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.
You'll Never Work In Dis Bidness Again
Jimmy Buffett Lyrics
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He told it to the monkeys and they didn't talk back
Then he told the old iguana and he didn't attack
They told me before I started
That it never ever would work out
Stay in school, don't be afool
So I went to Biloxi seeking fortune and fame
I got hired, I got fired, I got called dirty names
You'll never never work in dis bidness again
No you'll never, no never
Never work in dis bidness again
I knew I needed representation
And I found it one night in a bar
He was a bondsman and a part time agent
And he said that he would make me a star
He said, "You don't have to be that good
To make it out in Hollywood
You just have to change and complain."
Or you'll never, never work in dis bidness again
You'll never, no, never, never work in dis bidness again.
I parked cars at the Rainbow
I sold maps of the stars
I got my nose broken in Spago's
When I puked on the bar
All I played's a double barmitzvah
Bubba played a double bar mitzvah
It's a jungle out there
We love it
Hell, I don't care
I'm going back to my predator friends
I will never, never work in dis bidness again
No, I'll never, no never, never work in this bidness again
You'll never, never work in this bidness again.
The song "You'll Never Work In Dis Bidness Again," by Jimmy Buffett, is a satirical take on the failure and struggles of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. The lyrics depict the story of the singer who leaves his conventional life behind to pursue fame and fortune in Hollywood. However, the journey is far from easy, as he faces rejection, humiliation, and failure at every step.
The singer in the song faces criticism and skepticism from those around him for wanting to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Despite the warnings, he decides to go to Biloxi to seek his fortune. But things don't go as planned, and he ends up getting fired from his jobs and facing public humiliation. He then finds an agent who tells him that he doesn't have to be talented, just needs to complain and change to become a star. However, this advice doesn't work for long, and he ends up working odd jobs like parking cars and selling maps of the stars.
The lyrics are a pointed critique of the cut-throat nature of the entertainment industry and the unrealistic expectations placed on performers. It highlights the ways in which performers are often exploited by industry insiders and their dreams crushed in the pursuit of fame. The song warns others of the pitfalls of believing in the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry and highlights the importance of maintaining a sense of reality.
Line by Line Meaning
He told it to the monkeys and they didn't talk back
The singer expressed his woes and frustrations to animals, who with just their presence, provided him solace and relief.
Then he told the old iguana and he didn't attack
The singer expressed his setbacks and grievances to the iguana, who didn't lash out, showcasing the ability to lend an ear without being judgmental.
They told me before I started
That it never ever would work out
Stay in school, don't be a fool
But I had to see what life is about
People who were more experienced advised the singer to stay put and not venture into an uncertain territory, but he disregarded their advice and pursued his curiosity to learn and explore beyond textbooks.
So I went to Biloxi seeking fortune and fame
I got hired, I got fired, I got called dirty names
You'll never never work in dis bidness again
No you'll never, no never
Never work in dis bidness again
The artist went to Biloxi in search of success and recognition, but instead, he faced rejection and derogatory comments, after losing his job. These incidents have left a deep scar on his psyche, which caused him to swear to never return to that field of work again.
I knew I needed representation
And I found it one night in a bar
He was a bondsman and a part-time agent
And he said that he would make me a star
The artist realized that he needed someone to represent and recognize his talent, and he found his agent while drinking at a bar. The agent promised him fame and glory, provided he transformed his identity and conform to industry standards.
He said, "You don't have to be that good
To make it out in Hollywood
You just have to change and complain."
Or you'll never, never work in dis bidness again
You'll never, no, never, never work in dis bidness again.
The agent's advice is to transform himself into someone different from who he was, to fit into Hollywood's mold. He instructs him to complain because that's how Hollywood works. The agent's warning is that if he does not do these things, he'll never work in this field again.
I parked cars at the Rainbow
I sold maps of the stars
I got my nose broken in Spago's
When I puked on the bar
All I played's a double barmitzvah
Bubba played a double bar mitzvah
The singer took on various odd jobs like parking cars and selling maps to tourists to make ends meet. In his previous job, he either got punched in the face or lost his prestige, leading him to play at a modest event while someone else got to play in the grand one.
It's a jungle out there
We love it
Hell, I don't care
I'm going back to my predator friends
I will never, never work in dis bidness again
No, I'll never, no never, never work in this bidness again
You'll never, never work in this bidness again.
The artist has come to terms with the fact the entertainment business is a cutthroat industry, and even though he knows that, he still loves being a part of it. He has decided to go back to his peers, who are as ruthless as him, promising himself never to get back into a rut again.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSH LEO, JIMMY BUFFETT, VINCENT EDWARD MELAMED, MICHAEL UTLEY, WILLIE WEEKS, MATT BETTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind