Coe's rebellious attitude, wild image, and unconventional lifestyle set him apart from other country performers, both winning him legions of fans and hindering his mainstream success by alienating the music industry establishment. Coe continues to be a popular performer on the country circuit.
Coe was born in Akron, Ohio. His favorite singer as a child was Johnny Cash. After being sent to the Starr Commonwealth For Boys reform school at the age of nine, he spent much of the next 20 years in correctional facilities, including three years at the Ohio Penitentiary. Coe claimed he received encouragement to begin writing songs from Screamin' Jay Hawkins, with whom he had spent time in prison.
After concluding another prison term in 1967, Coe embarked on a music career in Nashville, living in a hearse which he parked in front of the Ryman Auditorium while he performed on the street. He caught the attention of Shelby Singleton, owner of the independent record label Plantation Records and signed a contract with his label.
He is the father of Tyler Mahan Coe, who created the country music podcast Cocaine & Rhinestones. He has a daughter, Shelli Coe Mackie, and is father-in-law to the late Michael Mackie, formerly of Texas band 'Thunderosa'.
Coe's musical style derives from blues, rock, and country music traditions. His vocal style is described as a 'throaty baritone'. His lyrical content is often humorous or comedic, with William Ruhlmann describing him as a 'near-parody of a country singer'. Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes Coe as "a great, unashamed country singer, singing the purest honky-tonk and hardest country of his era […] he may not be the most original outlaw, but there is none more outlaw than him".
Coe's lyrics frequently include references to alcohol and drug use, and are often boisterous and cocky. Coe's debut album Penitentiary Blues was described as "voodoo blues" and "redneck music" by Allmusic's Thom Jurek. It focused on themes such as working for the first time, blood tests from veins used to inject heroin, prison time, hoodoo imagery, and death. The album's influences included Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Tony Joe White. Coe later explained to Kristofer Engelhardt of Review: "I didn't really care for some of the country music until people like Kris Kristofferson and some of those people started writing songs. They had a little more to say than just, 'Oh baby I miss you', or whatever. I don't do anything halfway. Once I got into country music, I went back and researched it, and learned everything there was to know about it. I could do impersonations of Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Marty Robbins, just about anybody. I knew just about all there was to know about country music."
Coe's first country album, The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy, has been described as alt-country, 'pre-punk' and "a hillbilly version of Marc Bolan's glitz and glitter". Credited influences on the album include Merle Haggard. In his early career, Coe was known for his unpredictable live performances, in which he would ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle onto the stage and curse at his audience. Coe has also performed in a rhinestone suit and a mask which resembled that of the Lone Ranger, calling himself the 'Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy'.
The album Rebel Meets Rebel featured a song, "Cherokee Cry", which criticizes the United States government's treatment of Native Americans. When asked why he did not write more political songs, Coe replied, "I live in my own world, not thee world. I just write songs about what affects me in everyday life. At one point I wrote a song that was sort of a protest about when they were talking about drafting women into the military. It was about my son making it past the draft, but my daughter didn't. And I've done Farm Aid."
In his review of Coe's 1987 album A Matter of Life...and Death, Allmusic's Thom Jurek wrote, "Coe may have had some hits, but it is records like this that make one wonder if there was not a conspiracy to marginalize him and make him fail. Coe is a brilliant songwriter well into the 21st century, and deserves to be lauded along with the likes of [Willie] Nelson and [Waylon] Jennings and Kristofferson and Newbury – and even Cash."
Jimmy Buffet Doesn't Live In Key West
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Theres sailboats,
and conch shells,
and palm trees galore,
but Jimmy Buffett doesn't live in Key West anymore.
Sisters? has a bumper sticker on the door,
it says "Jimmy Buffett doesn't live in Key West anymore."
They smuggled? songs,
snitching on the?,
bringing heat,
where its already too damn hot to die.
Son of a son of a son of a bitch,
is whats all that bullshit's for.
Jimmy Buffett he don't live in Key West anymore.
Sailing to the Caribean,
Jimmy might well be.
