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.
Son Of A Son Of A Sailor
Jimmy Buffett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I went out on the sea for adventure
Expanding the view of the captain and crew
Like a man just released from indenture
As a dreamer of dreams and a travelin' man
I have chalked up many a mile
Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks
Son of a son, son of a son
Son of a son of a sailor
Son of a gun, load the last ton
One step ahead of the jailer
Now away in the near future
Southeast of disorder
You can shake the hand of the mango man
As he greats you at the border
And the lady she hails from Trinidad
Island of the spices
Salt for your meat, and cinnamon sweet
And the rum is for all your good vices
Haul the sheet in as we ride on the wind
That our forefathers harnessed before us
Hear the bells ring as the tight rigging sings
It's a son of a gun of a chorus
Where it all ends I can't fathom my friends
If I knew I might toss out my anchor
So I cruise along always searchin' for songs
Not a lawyer a thief or a banker
But a son of a son, son of a son
Son of a son of a sailor
Son of a gun, load the last ton
One step ahead of the jailer
I'm just a son of a son, son of a son
Son of a son of a sailor
The sea's in my veins, my tradition remains
I'm just glad I don't live in a trailer
The lyrics to Jimmy Buffett's song, "Son Of A Son Of A Sailor" are about the experiences and adventures of a man who comes from a long line of sailors. He talks about his travels, his love for the sea, and how he feels free as a "son of a son of a sailor". This song is also reflective of the author's own experiences and upbringing, as Jimmy Buffett's father was a sailor in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
The song begins with the singer introducing himself as the "son of a son of a sailor," telling listeners that he grew up surrounded by stories of adventure and the sea. He explains that he became a sailor himself, learning from the captain and crew and traveling the world in search of adventure. Throughout the song, he reflects on the many experiences he's had as a "dreamer of dreams and a traveling man," relating them back to the stories he heard as a child.
One of the key themes of the song is the idea of freedom. The singer talks about feeling free and unencumbered out on the open sea, away from the constraints of society. He also touches on the idea of living life on his own terms - he's not interested in being a lawyer, a thief, or a banker, but rather a sailor who can cruise along and look for new songs to sing.
Line by Line Meaning
As the son of a son of a sailor
Being the child of a seafarer, I had an inherent love for the sea.
I went out on the sea for adventure
I embarked on the journey of exploring the sea.
Expanding the view of the captain and crew
I had a different perspective and contributed to the team.
Like a man just released from indenture
I felt free like a man who had just finished serving his time as an apprentice.
As a dreamer of dreams and a travelin' man
I was both an imaginative person and also someone who loved to travel.
I have chalked up many a mile
I have travelled many miles and gained valuable experience.
Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks
I learned from the characters in the books and their traits.
And I learned much from both of their styles
I learned from the good and the bad personalities alike.
Son of a son, son of a son
I was the grandson of a sailor and it was a significant part of my identity.
Son of a son of a sailor
Being descended from a line of seafarers had a profound impact on me.
Son of a gun, load the last ton
We need to move quickly to avoid any negative consequences.
One step ahead of the jailer
We need to move faster than those who try to stop us.
Now away in the near future
In a potential, not so distant future
Southeast of disorder
In a place where chaos is more prevalent.
You can shake the hand of the mango man
You can meet someone from a different culture and experience their hospitality.
As he greats you at the border
As you arrive in a foreign land, you can feel welcomed by the locals.
And the lady she hails from Trinidad
There's a woman I know from the island of Trinidad and Tobago.
Island of the spices
It's known for its spices and condiments.
Salt for your meat, and cinnamon sweet
There are numerous rich flavors and tastes.
And the rum is for all your good vices
There's also an alcoholic drink, rum, which goes with the food and atmosphere.
Haul the sheet in as we ride on the wind
We need to adjust the sails to make the most out of the wind's direction.
That our forefathers harnessed before us
Our ancestors used their wisdom to harness the wind's power better.
Hear the bells ring as the tight rigging sings
The sound of the operation is music to our ears.
It's a son of a gun of a chorus
The scene strikes us as remarkable.
Where it all ends I can't fathom my friends
I can't predict the endgame, my pals.
If I knew I might toss out my anchor
If I knew about the ending, it would impact my emotional state.
So I cruise along always searchin' for songs
Thus, I prefer to enjoy along the way while searching for things entertaining.
Not a lawyer a thief or a banker
I'm a free-spirited person and not confined to any profession.
But a son of a son, son of a son
I'm proud to be the grandson of a sailor and maintain the family's legacy.
The sea's in my veins, my tradition remains
The water bodies are an inseparable part of me and my family.
I'm just glad I don't live in a trailer
I'm appreciative not to have led an ordinary life and being able to explore the world and the sea.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jimmy Buffett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xofishy9525
[Verse 1]
As the son of a son of a sailor
I went out on the sea for adventure
Expanding the view of the captain and crew
Like a man just released from indenture
[Verse 2]
As a dreamer of dreams and a travelin' man
I have chalked up many a mile
Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks
And I learned much from both of their styles
[Chorus 1]
Son of a son, son of a son
Son of a son of a sailor
Son of a gun, load the last ton
One step ahead of the jailer
[Verse 3]
Now away in the near future
Southeast of disorder
You can shake the hand of the mango man
As he greets you at the border
[Verse 4]
And the lady, she hails from Trinidad
Island of the spices
Salt for your meat and cinnamon sweet
And the rum is for all your good vices
[Verse 5]
Haul the sheet in as we ride on the wind
That our forefathers harnessed before us
Hear the bells ring as the tight rigging sings
It's a son of a gun of a chorus
[Verse 6]
Where it all ends I can't fathom my friends
If I knew I might toss out my anchor
So I cruise along, always searchin' for songs
Not a lawyer, a thief, or a banker
[Chorus ]
But a son of a son, son of a son
Son of a son of a sailor
Son of a gun, load the last ton
One step ahead of the jailer
[Chorus 2]
I'm just a son of a son, son of a son
Son of a son of a sailor
The sea's in my veins, my tradition remains
I'm just glad I don't live in a trailer
@bozlakian3329
My dads funeral song & his favourite…. Always brings happy tears whenever I hear it. RIP Dad & Jimmy. Hopefully having a margarita together ❤️
@anoncspan4129
So relevant to why I'm listening to this right now.
Getting ready to take my pop to hospice in an hour.
❤
@bozlakian3329
@@anoncspan4129 Thoughs are with mate. Never an easy time. All the best & take care ❤️
@koryelliott7697
Also my Dad’s song ❤🦜
@BM205
Hope my dad's there with y'all.
@chrish9618
All the Sailor's sail on, much love ❤
@user-rs4cx4wz5g
My grandpa was sunk twice in ww2. I myself have 2 1/2 years at sea, a golden shelback..I imagine him and I listening to this song, telling sea stories
@michaelgapple1894
So - my brother-in-law was in the Navy. His father was also in the Navy. And his father was also in the Navy. 🎼💋🍎❤️🍺🥃🌿
@briansearcy2102
I am the grandson of a sailor. This song hits different now
@aonshark2517
this song is so deep in so many ways