First, it was the unexpected death of Jerry Garcia in 1995. Then I got the news on October 2nd, 2017 from my friend Todd that my all-time favorite, Tom Petty, had died. Probably like many of you, I woke up Saturday morning to the news that Jimmy Buffett had passed away.
The Grateful Dead, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, and Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will never play live again but their music, stories, and legacies will live on in our ears, our hearts, and our souls. All weekend long there have been Jimmy Buffett songs playing on people’s turntables, CD players, and radios. There have been tributes and memories posted on all of the social channels. I’m guessing there were some margaritas, boat drinks, Landshark beers, and a bunch of cheeseburgers consumed as the Labor Day weekend passed by slowly like a blue 22′ Catalina pop top trawling through a no-wake zone.
Jimmy Buffett was a singer, a songwriter, and a storyteller. He was the “Son of a Son of a Sailor” and a proud father to Savannah, Cameron, and Sarah. Not many people can say they were close friends with him but I’m guessing most of us can say we haven’t drunk as many beers with more people in our lives than we have with Jimmy.
He wrote about Living and Dying in 3/4 Time. He had us daydreaming in Havana, took us to One Particular Harbour, and drove us up and down A1A. He sang about Boats, Bars, Beaches, and Ballads. He Went to Paris and took one Last Mango while he was there. He sent us postcards from St. Somewhere, called us on the Coconut Telegraph, and reminded us of Floridays. In our minds, we sailed on Nautical Wheelers, watched Volcanoes, got some Brahma Fear, and saw the Stars Fall on Alabama. Through his words, his music, and his voice, we could feel the gentle breezes of Key West, Biloxi, or some magical place called Margaritaville.
One thing is for sure. Jimmy Buffett gave us Songs You Know By Heart and inside those lyrics, there are plenty of lessons to learn. Here are some of my favorites…
“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” – Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
“…And across from the bar, there’s a pile of beer cans. Been there twenty-seven years.
Imagine all the heartaches and tears in twenty-seven years of beer” – Ringling Ringling
“These moments we’re left with, may you always remember, these moments are shared by few.
There’s wind in our hair and there’s water in our shoes. (Jimmy), it’s been a lovely cruise.” – Lovely Cruise
“We’ve gotta roll with the punches. Learn to play all of our hunches. Make the best of whatever comes your way. Forget that blind ambition and learn to trust your intuition. Plowin’ straight ahead come what may” – Cowboy in the Jungle
“Give me oysters and beer for dinner every day of the year and I’ll feel fine” – Tin Cup Chalice
“Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but I had a good life all the way” – He Went to Paris
“Come Monday, it’ll be alright”– Come Monday
And this last one seems like a good one to say goodbye to our friend, Jimmy…
“He’s somewhere on the ocean now. A place he outta be.
With one hand on the starboard rail, he’s wavin’ back at me”
The Captain and The Kid