Pictures up in Rolling Stone,
for all the world to see.
The rich keep getting richer,
the poor will just be poor.
But Jimmy Buffett doesn't live in Key West anymore.
Now Jimmy's moved to Malibu,
with all those other stars.
He's not down on? Street,
hanging out in bars.
All them goddamn tourists,
got to be a bore.
But Jimmy Buffett doesn't live in Key West anymore.
So don't tell me I sound like Jimmy Buffett,
just because I've got that island beat.
Jimmy might have grown up on the ocean,
me I kind of grown up on the streets.
Music's just a way of life,
to me I'm living free.
So don't play all that Key West Jimmy Buffett shit on me.
Now divers do it deeper,
must of really made them mad.
Some of them reviewers said,
it really sounded bad.
Well, they liked Margaritaville.
Me, I liked it too.
Someday, Jimmy,
why dont we just both get drunk and screw?
Them creepy motherfuckers,
that think music is a whore,
tell 'em that you just don't live in Key West anymore.
Theres sailboats,
and conch shells,
and palm trees galore.
But Jimmy Buffett, he don't live in Key West anymore.
Sisters? has a bumper sticker on the door,
Jimmy Buffett, he don't live in Key West anymore.
Alright boys, sound like Jimmy Buffett now!
David Allan Coe's song "Jimmy Buffet Doesn't Live in Key West" is a direct response to the comparisons that Coe's music receives to Jimmy Buffett's music. Coe acknowledges that visually the two might appear similar because they both live(d) in Key West and use congo drums in their music, but he makes it clear that Buffett doesn't actually live in Key West anymore. The song is, therefore, a tribute to Key West, while also being a critique of those comparing the two musicians.
Coe goes on to lyrically describe the sights and sounds of Key West, such as sailboats, conch shells, and palm trees. He takes jabs at the critical reviewers who are comparing him to Buffett and notes that Buffett is currently living in Malibu, California, not Key West. The lyrics also mention how the rich keep getting richer and the poor remain poor, regardless of where they live. Coe believes that music is a way of life and that he uses his music to express himself and live freely, unlike those who criticize him.
The final lyrics of the song include a reference to Buffett's song "Margaritaville," which Coe acknowledges he likes too. However, Coe is not interested in imitating Buffett's music or style of life. He particularly detests how some people view music as a whore and encourages them to tell these critics that Jimmy Buffett doesn't live in Key West anymore.
Line by Line Meaning
Theres sailboats,
There are sailboats in Key West
and conch shells,
There are conch shells in Key West
and palm trees galore,
There are plenty of palm trees in Key West
but Jimmy Buffett doesn't live in Key West anymore.
Jimmy Buffett no longer lives in Key West
Sisters? has a bumper sticker on the door,
Sisters? has a bumper sticker on their door
it says "Jimmy Buffett doesn't live in Key West anymore."
The bumper sticker says that Jimmy Buffett doesn't live in Key West anymore
They smuggled? songs,
They smuggled Jimmy's songs
snitching on the?,
Betraying him
bringing heat,
Attracting attention from law enforcement
where its already too damn hot to die.
In a place where it's already too hot
Son of a son of a son of a bitch,
What all that nonsense is for
is whats all that bullshit's for.
What all that nonsense is for
Jimmy Buffett he don't live in Key West anymore.
Jimmy Buffett no longer lives in Key West
Sailing to the Caribean,
Jimmy may be sailing to the Caribbean
Jimmy might well be.
Jimmy might very well be sailing to the Caribbean
Pictures up in Rolling Stone,
There are pictures of Jimmy in Rolling Stone magazine
for all the world to see.
For everyone to see
The rich keep getting richer,
The wealthy continue to get wealthier
the poor will just be poor.
The poor will remain poor
But Jimmy Buffett doesn't live in Key West anymore.
Jimmy Buffett no longer lives in Key West
Now Jimmy's moved to Malibu,
Jimmy has moved to Malibu
with all those other stars.
He is living amongst other celebrities
He's not down on? Street,
He's not hanging out on the streets
hanging out in bars.
He's not hanging out in bars
All them goddamn tourists,
All those tourists
got to be a bore.
They must be boring
But Jimmy Buffett doesn't live in Key West anymore.
Jimmy Buffett no longer lives in Key West
So don't tell me I sound like Jimmy Buffett,
Do not compare me to Jimmy
just because I've got that island beat.
Just because my music has an island beat
Jimmy might have grown up on the ocean,
Jimmy may have grown up on the ocean
me I kind of grown up on the streets.
I grew up on the streets
Music's just a way of life,
Music is just a way of life
to me I'm living free.
To me, music represents freedom
So don't play all that Key West Jimmy Buffett shit on me.
Do not play Jimmy Buffett music around me
Now divers do it deeper,
Divers go deeper
must of really made them mad.
This must have really angered some people
Some of them reviewers said,
Some of the reviewers said
it really sounded bad.
That the music was bad
Well, they liked Margaritaville.
But they liked Margaritaville
Me, I liked it too.
I liked it too
Someday, Jimmy,
One day, Jimmy
why dont we just both get drunk and screw?
Why don't we just get drunk and have sex?
Them creepy motherfuckers,
Those creepy assholes
that think music is a whore,
Who think music is cheap
tell 'em that you just don't live in Key West anymore.
Tell them that you no longer live in Key West
Theres sailboats,
There are sailboats in Key West
and conch shells,
There are conch shells in Key West
and palm trees galore.
There are palm trees everywhere
But Jimmy Buffett, he don't live in Key West anymore.
Jimmy Buffett no longer lives in Key West
Sisters? has a bumper sticker on the door,
Sisters? has a bumper sticker on their door
Jimmy Buffett, he don't live in Key West anymore.
Jimmy Buffett no longer lives in Key West
Contributed by Henry S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dewdude
This song has never been truer than it has become today.
Coe wins.
@mikeg2491
I’m convinced he’ll outlive Nashville itself
@trentturek6019
@@mikeg2491he already has it’s all about Appalachia and red dirt country now
@colt45604
I thought the exact same thing
@whiteyonthemoon1193
Died in the Hamptons of all places.
@krisaguilar6699
I heard Coe play this song on Duval Street in 1982. The cheers from the crowd were deafening. It was a free concert for the people of Key West. When I rolled into Key West in a 1953 Chevy pick-up in 1980, I was shocked that Buffett was so hated. I think I know way now. He completely sold out. He sang he wanted to be an old man in Martinique (a place I also breezed through during my Key West days) or retire as a nobody to One Particular Harbor on a tropical isle. He died in Sag Harbor with his elite buddies.
I'm thankful I lived in Key West in the Buffett-free era. It was the wild, wild west ....early eighties, drug trade out of control. We declared ourselves the Conch Republic and succeeded from the United States. A fishing boat that I had an interest in was stollen to make a weed run to Jamaica. The miscreants were busted by local cops unloading bales at a private dock on Stock Island. I will never forget going with the majority interest holder to claim the boat. Jamaican weed was drifted iike piles of snow on the deck. I have never used weed, but I was tempted to fill some bags to sell...but the guy with me was a super straight-arrow, and the boat was small enough that I was always in his line of sight. We swept it over the side into the harbor. What was more bizarre were the Voo-Doo idols we found. That feels like a hundred years ago to me now...but it is really only 39 years ago.
@chris2302
David Allan Coe should perform this song as a tribute to Jimmy at his concerts now that Jimmy has passed away.
@Jon-jj8xf
I'm in Key West rightnow. So much pinkos down here. Not a place I care to come back to. I'm from NC and don't give a hot shit about this place lol.
@infinitedarkness9476
Why? Why does he need a tribute? Jimmy Buffett sucks.
@chris2302
@@Jon-jj8xf Same here. I've been to Key West once and thought it reminded me of California with the pinkos, weirdos, and expensive prices.