Buffett began playing guitar during his first year at Auburn University before continuing his college years at Pearl River Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He began his musical career in Nashville, Tennessee, during the late 1960s as a country artist and recorded his first album, the country-tinged folk rock record "Down to Earth" in 1970.
Moving to FLorida, Buffett's second release was 1973's A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean. Albums Living & Dying in 3/4 Time and A1A both followed in 1974, Havana Daydreamin' appeared in 1976, and Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes followed in 1977, which featured the breakthrough hit song "Margaritaville".
Buffett's album License to Chill, released on July 13, 2004, topped the U.S. pop albums chart for the first time in his career.
Buffett continued to tour regularly until shortly before his death, although later in his career, he shifted to a more relaxed schedule of around 20–30 dates, with infrequent back-to-back nights, preferring to play only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This schedule provided the title of his 1999 live album.
In August 2006, he released the album Take the Weather with You.
On April 20, 2010, a double CD of performances recorded during the 2008 and 2009 tours, called Encores, was released.
In 2020, Buffett released Songs You Don't Know by Heart, a fan-curated collection of his lesser-known songs rerecorded on his collection of notable guitars.
Illness and death:
In May 2023, Buffett was hospitalized to "address some issues that needed immediate attention" and rescheduled tour dates. In late August, he entered hospice care and had a final meeting with family and friends, in which his last words to his sister were "have fun". Buffett died on September 1, 2023, age 76, at his home in Sag Harbor, New York, due to complications from Merkel-cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer, with which he had been diagnosed four years earlier. He was surrounded by his family, friends, music, and dogs at the time of his death.
A Pirate Looks At Forty
Jimmy Buffett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
You've seen it all, you've seen it all
Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam
And in your belly, you hold the treasures few have ever seen
Most of 'em dream, most of 'em dream
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', and 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
And I have been drunk now for over two weeks
I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks
But I got stop wishin', got to go fishin'
Down to rock bottom again
Just a few friends, just a few friends
And I go for younger women, lived with several awhile
Though I ran 'em away, they'd come back one day
Still could manage to smile
Just takes a while, just takes a while
Mother, mother ocean, after all the years I've found
My occupational hazard being my occupation's just not around
And I feel like I've drowned, gonna head uptown
I feel like I've drowned, gonna head uptown
The song, A Pirate Looks at Forty, by Jimmy Buffett evokes the sense of nostalgia and longing for the life of a pirate. The singer, in a conversation with the ocean, recalls his desire to wander upon its waters since he was three feet tall. Through the years, he has seen a lot of changes. He saw men switch from sails to steam as they rode the ocean. He also knows about the treasures hidden deep in the ocean, which only a few have seen, most only dream of seeing. The song then progresses to the main theme of the singer's life. He sings, "Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late. The cannons don't thunder, there's nothing to plunder. I'm an over-forty victim of fate, arriving too late." Here, the singer highlights his career as a pirate, although he is now too old to enjoy the life of a pirate. He accepts his fate of "arriving too late" to become one.
The song also highlights the emotional side of the singer's life. He admits to having done some illegal things like smuggling and running grass in his youth. He also made a lot of money but wasted it too fast, "never meant to last." He admits to having lived with several young women, but he could never settle down. However, he still could manage to smile. The song ends as the singer laments about being a victim of his occupational hazard. He acknowledges his life's realization that what he has been doing for many years is not just round anymore. The final verse of the song shows the singer's determination to start afresh by going fishing, "down to rock bottom again." Thus, A Pirate Looks at Forty is a reflective song that deals with the themes of regret, longing, and change.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call
Addressing the ocean, Jimmy expresses his lifelong desire to sail on her waters.
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
Jimmy has wanted to sail the ocean since he was a young child.
You've seen it all,you've seen it all
The ocean has witnessed everything and has an ageless wisdom.
Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam
The ocean has witnessed the transition of ships from wind-powered sails to steam-powered ones.
And in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen
The ocean contains many hidden treasures that have yet to be discovered by few.
Most of them dream, most of them dream
Most people only dream of the treasures that the ocean holds.
Yes I am a pirate, two hundred years too late
Jimmy fancies himself a pirate but realizes that he was born too late to experience the golden age of piracy.
The cannons don't thunder, there's nothing to plunder
Modern times have robbed pirates of their thunder and there's no more treasure to plunder.
I'm an over-forty victim of fate
Jimmy feels that he's a victim of fate for being born too late and for being over forty.
Arriving too late, arriving too late
Jimmy repeats his realization that he was born too late and acceptance of it.
I've done a bit of smuggling, I've run my share of grass
Jimmy has been involved in smuggling and drug trafficking.
I made enough money to buy Miami, but I pissed it away so fast
Jimmy earned enough money from his illegal activities to buy Miami, but he lost it all quickly.
Never meant to last, never meant to last
Jimmy admits that his fortunes were never meant to last long.
And I have been drunk now for over two weeks
Jimmy has been drunk for over two weeks and is feeling lost.
I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks
Despite his current state, Jimmy is resilient and can bounce back.
But I got stop wishing, got to go fishing, down to rock bottom again
Jimmy acknowledges that he has hit rock bottom and needs to do something productive, like going fishing, instead of just wishing for a better life.
Just a few friends, just a few friends
Jimmy only needs a few good friends to help him out of his funk.
I go for younger women, lived with several a while
Jimmy pursues younger women but has had long-term relationships with some of them.
Though I ran them away, they'd come back one day
Despite his shortcomings, some of Jimmy's ex-partners come back to him.
Still could manage to smile
Despite his past failures and current situation, Jimmy can still find reasons to smile.
Mother, mother ocean, after all the years I've found
After many years of being drawn to the ocean, Jimmy has realized something about himself.
My occupational hazard being my occupation's just not around
Jimmy realizes that being a pirate or smuggler is no longer a viable occupation.
I feel like I've drowned, gonna head uptown
Jimmy feels lost but decides to head uptown to start anew.
I feel like I've drowned, gonna head uptown
Jimmy repeats that he feels like he's drowning but decides to take action and change his life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jimmy Buffett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind