Boats, Beaches, Bars, and Ballads” which provided a colorful book, 72 songs, and hours of extending listening that went far beyond his “Songs You Should Know By Heart.” There may have even been a day or two where I enjoyed a few cold ones while painting with Jimmy singing into my ears about planes and volcanos and pretty women. I still have this boxset, but now just find it more convenient to pull up on Spotify.
Jimmy took his world and he put it into music (and a few books), and made a lifestyle that many dreamed about but few have been fortunate to imitate. If anyone lived a finer tropical rock and roll lifestyle than Mr. Buffett, I’d surely be interested to know.
“So I cruise along always searchin’ for songs
Not a lawyer a thief or a banker”
Hey, hey, hey now Jimmy. C’mon now. There’s nothing wrong with some bankers! No need to include us with lawyers and thieves! This is one of my favorite pre-80’s lyrics just because you can’t find too many songs where the singer includes a banker.
I still believe this son of a son of a sailor is cruising along somewhere still searching for songs and entertaining his legions of “Parrotheads” in another realm. I loved what his sister, Lucy “Lulu” Buffett revealed about her last words with her brother when it became clear that the Merkel cell carcinoma Jimmy had been fighting for years was finally closing in – “He didn’t care about resting in peace. The last words he whispered to me were, “Have fun.””
Whether you enjoy his music or not, we should all desire some Jimmy in our lives, and we should all heed his words, and just have fun.
I’m no expert on the extensive collection of Jimmy Buffett songs, but if I had to give someone five songs (aside from “Margaritaville”) then I would certainly endorse these popular ones:
“Come Monday”
“A Pirate Looks at Forty”
“He Went to Paris”
“Havanna Daydreamin'”
“The Captain and the Kid”
Now away in the near future
Southeast of disorder
You can shake the hand of the mango man
As he greets you at the border
Along with the mango man, I’m sure Jimmy’s grandfather, James, who was a steamship captain, and his father, James Jr., who was a marine engineer and sailor are meeting Jimmy at the great border in the sky. Here is the man that brought so much joy and fun and light to our world singing one of my favorites of his, this 1978 classic “Son of a Son of a Sailor“…
Enjoy the light, Jimmy, and soak in another amazing view maybe with a cheeseburger in one hand. I know you will.
Thanks for reading and go have fun today.
sincerely,
the 80’s
“So when the journey gets long, just know that you are loved. There is light up above. And joy, there is always enough. Bubbles up.” – Jimmy Buffett
Bonus: “Bubbles Up” is a life metaphor and song inspired by a diving phrase or advice given to sailors and others if they ever find themselves unexpectedly thrown into the water and confused by which way is up. Follow the bubbles. They will lead you to safety. Co-written by singer-songwriter and guitarist Will Kimbrough, enjoy the first single from Jimmy’s final album he recorded before his death set to release in November…
sincerely, the 80's 
This was an exciting, informative, well written sort of bio about a singer, songwriter I knew next to nothing about. I wasn’t a grateful dead fan either, but I get the sense very clearly from what you’ve written here that, like the dead, there was a lot of joy and happiness in listening to Buffett’s music and those late night, half baked, drunk sing alongs in college are missed.
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Thanks Steve. Buffet music is good for dreaming and relaxing.
Will be watching the Brew Crew this post season hoping they do well!
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Thanks for the best Brewers wishes. Man, if they could get hot in October…they got the pitching and the defense and I better stop there because, well, I don’t want to jinx it.
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