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.
Fruitcakes
Jimmy Buffett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She runs this space station and bake shop down near boomtown
She told me that human beings are flawed individuals
The cosmic bakers took us out of the oven a little too early
And that's the reason we're as crazy as we are, and I believe it
Take for example when you go to the movies these days
You know, they try to sell you this jumbo drink
I don't want it, I don't want that much organization in my life
I don't want other people thinking for me
I want my Junior Mints where did the Junior Mints go in the movies
I don't want a twelve pounds Nestle's crunch for twenty five dollars
I want Junior Mints
We need more fruitcakes in this world and less bakers
We need people that care
I'm mad as hell and I don't want to take it anymore
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin' naked through the crosswalk in the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us
Paradise, lost and found
Paradise, take a look around
I was out in California where I hear they have it all
They got riots, fires, mud slides
They've got sushi in the mall
Water bars, brontosaurs, Chinese modern lust
Shake and bake life with the quake
The secret's in the crust
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin' naked through the crosswalk in the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us
Speakin' of fruitcakes, how 'bout the government?
Your tax dollars at work
We lost our Martian rocket ship
The high paid spokesman said
Looks like that silly rocket ship has lost its cone shaped head
We spent ninety gillion dollars trying to get a look at Mars
I hear universal laughter ringing out among the stars
Fruitcakes in the galaxy (fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the earth (fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin' naked towards eternity, we've been that way since birth
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us
Religion! Religion! Oh, there's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning
Here we go now, alright, alter boys
Mea culpa mea culpa mea maxima culpa
Mea culpa mea culpa mea maxima culpa
Where's the church, who took the steeple
Religion is in the hands of some crazy-ass people
Television preachers with bad hair and dimples
The god's honest truth is it's not that simple
It's the Buddhist in you, it's the Pagan in me
It's the Muslim in him, she's Catholic, ain't she?
It's the born again look it's the WASP and the Jew
Tell me what's goin on, I ain't gotta clue
Now here comes the big ones, relationships
We all got 'em, we all want 'em
What do we do with 'em?
Here we go, I'll tell ya
She said you gotta do your fair share
Now cough up half the rent
I treat my body like a temple
You treat yours like a tent
But the right word at the right time
May get me a little hug
That's the difference between lightning and a harmless lightnin' bug
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin' naked through the crosswalk in the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us
The future, captain's log, star-date two thousand and something
We're seven years from the millennium
That's a science fiction fact
Stanley Kubrick and his buddy HAL, now don't look that abstract
So I'll put on my Bob Marley tape and practice what I preach
Get Jah lost in the reggae mon as I walk along the beach
Stay in touch with my insanity really is the only way
It's a jungle out there kiddies
Have a very fruitful day, hey
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin' naked through the crosswalk in the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us
That's right, you too.
Yeah, those crumbs are spread all around this universe
I've seen fruitcakes, I saw this guy in Santa Monica rollerskate naked through the crosswalk
Down in New Orleans in the french market there are fruitcakes like you cannot believe
New York, forget it, fruitcake city. Down island, we've got fruitcakes
Spread them crumbs around, that's right, we want 'em around
Keep bakin' baby, keep bakin
Jimmy Buffett's song "Fruitcakes" is a whimsical and satirical commentary on the absurdities of modern life. In the first verse, Buffett references a conversation with his friend Desdemona, who believes that humans are flawed individuals because they were taken out of the oven a little too early by the "cosmic bakers." This is a metaphor for the idea that people are imperfect and that their flaws make them unique individuals. He then goes on to criticize the consumer culture of the present day, complaining about the upsizing of soft drinks and the decreasing amounts of Junior Mints available in movie theaters. This is a commentary on the corporate takeover of everyday life and the loss of individuality in modern society.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the metaphor of people being like fruitcakes. Half-baked cookies in the oven and half-baked people on the bus represent the idea that people are not fully formed yet and are still in the process of becoming who they are meant to be. The line "there's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us" suggests that everyone has quirks and oddities that make them unique, and that these qualities should be celebrated rather than suppressed.
The following verses of the song address various other topics, including the irony of calling California paradise when it is plagued by disasters such as riots, fires, and mudslides, the wastefulness of government spending on space exploration, the complexities of religion and spirituality, and the challenges of relationships. Throughout the song, Buffett uses humor and satire to underscore his critiques of modern life and its absurdities.
