Come Monday

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Come Monday" by Jimmy Buffett, a track from his beloved album Songs You Know By Heart, and the Zoo Freaks are surely feeling the island vibes. This song, released in 1974 on the album Living and Dying in 3/4 Time, holds a special place in Buffett’s catalog as his first Top 40 hit, peaking at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Written for his future wife, Jane Slagsvol, while Buffett was on tour, the song captures the longing of being away from a loved one, specifically during a 1973 Labor Day weekend show in San Anselmo, California. Buffett penned it at a Howard Johnson’s in Mill Valley, where he was staying, and later shared on The Late Show with David Letterman in 1983 that the song’s success pulled him out of a deep depression, helping him pay rent and retrieve his dog from the pound.

One fascinating tidbit about "Come Monday" is its lyrical tweak for the single version. The original line “I’ve got my Hush Puppies on” was changed to “I’ve got my hiking shoes on” to avoid brand references, as some broadcasters, like the BBC, avoided songs mentioning specific products. The song’s music video, featuring Jane Slagsvol, was a low-budget affair shot with Buffett’s real truck and boat, reflecting his laid-back lifestyle in Key West. Fans on X have celebrated the song’s romantic sincerity, noting its depiction of Buffett and Slagsvol’s love story, which began when they met in Key West in 1972 and culminated in their 1977 marriage. The song’s enduring appeal is evident in covers by artists like Kenny Chesney, who performed it in tribute to Buffett at a 2024 concert in Tampa, as noted on uDiscoverMusic.

Jimmy Buffett’s journey to becoming the king of “Gulf and Western” music began in Mobile, Alabama, where he was born on December 25, 1946. Growing up in a family of sailors, Buffett was drawn to nautical themes early on. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1969 with a history degree, he moved to Nashville, working briefly as a reporter for Billboard Magazine. His music career kicked off with busking in New Orleans, where he formed his first band, The Upstairs Alliance, playing Gulf Coast venues. Introduced to Key West in the early 1970s by friend Jerry Jeff Walker, Buffett found his muse in the island’s carefree culture, as detailed on Florida’s Division of Arts and Culture. His early albums, like Down to Earth and High Cumberland Jubilee, were modest, but 1974’s Living and Dying in 3/4 Time, with “Come Monday,” marked his breakthrough.

Buffett’s official online presence keeps his legacy alive. His website, jimmybuffett.com, offers tour updates, music, and merchandise. You can follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for news about his music and the Coral Reefer Band. Fans, known as Parrotheads, connect through sites like BuffettNews.com and Jimmy Buffett World, which share concert details and tributes. The Parrot Heads Facebook group is a vibrant community where Zoo Freaks can join fellow fans to share stories and celebrate Buffett’s island escapism.