When we say that Jimmy Buffett’s songs have played a pivotal role in our lives, we mean it.
I (Shannon) have been a Jimmy Buffett fan since high school. I didn’t go full-fledged “Parrothead” until college. Once I went to my first Margaritaville (in Key West), I knew that the Parrothead lifestyle was for me.
I spent the next few years listening to his music, going to his concerts, and reading his books (there are a few by the way, you should partake in these adventures). Buffett wrote three books, all of which placed on The New York Times Best Seller list.
It was in my earlier years as a Parrothead that I hit up every Margaritaville that was on my traveling path. Each visit always presented a ton of excitement! After each visit, the excitement faded away. I had to leave. I would be completely bummed that I couldn’t live my own Buffett-bliss life. Feeling deflated that I was not living that life, is an understatement.
The Impact of Jimmy Buffett’s Songs
During the days of running our business, I would connect to Radio Margaritaville from my phone using Bluetooth. My car became my own Margaritaville, minus the cocktails. My travels each day for work were consumed with all things Margaritaville.
I used to sing along to songs about being on a boat, having boat drinks, or the treasures that lie in the belly of the ocean, again, wishing that I were there, feeling the feels that Jimmy sings about. The songs of Jimmy Buffett held my emotions of hope, wishful thinking, and dreams of what I knew my life was destined to be.
Fast forward to the current day, Jimmy Buffett’s songs now are songs of celebration, songs of joy, and no sadness enters my mind when I sing along to them. They truly have taken on a new meaning for me.
His voice instantly makes me feel relaxed and reminds me to be grateful that I now live by the sea. Each day, at Five o’clock, I hear him singing “It’s Five o’clock Somewhere” with Alan Jackson, and it reminds me to not take things so seriously.
I no longer feel melancholy nor nostalgic to be by the ocean, since I am already here.
Jimmy’s Songs Led to Our Lifestyle Change
Life isn’t perfect, and the sea doesn’t make life stop having trials, but it sure comes pretty close to being the definition of peace.
When we made our big lifestyle change a few years ago, selling everything we owned to live by the ocean, Buffett’s songs were our theme music. While our physical and mental health were in the trash bin, we knew that living by the ocean would heal us. Did it make life perfect? No. But, the sea truly has healing properties and reminds us to take life slow and live on Island Time.
We talk more in-depth about our whole lifestyle change with Why We Sold Everything and Moved to the Coast. Our tiny beach house never looked as appealing as the first time we walked into it. We listened to Jimmy’s album A1A the entire drive from central NC to coastal NC. By the way, it’s hard to pick one best Jimmy Buffett song, but “A Pirate Looks at Forty” comes pretty close to being a standout favorite of ours.
Our Top Jimmy Buffett Songs
Again, it is difficult to narrow down our favorite songs from Jimmy Buffett, but we will do our best. Even reading the song titles can bring our blood pressure down a bit with a sense of calm. It may not seem that there is any emotional depth to some of his songs, but there is something about the emotions Buffett ballads can bring out that can sometimes take your breath away.
When Bob Dylan makes a statement that Jimmy Buffett is the best songwriter of all time, we take that seriously.
We’re sharing our top 10 favorite tunes, though this seems to change with every year. Buffett’s best songs are the ones he sings. Get it?! We recommend you take this list, grab a cold one, and let’s soak up the sun with some feel-good jams that’ll transport you straight to Margaritaville.
- A Pirate Looks at Forty – Studio Album: A1A
- We Learned to Be Cool from You – Studio Album: Buffet Hotel
- Death of an Unpopular Poet – Studio Album: A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean
- Banana Republics – Studio Album: Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
- Havana Daydreamin’ – Studio Album: Havana Daydreamin’
- Trip Around the Sun (with Martina McBride) – Studio Album: License to Chill
- Peanut Butter Conspiracy – Studio Album: A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean
- One Particular Harbour – Studio Album: One Particular Harbour
- Somethin’ ‘Bout a Boat – Studio Album: St. Somewhere
- Down at the Lah De Dah – Studio Album: Life on the Flip Side
While many Buffett songs didn’t make it to the Billboard Hot lists, artists, songwriters, and every Parrothead we know, agree that all of Jimmy’s songs are great songs. Every Parrothead has their key faves!
Island Time Exists
Island Time does exist, by the way, as cheesy as it sounds, things do slow down. Your heart rate, your deadlines, and your need to control everything sort of fall away as you breathe out the toxicity. When we moved to the North Carolina coast, Gerry and I even joined the local “Parrothead Club” to truly immerse ourselves in this lifestyle.
With all of that said, I am not naive. I know that Jimmy Buffett didn’t always sit under a palm tree, sipping margaritas all day. When Jimmy passed away, we realized even more that he had ordinary and extraordinary problems like the rest of us. Who knew that he was battling skin cancer? We were shocked when we heard the news that he passed away from cancer. How could the avatar of our lifestyle be gone?
It’s still strange hearing someone talk about Jimmy Buffett as the “late singer, Jimmy Buffett.”
Jimmy Buffett’s Songs Still Heal
If anything though, as Buffett sings his way through our lives, we like to imagine that he is holding his tin cup chalice in heaven. Hopefully, he gave our pup, Betty White, a warm welcome and hug when she got there. Betty White was accustomed to Jimmy Buffett, and even became the featured Radio Margaritaville dog for “Dog Days of Summer.”
We will continue to sing along to “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” knowing that the meaning behind his tunes is happiness. His songs remind us to take things in stride. No matter what is happening in our lives, through our adventures, “Come Monday” it will be alright. We’ll just keep breathing in, breathing out, and moving on.
Jimmy Buffett Playlist
In honor of Buffett, and our list of favorite Jimmy Buffett songs, we have put together a playlist. It includes our top 10 Jimmy Buffett songs from this blog post, as well as some other deep cuts. If you appreciate Buffett’s work as we do, we hope you will take a listen. It’s just a small piece of work from the Pirate himself.
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
Jimmy Buffett’s music is often classified as “Gulf and Western” or “trop rock,” blending elements of country, folk, rock, and Caribbean music. His unique style evokes images of sandy beaches, palm trees, and laid-back island living. Right up our alley!
“Margaritaville” inspired a novel of the same name by Jimmy Buffett and a Broadway musical featuring his music called “Escape to Margaritaville.” Buffett’s laid-back lifestyle and beachy vibe have influenced many artists!
It is a nickname Jimmy Buffett gave his fans. It is derived from Buffett’s association with the laid-back, tropical lifestyle depicted in his songs, which often include themes of beach living, margaritas, and escapism. “Parrothead” reflects the imagery of a carefree, beach-loving individual who embraces Buffett’s music and ethos.
