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.
Vampires
Jimmy Buffett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A flashing message said today therapy
Rather walk through fire
Than converse with my shrink
But I'm getting better
That's what some people think
Talk about denial
Head's like a bell somedays
It dongs and it dings
My brain playing tricks on me
It likes to shift gears
Spend lots of money
But I'm tackling my fears
[Chorus]
Vampires, mummies and the holy ghost
These are the things that terrify me the most
No aliens, psychopaths or MTV hosts
Scares me like vampires, mummies and the holy ghost
Had a dream last night
Took a time traveling ride
Back to my childhood
Where those monsters reside
They snack on innocence
And dine on self-esteem
But I like to be in touch with what makes me scream
[Chorus]
I was never ever frightened
By the murderer on our block
He nurtured orchids and raised hamsters
The neighborhood is still in shock
La, la, la, la, la
So many dragons lurking out in the fog
So many crazy people mumblin' monologues
It's not the tales of Stephen King that I've read
I need protection from the things in my head
[Chorus]
The song "Vampires" by Jimmy Buffett is a reflective and introspective take on the often-hidden fears of an individual. The lyrics explore the theme of fear and how it ties into both the memory of the past and hopes of the future. In the first verse, the artist mentions a laptop which shows a message for therapy. This indicates that the character is seeking aid to sort through their issues. But, in the next line, the artist reveals their reluctance to speak to their therapist, calling it a preferable alternative to walking through fire.
The second verse is centered around the often jumbled and confusing nature of the human mind. The singer invokes imagery of a ringing bell, muddled and unclear. He recognizes that sometimes his mind likes to play games with him, shifting gears from one thought to another, sometimes going as far as spending a lot of money to make himself feel better. The chorus brings both the fear and the aspect of the supernatural to the fore, indicating that even a seasoned adult like the singer can't overcome his fear of vampires, mummies, and the holy ghost.
In the third and final verse, the artist references a dream about going back to his childhood. He realizes that the "monsters" he was afraid of in the past, the ones that snacked on innocence and self-esteem, are still present. In the end, the artist reveals that no external factor scares him, be it the murderer next door, the psychopaths, or aliens. It is only the creatures of the supernatural and the monsters from the past that still have the power to terrify him.
Line by Line Meaning
Looked in my laptop what did I see
I checked my computer and found a message about therapy.
A flashing message said today therapy
The notification on my laptop reminded me about my therapy session for the day.
Rather walk through fire
I would prefer to go through a difficult experience than talk to my therapist.
Than converse with my shrink
I don't like talking to my therapist.
But I'm getting better
Despite my reluctance, I am making progress.
That's what some people think
Other people have noticed that I'm improving.
Talk about denial
I have trouble admitting my problems.
And dysfunctional things
My issues are not straightforward.
Head's like a bell somedays
My mind can be very clear at times.
It dongs and it dings
But other times, my thoughts are scattered and distracting.
My brain playing tricks on me
I have a tendency to overthink and misinterpret things.
It likes to shift gears
My thinking can be unpredictable.
Spend lots of money
I have a problem with impulse spending.
But I'm tackling my fears
I am making an effort to face and overcome my anxieties.
Vampires, mummies and the holy ghost
These supernatural entities are my biggest fears.
These are the things that terrify me the most
These creatures scare me more than anything else.
No aliens, psychopaths or MTV hosts
Other common fears, like extraterrestrials, criminals, or celebrities, are not as scary to me as vampires, mummies, and the holy ghost.
Scares me like vampires, mummies and the holy ghost
These monsters really frighten me on a deep level.
Had a dream last night
I had a dream while sleeping last night.
Took a time traveling ride
In my dream, I traveled back in time.
Back to my childhood
I went back to when I was younger.
Where those monsters reside
I revisited the times and places where I first encountered the frightening creatures of my imagination.
They snack on innocence
These monsters feed on the pure and uncorrupted parts of me.
And dine on self-esteem
They also consume my confident and self-assured attitudes.
But I like to be in touch with what makes me scream
Even though facing these fears is uncomfortable, I feel it's important to stay connected with what terrifies me in order to overcome it.
I was never ever frightened
There was never a time in my life when I was scared.
By the murderer on our block
Even though there was a killer in our neighborhood, I wasn't afraid of them.
He nurtured orchids and raised hamsters
The murderer was into gardening and pet care.
The neighborhood is still in shock
Despite the killer's seemingly innocuous hobbies, the community is still recovering from the trauma of their actions.
So many dragons lurking out in the fog
There are so many potential dangers and sources of anxiety in life.
So many crazy people mumblin' monologues
There are many individuals who behave in ways that are irrational or confusing.
It's not the tales of Stephen King that I've read
My fear is not triggered by the horror stories of Stephen King.
I need protection from the things in my head
I recognize that most of these fears are created by my own mind, and therefore I need to learn to cope with them better.
[Chorus]
Repeats the chorus that vampires, mummies, and the holy ghost are the things that terrify the artist most.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JIM MAYER, JIMMY BUFFET, PETER HAGEN MAYER, ROGER EDWIN GUTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind