You Had To Be There

Oct 25, 1978

Disc: 1 - Son of a Son of a Sailor

Lyrics

SON OF A SON OF A SAILOR
Jimmy Buffett
As the son of a son of a sailor,
I went out on the sea for adventure,
Expanding their view of the captain and crew
Like a man just released from indenture.

As a dreamer of dreams and a travelin' man,
I have chalked up many a mile.
Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks,
And I've learned much from both of their styles.

Son of a son, son of a son, son of a son of a sailor.
Son of a gun; load the last ton
One step ahead of the jailer.

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.

And the lady she hails from Trinidad,
Island of the spices.
Salt for your meat and cinnamon sweet,
And the rum is for all your good vices.

Haul the sheet in as we ride on the wind that our
Forefathers harnessed before us.
Hear the bells ring as the tide rigging sings.
It's a son of a gun of a chorus.

Where it all ends I can't fathom, my friends.
If I knew, I might toss out my anchor.
So I'll cruise along always searchin' for songs,
Not a lawyer, a thief or a banker.

But a son of a son, son of a son, son of a son of a sailor.
Son of a gun, load the last ton
One step ahead of the jailer
I'm just a son of a son, son of a son, son of a son of a sailor
The sea's in my veins, my tradition remains.
I'm just glad I don't live in a trailer.
Disc: 1 - Pencil Thin Mustache

Lyrics

PENCIL-THIN MUSTACHE
Jimmy Buffett
Now they make new movies in old black and white,
With happy endings, where nobody fights,
So if you find yourself in that nostalgic rage,
Honey, jump right up and show your age.

I wish I had a pencil-thin mustache,
the "Boston Blackie" kind, or a
two-toned Ricky Ricardo jacket,
and an autographed picture of Andy Divine.

Oh, I remember bein' buck toothed and skinny
Writin' fan letters to Sky's niece Penny.
Oh, I wish I had a pencil-thin mustache,
then I could solve some mysteries too.
Oh it's Bandstand, Disneyland, growin up fast,
Drinkin' on a fake I.D.
And Rama of the jungle was everyone's Bawana,
But only jazz musicians were smokin marijuana.
Yeah, I wish I had a pencil-thin mustache,
then I could solve some mysteries too.

But then it's flat-top, dirty bop, copin' a feel'
grubbin on the living room floor;
They send you off to college to try to gain
a little knowledge,
But all you want to do is learn how to score.
Yeah, but now I'm gettin' old, don't wear underwear,
I don't go to church, and I don't cut my hair;
But I can go to movies and see it all there,
Just the way that it use to be.

That's why I wish I had a pencil-thin mustache
the "Boston Blackie" kind, or a
two-toned Ricky Ricardo jacket,
And an autographed picture of Andy Divine.

Oh, I could be anyone I wanted to be,
Maybe suave Eerol Flynn or the Sheik of Araby.
If I only had a pencil-thin mustache,
then I could do some crusing too.

Yeah, Brylcreem, a little dab'll do yah,
Oh, I could do some cruising too.
Disc: 1 - Wonder Why We Ever Go Home

Lyrics

WONDER WHY WE EVER GO HOME
Jimmy Buffett

Years grow shorter, not longer,
the more you've been on your own.
Feelin's for movin' grow stronger'
so you wonder why you ever go home,
wonder why you ever go home.

People are movin' so quickly.
Humor's in need of repair.
Same occupations and same obligations;
they've really got nothing to share,
like drivin' around with no spare.

River gets deeper not shallow,
the further you move down the stream.
Wonderin'if I can keep her as I
race to keep up with my dreams.
How they shine and glitter and gleam.

Repeat First Verse
Disc: 1 - Landfall

Lyrics

LANDFALL
Now what do they do if I just sailed away
Who the hell really compelled me to leave today
Runnin' low on stories is what made it a ball
What would they do if made no landfall

I lived half my life in eight by five room
Just crusin' to the sound of the big deisel boom
It's not close quarters that would make me snap
It's just dealing with the daily unadulterated crap

Sail away for a month at a time,
Sail away I've got to recharge my mind
Then you'll find me back at it again

Oh I love the smell of fresh snapper fried lite
What'd you say, pouilly fuisse could round out the night
The mid morning watch is the best time to look
Oh what would they do if I wrote the big book

`Cause I've seen incredible things in my year
Somedays were laughter, others were tears
If I had it all to do over again
I'd just get myself drunk and I'd jump right back in

Sail away, that's the way I survive
Sail away, that's just no shuck and jive
It just makes my whole life come alive

The wind whistled threw the cool rigging at night
Crazy crowds boogie to the sound and the lights
down in he's just havin a ball
What would he do on another landfall
What would they do if I made no landfall
Oh what would they do if I flew to Nepal
What would I do if I met Lucille Ball
Tryin' to make a little sense of it all
Just tryin' to make a little sense of it all
Disc: 1 - Miss You So Badly

Lyrics

MISS YOU SO BADLY
I guess it all blew up in Missoula
There just was no other way
After months of going crazy
There was nothing left to say
But when the dust had finally settled
And the air had quickly cleared
Things were better off than I had feared

And I miss you so badly
Girl I love you madly
Feelin' so sad now since I been gone
Gone, gone
And it gets quite confusin'
It seems that I'm loosin' track of
the long days since I been home

Were stayin' in a Holiday Inn full of surgeons
I guess they meet there once a year
They exchange physician stories
And get drunk on Tuborg beer
Then they're off to catch a stripper
With their eyes glued to her G
But I don't think that I would ever let them cut on me

And I miss you so badly
Girl I love you madly
I think I been had tho, for stayin so long
Long, long
And I'm just watchin' the Gong show
Waitin' for Zorro
Loosin' the long day since I been home

I got a head of full of feelin' higher
And an ear full of Patsy Cline
There is just no one who can touch her
Hell I'll hang on every line
Oh crazy how things happen
It's incredible but true
Oh the longer I'm gone the closer I feel to you

And I miss you so badly
Girl I love you madly
I'm feelin' so glad just to be headin' home
Home, home
And I been battling hotel maids
Chewin' on Rolaids
Countin' the hours `til I get home
Oh I been counting the hours `til I get home
Disc: 1 - Margaritaville

Lyrics

MARGARITAVILLE
Jimmy Buffett
Nibblin' on sponge cake,
watchin' the sun bake;
All of those tourists covered with oil.
Strummin' my six string on my front porch swing.
Smell those shrimp--
They're beginnin' to boil.

Wasted away again in Margaritaville,
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame,
But I know it's nobody's fault.

Don't know the reason,
Stayed here all season
With nothing to show but this brand new tattoo.
But it's a real beauty,
A Mexican cutie, how it got here
I haven't a clue.

Wasted away again in Margaritaville,
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame,
Now I think,-- hell it could be my fault.

I blew out my flip flop,
Stepped on a pop top;
Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home.
But there's booze in the blender,
And soon it will render
That frozen concoction that helps me hang on.

Wasted away again in Margaritaville
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame,
But I know, it's my own damn fault.
Yes, and some people claim that there's a woman to blame, And I know it's my own damn fault
Disc: 1 - Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes

Lyrics

CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ATTITUDES
Jimmy Buffett
I took off for a weekend last month
Just to try and recall the whole year.
All of the faces and all of the places,
wonderin' where they all disappeared.
I didn't ponder the question too long;
I was hungry and went out for a bite.
Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum,
and we wound up drinkin' all night.

It's those changes in latitudes,
changes in attitudes nothing remains quite the same.
With all of our running and all of our cunning,
If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane.

These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes;
Nothing remains quite the same.
Through all of the islands and all of the highlands,
If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane

Reading departure signs in some big airport
Reminds me of the places I've been.
Visions of good times that brought
so much pleasure
makes me want to go back again.
If it suddenly ended tomorrow,
I could somehow adjust to the fall.
Good times and riches and son of a bitches,
I've seen more than I can recall...(to chorus)

I think about Paris when I'm high on red wine;
I wish I could jump on a plane.
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean.
God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Oh, yesterdays are over my shoulder,
So I can't look back for too long.
There's just too much to see waiting in front of me,
and I know that I just can't go wrong
with these...(to chorus)
Disc 1: - Come Monday

Lyrics

COME MONDAY
Jimmy Buffett
Headin' up to San Francisco
for the Labor Day weekend show,
I've got my hush-puppies on,
I guess I never was meant for
glitter rock and roll.
And honey I didn't know
that I'd be missin' so.

(Chorus)
Come Monday It'll be all right,
Come Monday I'll be holding you tight.
I spent four lonely days in a brown L.A. haze
and I just want you back by my side.

Yes it's been quite a summer,
rent-a-cars and west bound trains.
And now your off on vacation,
somethin' you tried to explain.
And darlin' I love you so that's
the reason I just let you go.

Chorus

I can't help it honey,
your that much a part of me now.
Remember the night in Montana when
we said there'd be no room for doubt.

I hope your enjoyin' the scen'ry,
I know that it's pretty up there.
We can go hikin on Tuesday,
with you I'd walk anywhere.
California has worn me quite thin,
I just can't wait to see you again.

End Chorus
Disc 1: - Perrier Blues

Lyrics

Perrier Blues
Ridin' high atop the main mast
Harbor stretched out below
All day I've been feelin' kind of half-assed
So I asked the boy to lower me slow
Lower me slow

Sat down and drank me some Perrier
Watched the seaplane disappear out of sight
Confused in my head well I jumped back in bed
Wondering who's at the fronton tonight
Shinin' bright

I know the night and I miss it
I've got this thing for applause
But like a cat on my rockin' chair cushion
I've got to stretch my claws
Move my jaw

I know I've got the best of both worlds
Though that sounds like a TV. show
When that anchor goes down and the sails are all furled
Well it's back on the road I go
Back I go

Well I bitch about the food and the weather
Wondering why the hell I ever came back
But knowing deep down I love this merry-go-round
And I can't wait to lay down this track
When I get back

Yeah, I know the night and I love it
I've got this thing for a show
If the ball's hit my way I'm going to glove it
'Cause that's the only thing I know
All I know

Yeah, I know the night and I miss it
I've got this thing for applause
But like a cat on my rockin' chair cushion
I've got to stretch my claws
Move my jaw
Move my jaw

Can't seem to lose those Perrier Blues
Can't seem to lose those Perrier Blues
Can't seem to lose those Perrier Blues
Disc 2: - Grapefruit-Juicy Fruit

Lyrics

GRAPEFRUIT-JUICY FRUIT
Jimmy Buffett
Grapefruit
Bathing suit
Chew a little Juicy Fruit
Wash away the night

Drive-in
Guzzle gin
Commit a little mortal sin
It's good for the soul.

(Bridge)
And oh, it gets so damn lonely
When you're on the plane all alone
And if I had the money, Honey
I'd strap you in beside me
And never ever leave you
Leave you at home all alone and crying.

Ten speed
No need
My pick-up gets me where I please
Shuggin' sown the street.
But I'll be leavin'
In a little while
So close your eyes and I'll
Be back real soon

(Repeat bridge)
(Repeat first verse)

1973 ABC/Dunhill Music Inc (BMI)
All Rights Reserved
Disc 2: - He Went to Paris

Lyrics

HE WENT TO PARIS
Jimmy Buffett
He went to Paris looking for answers
To questions that bothered him so
He was impressive, young and aggressive
Saving the world on his own.
But the warm Summer breezes
The French wines and cheeses
Put his ambition at bay
And Summers and Winters
Scattered like splinters
And four or five years slipped away.

Then he went to England, played the piano
And married an actress named Kim
They had a good life, she was a good wife
Bore him a young son named Jim.
And all of the answers and all of the questions
He locked in his attic one day
'Cause he liked the quiet clean country living
And twenty more years slipped away.

Well the war took his baby, the bombs killed his lady
And left him with only on eye
His body was battered, his world was shattered
And all he could do was just cry.
While the tears were falling, he was recalling
The answers he never found
So he hopped on a freighter, skidded the ocean
And left England without a sound.

Now he lives in the islands, fishes the pilin's
And drinks his green label each day
He's writing his memoirs and losing his hearing
But he don't care what most people say.
Through eighty-six years of perpetual motion
If he likes you he'll smile then he'll say
Jimmy, some of it's magic, some of it's tragic
But I had a good life all the way.

And he went to Paris looking for answers
To questions that bother him so.

1973 American Broadcasting Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved
Disc 2: - The Captain and the Kid

Lyrics

THE CAPTAIN AND THE KID
Jimmy Buffett

I never use to miss the chance
to climb upon his knee and listen
to the many tales of life upon the sea.

We'd go sailing back on barkentines and
talk of things he did, tomorrow just a
day away for the Captain and the Kid.

His world had gone from sailing ships
to raking mom's back yard;
he never could adjust to land although
he tried so hard.

We both were growing older then and
wiser with our years;
that's when I came to understand
the course his heart still steers.

He died about a month ago
while winter filled the air,
and though I cried, I was so proud
to love a man so rare.

He's somewhere on the ocean now,
the place he ought to be;
with one hand on the starboard rail,
he's waving back at me.
For the Captain and this kid.
Disc 2: - A Pirate Looks at Forty

Lyrics

PIRATE LOOKS AT FORTY
Jimmy Buffett
Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call,
Wanted to sail upon your waters
since I was three feet tall.
You've seen it all, you've seen it all.

Watch the men who rode you,
Switch from sails to steam.
And in your belly you hold the treasure
that few have ever seen, most of them dreams,
Most of them dreams.

Yes, I am a pirate two hundred years too late.
The cannons don't thunder there's nothin' to plunder
I'm an over forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late.

I've done a bit of smugglin'
I've run my share of grass.
I made enough money to buy Miami,
But I pissed it away so fast,
Never meant to last, never meant to last.

I have been drunk now for over two weeks,
I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks,
But I've got to stop wishin',
Got to go fishin', I'm down to rock bottom again.
Just a few friends, just a few friends.

Instrumental

I go for younger women, lived with several awhile
And though I ran away, they'll come back one day.
And still could manage a smile
It just takes awhile, just takes awhile.

Mother, mother ocean, after all these years I've found
My occupational hazard being my occupations
just not around.
I feel like I've drowned,
Gonna head uptown.
Disc 2: - Tampico Trauma

Lyrics

TAMPICO TRAUMA
I must look a mess I must admit
But I have been traveling quite a bit
South of the border
where the law and order
Is kept by Federales who just grin
And tell you they just want to be your friend
They tell you they just want to be your friend
I left for Tampico last July
I jumped off that boat I almost died

There to greet us were pretty senioritas
I swore that I would not go home them
All those lovely ladies were my friends
All those sweet chiquitas they don't pretend
Como esta, Senorita?

That is all I really want to say
I was thrown out of the country yesterday
You see I was drinkin' doubles
Causin' lots of trouble
When the man looked in the window of the bar and he grinned
And said if you come back we just may not be your friend
I don't want to see you around here again
You come back next time we may not pretend
Hi Dee Ho Boys!
Disc 2: - Morris' Nightmare

Lyrics

Morris' Nightmare
Down in the islands where the happy folks stay
Everybody do what Bwana Jim say
He say its ok, it's ok

You can do what you wanna
Do what you like
Twist a big ol' number
Ride a motorbike
It's alright, It's alright

Dance to the drum
Drink a lot of rum
Love till you come to a stop

Swing like a monkey in a coconut tree
Sing like the dolphins in the deep blue sea
Sing it's alright, it's alright

"How does Fred Neil do it? Come on Jay Spell"

You know people in the city got nowhere to go
They used to go to bars now they go to Discos
No, no, no disco (uh-uh, no)

They never see the sun
They hardly see the moon
They barely see the ground 'til the snow melts in June
Uptight, It's out of sight

So they save a little money
Take a little trip
They only see the islands from a tacky cruise ship

Buy a little liquor
Buy some sea shells
Husband tries to sleep
Wife just yells
Morris, you can sleep when you get home

Down in the islands where the happy folks stay
Everybody do what Biwana man say
He say its ok, it's ok

It's alright, it's alright
Do what you wanna, do what you like
Disc 2: - Dixie Diner

Lyrics

Dixie Diner
"yeah, yeah, yeah. wooo. we're going to take you up that Mississippi river
Now one time. yeah one time. up to an old favorite town of mine where i
Visit now and then just for one special reason, that's good eatin'. 'cause
I know a place on Tillman St. between ***** and ***** that can't be beat.
Emma Mae been cookin' there for forty-eight years and she ain't missed a
Lick yet baby. she's got hot sweet potatoes and cracklin' bread. ooh. and
Mulligan stew to turn Jimmy Buffett's head. woo, black-eyed peas and them
Good ol' collard greens, wooo. you know...
You know what...

What? That nothin' could be finer than to sit down and eat'n at the dixie diner."

"Alright Miami give it up. rock and roll on a Monday night."

"Help this skinny boy out. we've got two more days."

"Good rockin' tonight."

"I hear you professor."

"Thank you, thank you very much. God bless you. you're still the greatest.
We love ya."
Disc 2: - Why Don't We Get Drunk (And Screw)

Lyrics

WHY DON'T WE GET DRUNK
Jimmy Buffett
I really do appreciate the fact you're sittin' here
Your voice sounds so wonderful
But your face don't look too clear
So, Barmaid, bring a pitcher, another round of brew
Honey, why don't we get drunk and screw.
(Chorus)
Why don't we get drunk and screw
I just bought a waterbed filled up for me and you
They say you are a snuff queen, Honey, I don't think that's true
So, why don't we get drunk and screw.
(Instrumental)
(Repeat chorus)

1973 Let There Be Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved
Disc: 1 - Havana Daydreamin'

Lyrics

HAVANA DAYDREAMIN'
Jimmy Buffett
Stashed his trash in Ecuador, bought a good suit of clothes.
Flew on up to Mexico, standin' by the shore.
Waiting for some mystery man, to pay him for his time.
Thinkin' about all the money he made,
couldn't help to ease his mind
Havana daydreamin' oh he's just dreamin' his life away.
Daddy shucked that sugar cane,
One day he fell dead.
Jesus had a wanderin' feelin'
Swimmin around in his head.
Sailin' on a midnight boat,
There were no questions asked,
Water's so green and the air was so clean
That he stuck right to his task, Havana daydreamin',
Oh he's just schemin', his life away.
Ceilin' fan stirs the air
Cigar smoke did swirl,
A fragrance on the pillow case
And he thinks about the girl.
Spillin' wine wine and sharin' good times
She sure could make him smile.
He pays her well but what the hell
He'll be movin' in a little while, Havana daydreamin',
Havana daydreamin'
Oh he'll be dreamin' his life away.
Disc 2: - God's Own Drunk

Lyrics

GOD'S OWN DRUNK
By: Lord Buckley
Well, like to explain to you all before,
I ain't no drinkin' man
I tried it once and it got me highly irregular
And I swore I'd never do it again
I promised my brother in-law that I'd go up watch his still
While he went in to town to vote
It was right up on the mountain
where the map said it would be
Friends let me tell you one thing,
tho it wasn't no ordinary still
It stood up on that mountainside
like a hugh golden opal
God's yeller moon shinin' on the cool clear evenin'
God's little lanterns twinklin' on and off in the heavens
Like I explain'd to you once before I ain't no drinkin' man
But temptation got the best of me
And I took a slash
That yella whiskey runnin' down my throat
like honey dew vine water
And I took another slash,
Took another'n an another'n an another'n
For you knew I'd downed one whole jug of that shit
and commenced to gettin' hot flashes
Goose pimples was runnin' up and down my body
And a feelin' came over me
like somethin' I'd never experienced before
It was like, like I was in love
In love for the first time, with anything that moved
Animate, inanimate it didn't matter
It's like there's a great neon sign flashin' on an' off
in my brain sayin' "Jimmy Buffett there's a great day a comin'"
`Cause I was drunk
I wasn't knee crawlin', slip slidin', Reggie Youngin'
Commode huggin' drunk
I was God's own drunk and a fearless man
And that's when I first saw the bear
He was a Kodiak lookin' fella `bout nineteen feet tall
He rambled up over the hill
expectin' me to do one of two things,
Flip or fly, I didn't do either one
It hung him up
He started sniffin' around my body tryin' to smell fear
But he ain't gonna smell no fear `cause
I'm God's own drunk and a fearless man
It hung him up
He looked right in my eyes, and my eyes
was a lot redder than his was
It hung him up
So I approached him, I said "Mr. Bear, I love
every hair on your twenty-seven acre body
I know you got a lot of friends over there
on the other side of the hill
There's ole' rare bear, tall bear, Freddy bear, Kelly bear
Really bear, smelly the bear, smokey the bear,
pokey the bear
I want you to go back over there tonight
And tell them I'm feelin' right
You tell them I love each and everyone of them
like a brother and a sister
But if they give me any trouble tonight
I'm gonna run every God damn one of them off the hill"
He took two steps backwards and didn't know what to think
Neither did I but bein' charitable and cautious
Well hell I approached him again
I said "Mr. Bear, You know in the eyes of the Lord
we're both beasts when it comes right down to it
So I want you to be my buddy, Buddy bear"
So I took ole' buddy bear by his island size paw
and I led him over to the still
He's a sniffin' around that thing cause
he's smellin' somethin' good
I gave him one of them jugs of honey dew vine water
He downed it up right
Looked like one of them damn bears in the circus
Sippin' sasparilly in the moonlight
I gave him another'n an another'n an another'n
For I knew it he downed eight of them
and commenced to doin' the bear dance
Two snips, a snort, a fly turn, and a grunt
It was so simple like the jitter bug
It plum evaded me
We worked ourselves into a tumultuous uproar
And I was awful tired and went over to the hillside
and I laid down and went to sleep
Slept for four hours and dreampt me some tremulous dreams
When I woke up, there was God's yeller moon
shinin' on the clear cool evenin'
God's little lanterns twinklin' on and off
in the heavens
My buddy the bear was a missin'
Want to know something else friends and neighbors
So was that still

You Had To Be There

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