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.
Mele Kalikimaka
Jimmy Buffett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas day
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas day
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
To say Merry Christmas to you
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
To say Merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry Christmas to you
The lyrics of Jimmy Buffett's song "Mele Kalikimaka" are all about celebrating Christmas in Hawaii. The song starts off with the chorus line, "Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say, on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day." The phrase "Mele Kalikimaka" is actually how Hawaiians say "Merry Christmas," which is the island greeting that the singer sends to his listeners - "From the land where palm trees sway."
The song lyrics also mention how different Christmas is in Hawaii compared to other parts of the world. It talks about how "Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright, The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night." It highlights how Christmas is typically celebrated in parts of the world that experience snow and cold temperatures, while in Hawaii, it is a tropical paradise with palm trees and sunshine.
The song ultimately ends with the repetition of "Merry, merry, merry Christmas to you," a cheerful way of wishing the listener a happy holiday season.
Overall, "Mele Kalikimaka" is a festive and lighthearted song that celebrates the unique way in which Hawaii celebrates Christmas.
Line by Line Meaning
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
To express the festive spirit in Hawaii, we say 'Mele Kalikimaka'
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas day
On a sunny day during Christmas in Hawaii
That's the island greeting that we send to you
It's the greeting typical to the islands to send wishes to those far away
From the land where palm trees sway
From the land where palm trees move to the wind's sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
In Hawaii, we anticipate a colorful and light-filled Christmas
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Expect sunny days and starry nights during Christmas in Hawaii
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
'Mele Kalikimaka' is an expression known exclusively from Hawaii
To say Merry Christmas to you
To wish you a very 'Merry Christmas'
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
A repetition of 'Merry' wishing a very joyous and happy Christmas
Merry, merry, merry Christmas to you
Wishing you a happy Christmas, multiple times
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, DEMI MUSIC CORP. D/B/A LICHELLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: R. Alex Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anthonyvaldivia7023
Best Christmas album ever! RIP to you Mr Margaritavile!
@MelaninClips777
I had to sing this in 2nd grade SHOUTOUT MS NOGGLES❤️
@alexisnarsa9603
Mele Kalikimaka merry Christmas Jimmy Buffett rip I hope you have a great merry Christmas up in heaven
@NancySlider
I take this CD out to my car the day after Thanksgiving and enjoy it throughout the holidays… keeps me from getting bored of the traditional Christmas music on the radio 😊
@Paulzilla3000
What a legend RIP jimmy you will be missed but never forgotten. Merry Christmas jimmy
@vincentbriegel7038
You got that right
@kevinmorkin2224
Happy birthday and Merry Christmas Jimmy. We miss you Bubbles up!
@rebeccacurtis6680
I got this CD in 90's during a White Elephant gift party and have always loved it. Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle Of Rum is probably my favorite song.
@josephhenderson5800
Mele Kalikimaka From Margaritaville🎄🍸
R.I.P. Jimmy Buffett
@turtlepower4lee
This was a great Christmas Hit.🎄🌺