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.
Volcano
Jimmy Buffett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know
I don't know where I'm-a gonna go
When the volcano blow
Let me say now, I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm-a gonna go
Ground she's movin' under me
Tidal waves out on the sea
Sulfur smoke up in the sky
Pretty soon we learn to fly
Let me hear ya now, I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm-a gonna go
When the volcano blow
Now my girl quickly say to me
"Mon, you better watch your feet
Lava come down soft and hot
You better lava me now or lava me not"
Let me say now, I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm-a gonna go
When the volcano blow
Mr. Utley
No time to count what I'm worth
'Cause I just left the planet Earth
Where I go I hope there's rum
Not to worry, mon, soon come
Now, I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm-a gonna go
When the volcano blow
One more now, I don't know (ah, he don't know)
I don't know (he don't know, mon)
I don't know where I'm-a gonna go
When the volcano blow
But I don't want to land in New York City
I don't want to land in Mexico (no, no, no)
Don't want to land on no Three Mile Island
I don't want to see my skin aglow (no, no, no)
Don't want to land in Commanche Sky Park
Or in Nashville, Tennessee (no, no, no)
Don't want to land in no San Juan airport
Or the Yukon Territory (no, no, no)
Don't want to land no San Diego
Don't want to land in no Buzzards Bay (no, no, no)
Don't want to land on no Ayatollah
I got nothing more to say
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm-a gonna go
When the volcano blow
Just a one more, I don't know (ah, he don't know, man)
I don't know (I don't know, man)
I don't know where I'm-a gonna go
When the volcano blow
"Volcano" is a song by Jimmy Buffett that was released on his 1979 album, "Volcano". It is a song about impending danger and not knowing what to do in the face of an impending natural disaster. The chorus repeats the line, "I don't know where I'm a gonna go when the volcano blow," which emphasizes the feeling of uncertainty and helplessness. The ground is moving and there are tidal waves on the sea, while sulfur smoke fills the sky. Despite all of this danger, the lyrics maintain a laid-back tone, which is typical of Jimmy Buffett's music.
The song's verses tell a story of a man whose girlfriend warns him to be careful when lava comes down soft and hot. He sings about his journey away from Earth and how he hopes there's rum wherever he lands. There's a spoken interlude where "Mr. Utley" is mentioned, but it's unclear who or what this is referring to. The last verse is probably the most interesting, as it contains a list of places where the singer does not want to land: New York City, Mexico, Three Mile Island, San Juan airport, the Yukon Territory, and more.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I don't know
The singer is uncertain and confused
I don't know
The singer is still uncertain and confused
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
The singer is unsure of where to go next
When the volcano blow
Refers to the potential eruption of a volcano, which represents an impending disaster
Ground she's movin' under me
The earth is shaking beneath the artist's feet
Tidal waves out on the sea
There are massive waves in the ocean nearby
Sulphur smoke up in the sky
The air is filled with noxious fumes from the volcano
Pretty soon we learn to fly
We will have to adapt to new circumstances and face uncertain challenges
Now my girl quickly say to me
The artist's companion warns him of the danger of the impending eruption
Mon you better watch your feet
Speaks to the extreme danger posed by the volcano
Lava come down soft and hot
Lava is flowing from the volcano, which can cause severe burns and injuries
You better lava me now or lava me not
A play on words involving 'lava' and 'love,' indicating that the artist's relationship may not survive an impending disaster
No time to count what I'm worth
There is no time for trivialities when faced with an impending disaster
'Cause I just left the planet earth
The singer has a sense of being disconnected from reality
Where I go I hope there's rum
The singer is hoping for a sense of normalcy or comfort in his next destination
Not to worry mon soon come
Despite the imminent danger, things will get better eventually
But I don't want to land in New York City
The artist is listing places he does not want to go, which may represent a metaphorical journey or descent into darkness
Don't want to land in Mexico (no no no)
Another location the singer does not desire to go to
Don't want to land on no Three Mile Island
A reference to a nuclear disaster, indicating the singer's desire to avoid dangerous or catastrophic events
Don't want to see my skin aglow (no no no)
A reference to radiation poisoning, further emphasizing the artist's desire to avoid danger
Don't want to land in Commanche Sky park
Another location the artist does not desire to go
Or in Nashville, Tennessee (no no no)
The artist desires to go elsewhere and avoid this location
Don't want to land in no San Juan airport
Another location the singer does not desire to go
Or the Yukon Territory (no no no)
The artist is trying to distance himself from danger and uncertainty
Don't want to land no San Diego
Yet another location the singer does not desire to go
Don't want to land in no Buzzards Bay (no no no)
The singer's desire to avoid certain locations reflects his desire to find a safe place upon the event of a disaster
Don't want to land on no Ayotollah
Another location the singer does not desire to go to
I got nothing more to say
The artist has listed all of the places he does not want to go, indicating a resignation and acceptance of his fate
Just a one more, I don't know (he don't know)
The artist is still uncertain and confused, even after listing locations to avoid
I don't know (I don't know, man)
The singer is further emphasizing his uncertainty and confusion
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
The singer is still unsure of where to go during the eruption
When the volcano blow
The impending catastrophe represents a sense of danger and uncertainty which the artist must confront
Lyrics © MUD BLUFF MUSIC
Written by: Dailey Harry Marshall, Elroy Keith Sykes, Jimmy Buffett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@n-gauge-us5219
My dad died today. He loved Jimmy and this song and right now all I can think of is that he always lived “La Vie Dansante,” just like Jimmy.
@GreyGuerillaNetwork
Probably my favorite Jimmy Buffett song of all. The high energy kept my young self dancing with my feet and hands. As a grown man, I admire the ingenious lyrics and complimentary arrangement of instruments.
You might be gone, Jimmy, but you'll never be forgotten. Hope you're enjoying the best cheeseburger in Heaven's little slice of paradise! 💙
@maverickashby7892
Why does this song not even have over 1,000 likes?
@marvinthemaniac7698
Jimmy was a hero to me.
@JamesFox-tb3zx
😢 I miss you, JB, more than words can say! Had almost every album on cassette or CD, Margaritaville Records compilations of different artists, your books and frozen hor d'oeuvres at the supermarket. Went to numerous concerts at Jones Beach with my wife and friends. Used to get The Coconut Telegraph in the mail.
I am, and always will be, a Parrothead and damn proud to be one. Sail on, Sailor! I salute the Mayor of Margaritaville!
May you rest in peace! You will be missed, but your legacy and music will live on forever in my heart and many others.
@JamesFox-tb3zx
Thank you for liking my heartfelt feelings on the passing of JB.
@sawyerh9359
May jimmy buffet enjoy the everlasting margaritaville
@RichardDuron
You're not gone til your gone. Rest easy Jimmy.
@AIJ000
Love Jimmy..Lived in Key Largo for years still wished I lived there
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@CarlDutcher1776
We miss you so much JB❤😢