Line by Line Meaning
You know, I was talking to my friend Desdemona the other day
I recently had a conversation with my friend Desdemona
She runs this space station and bake shop down near boomtown
Desdemona owns and operates a space station and bakery near a booming town
She told me that human beings are flawed individuals
According to Desdemona, humans have imperfections
The cosmic bakers took us out of the oven a little too early
Desdemona believes that humans were created with unfinished development
And that's the reason we're as crazy as we are, and I believe it
These early cosmic baking mistakes are the cause of our eccentric behavior, and I agree with Desdemona
Take for example when you go to the movies these days
Let's consider the current movie-going experience
You know, they try to sell you this jumbo drink
Theaters attempt to persuade you into buying a large beverage
Eight extra ounces of watered down cherry coke for an extra twenty-five cents
For an additional cost, they offer you diluted cherry coke in a larger size
I don't want it, I don't want that much organization in my life
Personally, I don't desire excessive structure in my daily routine
I don't want other people thinking for me
I prefer not to have others make decisions on my behalf
I want my Junior Mints, where did the Junior Mints go in the movies
I specifically crave Junior Mints and wonder why they are no longer available at cinemas
I don't want a twelve-pound Nestle's crunch for twenty-five dollars
I refuse to pay twenty-five dollars for a twelve-pound Nestle's Crunch bar
I want Junior Mints
I specifically desire Junior Mints
We need more fruitcakes in this world and fewer bakers
Our world requires more eccentric individuals and fewer rule-followers
We need people that care
We require individuals who possess compassion
I'm mad as hell and I don't want to take it anymore
I am outraged and refuse to tolerate this situation any longer
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Metaphorical individuals with colorful personalities
Fruitcakes on the street (fruitcakes on the street)
Unconventional people freely expressing themselves in public
Struttin' naked through the crosswalk in the middle of the week
Confidently walking without clothes across the intersection on a regular weekday
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Partially cooked cookies being prepared
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
Imperfect individuals traveling on the bus
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us
Each person possesses a small amount of eccentricity within them
Paradise, lost and found
A state of bliss that can be discovered, yet also forgotten
Paradise, take a look around
Let's observe the concept of paradise in our surroundings
I was out in California where I hear they have it all
During my visit to California, I heard it is a place where everything is available
They got riots, fires, mud slides
Instances of civil unrest, wildfires, and natural disasters occur there
They've got sushi in the mall
Even shopping centers offer sushi as cuisine
Water bars, brontosaurs, Chinese modern lust
California features unique establishments, ancient creatures, and diverse cultures
Shake and bake life with the quake
Living life with a sense of unpredictability due to earthquakes
The secret's in the crust
The key lies within understanding the foundation
Speakin' of fruitcakes, how 'bout the government?
Speaking of eccentric individuals, let's discuss the government
Your tax dollars at work
Highlighting the use of taxpayers' money by the government
We lost our Martian rocket ship
Our spaceship designed for Mars exploration is missing
The high-paid spokesman said
A well-compensated representative made a statement
Looks like that silly rocket ship has lost its cone-shaped head
It appears that the rocket ship's cone-shaped head has been misplaced, causing amusement
We spent ninety gillion dollars trying to get a look at Mars
Enormous amounts of money were spent in our attempts to observe Mars
I hear universal laughter ringing out among the stars
I perceive cosmic laughter resonating across the galaxy
Fruitcakes in the galaxy (fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Imaginary quirky individuals scattered throughout the universe
Fruitcakes on the earth (fruitcakes on the street)
Unconventional people present on our planet
Struttin' naked towards eternity, we've been that way since birth
Confidently progressing through life in the nude, a state in which we have existed since birth
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Partially cooked cookies currently being prepared
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
Imperfect individuals traveling on the bus
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us
Every person retains a small amount of eccentricity within them
Religion! Religion! Oh, there's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning
Religion is a complex concept that blurs the boundaries between indulgence and spirituality
Here we go now, alright, alter boys
Get ready, it's time for some traditional religious rituals
Mea culpa mea culpa mea maxima culpa
Expressing remorse and acknowledging fault
Where's the church, who took the steeple
Questioning the whereabouts of the church and the missing steeple
Religion is in the hands of some crazy-ass people
Religious beliefs are controlled by individuals with unconventional and extreme behavior
Television preachers with bad hair and dimples
Questioning the credibility of charismatic religious figures seen on TV
The god's honest truth is it's not that simple
Indicating that the truth behind religion is more complex than it appears
It's the Buddhist in you, it's the Pagan in me
Religious diversity exists within each individual, with Buddhism in you and Paganism in me
It's the Muslim in him, she's Catholic, ain't she?
Religious diversity extends to others, with Islam in him and Catholicism in her
It's the born-again look, it's the WASP and the Jew
Religion influences one's appearance, including born-again Christians, White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs), and Jews
Tell me what's goin' on, I ain't gotta clue
Admitting a lack of understanding regarding the complexities of religion
Now here comes the big ones, relationships
Now let's focus on significant topics: relationships
We all got 'em, we all want 'em
We all have relationships, and we all desire them
What do we do with 'em?
But what actions should we take in these relationships?
Here we go, I'll tell ya
Alright, I'll provide some insight
She said you gotta do your fair share
She emphasized the importance of contributing equally in a relationship
Now cough up half the rent
Now you must pay your share of the rent
I treat my body like a temple
Personally, I take great care of my physical well-being
You treat yours like a tent
However, you neglect and mistreat your own body like a temporary shelter
But the right word at the right time
Delivering the appropriate word at the perfect moment
May get me a little hug
Can potentially result in a small affectionate gesture
That's the difference between lightning and a harmless lightnin' bug
This distinction parallels the powerful force of lightning and the harmless nature of a firefly
The future, captain's log, star-date two thousand and something
Shifting focus to the future, envisioning a captain's log entry in the distant future
We're seven years from the millennium
We are currently seven years away from the turn of the millennium
That's a science fiction fact
This fact appears to be something only found in science fiction
Stanley Kubrick and his buddy HAL, now don't look that abstract
Referencing Stanley Kubrick, the filmmaker, and his fictional character HAL from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey
So I'll put on my Bob Marley tape and practice what I preach
To align with my beliefs, I'll listen to Bob Marley's music and live accordingly
Get Jah lost in the reggae mon as I walk along the beach
I will immerse myself in reggae music, allowing myself to get lost in its rhythms while strolling on the beach
Stay in touch with my insanity really is the only way
Maintaining a connection with my eccentricity is truly the only way to live
It's a jungle out there kiddies
The world can be chaotic and unpredictable
Have a very fruitful day, hey
Wishing you a day filled with abundance and eccentricity
That's right, you too
Indeed, this message applies to you as well
Yeah, those crumbs are spread all around this universe
Yes, those quirky and unconventional individuals can be found everywhere in this vast universe
I've seen fruitcakes, I saw this guy in Santa Monica rollerskate naked through the crosswalk
I have encountered many eccentric individuals, such as a person in Santa Monica who confidently rollerskated without clothing through the crosswalk
Down in New Orleans in the French market, there are fruitcakes like you cannot believe
At the French market in New Orleans, you can find incredibly eccentric individuals
New York, forget it, fruitcake city
New York is renowned for its high concentration of eccentric people, making it like a city of fruitcakes
Down island, we've got fruitcakes
Even in the islands, we have our fair share of unconventional individuals
Spread them crumbs around, that's right, we want 'em around
Allow these eccentric individuals to thrive and influence others' lives in a positive way
Keep bakin' baby, keep bakin
Continue expressing and fostering your eccentricity, my friend
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Amy Lee, Jimmy Buffett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Countrylifecitywife
We've lost a great troubador. His music marked so much of my life milestones and from chemo to divorce to road trips, concerts, smiles, trials and triumphs it made me reflect and brought me joy. A sad morning to wake up to the news.
Sail on, Jimmy. Sail on.
@jackspry9736
RIP Jimmy Buffett (December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023), aged 76
My condolences go to his family and friends.
@isaacthacker6572
😫😭
@teenyknight
Frfr rip Jimmy
@johnstruthers744
Hard to accrpt
@MiniPaintAdventurer
Headed up to paradise for the labor day weekend show…
@goldentickettohistory108
Fun fact. This music video was filmed at universal studios Orlando Florida.
@mikew3194
Lotta fruitcakes in Orlando. Not as many as SF but still.
@estedetringham7528
Religion's in the hands of some crazy-ass people...Universe speed, Jimmy. When we lose someone who was this great, powerful light like Jimmy (I know - there's no one like him), the planet gets a little bit darker. Thank you, Jimmy, for all the wonderful music, great philanthropic works, and philosophy for all these years. You are already, and always will be missed.
@laurismith6951
RIP Jimmy. A true legend.