Realities Of The Song Margaritaville

Realities of the Song MargaritavilleJames C. English841 WordsPaper Number ThreeÐ' Ð' This paper represents my personal interpretation of the realities of the song,Ð' Margaritaville, which was written by Jimmy Buffett in Key West, Florida in 1977.Ð' The song consists of three verses plus the chorus.Ð' I shall discuss each of these four components of the song individually.The first verse sets the tone for the song by describing the Key West bohemian lifestyle of the mid 1970's.Ð' Ð' Ð' Nibblin' on sponge cakeÐ' Ð' Ð' Watchin' the sun bakeÐ' Ð' Ð' All of those tourists covered with oilÐ' Ð' Ð' Strummin' my six-stringÐ' Ð' Ð' On my front porch swingÐ' Ð' Ð' Smell those shrimp; they're beginning to boilÐ' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' (Buffett)The leisurely sun-drenched atmosphere projected in the first verse of the song represents the magic imagery that does not exist in the average citizens everyday pursuit of his normal life.Ð' Within the first three lines of the verse, the songwriter engenders our senses of taste, sight and smell.Ð' I also know from those same lines that the individual characterized in the song is living a marginal existence in a tropical paradise.Ð' As a lyricist, Buffett is clever and original with his rhyming skills (Ð''sponge cake', Ð''sun bake').Ð' Lines four and five verify that the character is living lazily, just strumming his guitar on the porch.Ð' Line six again generates the senses of smell and sight.Ð' As I read the line, I can smell the shrimp and see the bubbling on the surface of the waterÐ' Ð' Ð' in the pot.Ð' My interpretation of this verse is that it signifies no structure in the life of the individual being portrayed in the song and that is just the way he likes it.Ð' Ð' The second verse leads me to the realization that Margaritaville is not a physical place, but a state of mind which is aided in its fantasy by the perpetual consumption of margaritas.Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' I don't know the reasonÐ' Ð' Ð' Stayed here all seasonÐ' Ð' Ð' Nothin' to show but this brand new tattooÐ' Ð' Ð' But it's a real beautyA Mexican cutieÐ' Ð' Ð' How it got here I haven't a clueÐ' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' (Buffett)The verse conveys to me that the song's character is slightly out of control because of the fact that he is not aware of why he is still in Key West. The first three lines of this verse sound almost as if they were just part of a normal conversation.Ð' As you hear the third line, you can imagine him showing his arm or belly for you to get a look at his new tattoo.Ð' The surprise of the last line is particularly effective as he is admitting that he has no idea how or when he was tattooed.Ð' Ð' The third verse is one of progression and repetition. Ð' Ð' Ð' I blew out my flip-flopÐ' Ð' Ð' Stepped on a pop-topÐ' Ð' Ð' Cut my heel had to cruise on back homeÐ' Ð' Ð' But there's booze in the blenderÐ' Ð' Ð' And soon it will renderÐ' Ð' Ð' Ð' That frozen concoction that helps me hang onÐ' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð' Ð'