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.
Time To Go Home
Jimmy Buffett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The more you've been on your own
Feelin's for movin' grow stronger
So you wonder why you ever go home
Wonder why you ever go home
People are movin' so quickly
Humor's in need of repair
They've really got nothing to share
Like drivin' around with no spare
River gets deeper not shallow
The further you move down the stream
Wonderin' if I can keep her
As I race to keep up with my dreams
How they shine and glitter and gleam
Years grow shorter, not longer
The more you've been on your own
Feelin's for movin' grow stronger
So you wonder why you ever go home
Wonder why you ever go home
You wonder why you ever go home
The song "Time To Go Home" by Jimmy Buffett tells a story about two characters, Norman and Henny, who are reminiscing about their past experiences and trying to come to terms with their present lives. The lyrics suggest that Norman had left behind his successful career as the owner of a club called Gull Reef Club to run off with an actress, Amy Ball, and in the end, he did not become wealthy as he had hoped. The chorus, sung by the cast, emphasizes that it's time for Norman to go home, as chasing illusions can get quite confusing.
Norman admits that he hurt Henny by leaving her, but she jokes that their story might end up on Broadway. The two characters express their desire to leave behind the bureaucracy, island mystery, and the hill crowd that they have been dealing with. They agree that it's time to clear the air, be honest with each other, and put an end to any further affairs or distractions. The song concludes with the repeated chorus, urging Norman to go home and leave behind his illusions, emphasizing the importance of coming to terms with reality.
Overall, the lyrics of "Time To Go Home" convey a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler life, and a realization that chasing riches and fame can sometimes lead to unhappiness and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Henny Hey now mine host
Hey there, my friend and host
Don't be so melancholy
Don't be so sad and gloomy
You've made the most
You've made the best of
Out of Amy Ball's folly
The situation with Amy Ball's mistake
You went crazy, ran off with an actress and didn't get rich
You acted impulsively, eloped with an actress, but didn't make a lot of money
What can I say? I still love you, you son of a bitch
Even though you did something foolish, I still have affection for you
Norman New York's gray and cold
Norman is feeling homesick for New York
But somehow I miss that / Norman
I miss being in New York somehow
And running the Gull Reef Club
Owning and managing the Gull Reef Club
Bordered on hand to hand combat / Henny
It was a difficult and sometimes violent experience
You beat the odds, water Gods now it's time for "shalom"
You overcame many obstacles, but now it's time to say goodbye
Hey Mr. Paperman, I think it's time to go home / Chorus (sung by the cast)
It's time for us to leave and go home
Time to go home Norman
It's time for Norman to go home
Hey Mistuh Papuh-mon
Hey Mr. Paperman
Chasin' illusions can get quite confusin'
Pursuing unrealistic dreams can become confusing
Henny I'm sorry I hurt you
I apologize for hurting you, Henny
That's all I can say / Henny
I don't know what else to say
Who knows this whole episode / Norman
This situation might become a story
Just might end up on Broadway / Norman
It could potentially become a Broadway play
To hell with bureaucracy and island mystery / Henny
I don't care about the paperwork or the secrets of the island
Let's clear the air dear but no more affairs here / Norman
Let's talk openly and honestly, but let's not have any more romantic affairs
To hell with the hill crowd and life or death parties / Henny
I don't care about the rich people or their extravagant parties
I know a guy who has contacts at Sardi's / Duet
I know someone who has connections to Sardi's (a famous restaurant in New York)
Hey mister (Mrs.) Paperman
Hey Mr. or Mrs. Paperman
Time to go home Norman
It's time for Norman to go home
Chasin' illusions can get quite confusin'
Pursuing unrealistic dreams can become confusing
Hey Mr. Papuh-Mon
Hey Mr. Paperman
Hey Mr. Paperman
Hey Mr. Paperman
Time to go home
It's time to go home
Hey Mistuh Papuh-Mon
Hey Mr. Paperman
Chasin' illusions get quite confusin'
Pursuing unrealistic dreams can become confusing
Hey Mr. Paperman
Hey Mr. Paperman
Time to go home Norman
It's time for Norman to go home
Hey Mistuh Papuh-Mon
Hey Mr. Paperman
Chasin' illusions get quite confusin'
Pursuing unrealistic dreams can become confusing
Hey Mr. Paperman
Hey Mr. Paperman
Time to go home
It's time to go home
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jimmy Buffett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind