Margaritaville

Zoo Freaks, get ready to sip on some tropical vibes as the Zoo Crew spins "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett from his 1977 album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes. This iconic track, which peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, was born out of a hungover moment in Austin, Texas. Buffett, nursing a margarita at a Mexican restaurant, started humming the chorus on his way to the airport and finished the song in Key West. He once told Texas Monthly, “It was written in five minutes about a hot day in Austin, Texas with a margarita and a beautiful woman. I had no idea.” Producer Norbert Putnam initially thought the concept—losing a flip-flop, stepping on a pop top, and running out of salt—was a terrible idea, but when Buffett played a rough version at Criteria Studios in Miami, the studio crew saw its hit potential. Fun fact: Buffett revealed on CMT’s Crossroads with the Zac Brown Band that he offered the song to Elvis Presley, but Presley passed away in 1977 before recording it. There’s also a “lost verse” Buffett often added in live performances, cut from the radio edit to make it more radio-friendly.

Another tidbit for the Zoo Crew to share: the song’s lyrics sparked debate over whether Buffett sings “Wasted away” or “Wastin’ away.” The original sleeve for Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes confirms it’s “Waistin’” (with that quirky spelling). Inspired by his first taste of a margarita in Austin and the tourism boom in Key West, Buffett wrote the song in just six minutes, as he claimed in a Wikipedia interview. The track’s laid-back ethos led to a cultural empire, with Margaritaville restaurants, resorts, and even a retirement village. In 2023, it was selected for the National Recording Registry for its cultural significance and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016. Buffett’s daughter, Delaney, even paid tribute to her dad by weaving Margaritaville themes into her directorial debut, Adult Best Friends, as noted on BuffettNews.

Jimmy Buffett’s journey to becoming the king of tropical rock started in Pascagoula, Mississippi, where he was born on Christmas Day, 1946. Raised in Mobile, Alabama, he was steeped in nautical lore from his sea-captain grandfather and shipyard-working father. He picked up the guitar during his freshman year at Auburn University but flunked out due to his party-heavy lifestyle. After transferring to Pearl River Junior College and later graduating with a history degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1969, Buffett moved to Nashville. There, he worked as a reporter for Billboard Magazine while chasing a music career. His first album, Down to Earth (1970), flopped, and his second, High Cumberland Jubilee, was shelved by Barnaby Records, only to be released years later after his success. Disillusioned with Nashville’s rigid scene, Buffett headed to Miami and then Key West, where he busked and played gigs, soaking up the island’s offbeat vibe. His 1973 album, A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean, started building his cult following, but it was Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes that made him a star.

Stay connected with Jimmy Buffett’s legacy through his official website, where you can find tour archives, music, and more. Follow his official Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts for updates on his music and Margaritaville ventures. Fans, or Parrotheads, gather at BuffettNews, a fan-run site with the latest on his legacy, including specialty license plates and tributes. Join the Parrothead Facebook group to connect with fellow Zoo Freaks who live for Buffett’s beach-bum spirit. Keep spinning those records, Zoo Crew, and let’s keep wastin’ away in Margaritaville!