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.
Island
Jimmy Buffett Lyrics
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I feel that your existence
Is not unlike my own
Island they say no man is like you
They say you stand alone
Sometimes I feel that way too
Is it the need for love?
That seems to make me different from you
Well I tried to book passage, but you have no ports
And I tried to sail in but your wind and waters
Tore my sails and broke my oars.
Island I see you in the moonlight
Silhouettes of ships in the night
Just make me long that much more
Island I see you in all of my dreams
But I'm a man with no means to reach your distant shore
When the need for love
Heart and soul accompaniment
That seems to make me different from you
I've tried to build bridges
But they all fell down
I've taken to the air on wings of silver
But always hit the ground
Well I tried to book passage, but you have no ports
And I tried to sail in but your wind and waters
Tore my sails and broke my oars.
Island I see you in the moonlight
Silhouettes of ships in the night
Just make me long that much more
In the song "Island," Jimmy Buffett sings about an island in the distance that seems to have a lot in common with him. He acknowledges how both he and the island are perceived as being different from others. The lyrics hint at a longing for love and companionship, something that is essential for both the singer and the mysterious island to which he is referring. The singer has tried in various ways to reach the island, but all his attempts have been unsuccessful. Despite the obstacles he faces, his deep-rooted desire to be with the island never fades away.
The lyrics of "Island" can be interpreted in several ways, but one theme that stands out is the idea of longing for something that is seemingly out of reach. The island represents something that the singer desires deeply, but can never have because of the physical barriers that separate them. It could also be interpreted as an ode to the journey of life, with the island being a metaphor for a certain place or state of mind that we all seek but is always just out of our reach.
The song's lyrics are beautiful and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a tropical paradise that the singer can only see in his dreams. The use of words and phrases like "silhouettes of ships in the night" and "wings of silver" creates a sense of longing and wonder in the listener, and it is easy to get lost in the imagery of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Island I see you in the distance
The island represents a distant place, somewhere desirable but hard to reach.
I feel that your existence
The singer acknowledges the existence of the island, and its allure.
Is not unlike my own
The singer sees similarities between himself and the island, suggesting that his own desires are unattainable just like the island.
Island they say no man is like you
The island is a unique place, and considered very special.
They say you stand alone
The island is isolated and self-sufficient, independent of outside forces.
Sometimes I feel that way too
The singer can empathize with the island's isolation, as he feels alone in his own struggles to find love and companionship.
Is it the need for love?
The singer wonders if his desire for love is what separates him from the island.
Heart and soul accompaniment
The singer believes that love is a fundamental part of the human experience, something that he needs in his life.
That seems to make me different from you
The island does not need love, as it is self-sufficient and does not rely on companionship or relationships.
Well I tried to book passage, but you have no ports
The singer has attempted to reach the island, but it is impossible to get there by traditional means.
And I tried to sail in but your wind and waters
Tore my sails and broke my oars.
The singer has tried to overcome the difficulties of reaching the island, but he has been beaten back by the forces of nature.
Island I see you in the moonlight
Silhouettes of ships in the night
Just make me long that much more
Even though the island is out of reach, the singer is still drawn to it and longs to be there.
Island I see you in all of my dreams
But I'm a man with no means to reach your distant shore
The island is a constant presence in the singer's thoughts and dreams, but he knows that he will never be able to reach it.
I've tried to build bridges
But they all fell down
The singer has attempted to find ways to connect with other people and overcome the loneliness he feels, but those efforts have failed.
I've taken to the air on wings of silver
But always hit the ground
The singer has tried to escape his problems by flying away, but he always finds himself back on solid ground, still struggling to find love and companionship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID LOGGINS, DAVID ALLEN LOGGINS, JIMMY BUFFETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind