# Jimmy Buffett repertoire question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269 "2003-01-22T18:47:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/1 "2003-01-22T18:47:17Z")
I’m a singer/guitar player, and I have been offered a gig as part of a review (multiple performers playing short sets) at a ‘beach party’ next month. I was told I would need a lot of Jimmy Buffett material. I know how to play “Margaritaville” and “Why Don’t We Get Drunk…”, but that’s about it. I was wondering if I could get advice from Buffet fans on what they consider his essential 10 or so songs. (With a bias towards stuff that would go over well at a beach party, and sound good played by a singer/guitarist performing solo). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/2 "2003-01-22T19:02:02Z")
Pirate Looks at 40 Come Monday Dreamsicle Cheeseburger in Paradise Those are oldies that immediately come to mind. From his new CD, I’d pick: Far Side of the World Tonight I Just Need my Guitar ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/3 "2003-01-22T19:03:43Z")
Here’s his [set list](http://margaritaville.com/greetings/set.htm) from the 2002 tour Of that list - I’d consider learning the following (not sure what would sound good solo) “Come Monday”, “Boat Drinks” “Cheeseburger in Paradise” “Fruitcakes” “Fins” “Son of a Son” or “Pirate Looks at Forty” “Volcano” ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/4 "2003-01-22T19:53:24Z")
If you _really_ want to impress the Parrot-heads, learn the whole A-1-A album, especially: Door Number Three Life Is Just A Tire Swing Migration ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/5 "2003-01-22T20:34:43Z")
If you’re looking for Buffett standards, take a look at the track listings on [Songs You Know by Heart](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002O2B/qid=1043267654/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/103-5077246-3522263). Those are the ones that everyone knows. Don’t forget “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.” ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/6 "2003-01-22T23:07:43Z")
Rabid Buffett fan here. A good friend of mine used to do an accoustic one man show with lots of Jimmy stuff in it; so I know these can be covered well without upsetting Parrotheads due to sacriledge. Havana Daydreamin’ Pirate Looks at 40 Banana Republics (fairly obscure but ALWAYS a crowd pleaser) La Vie Dansante Boat Drinks Manana One Particular Harbor Jolly Mon Sing Quietly Making Noise Ragtop Day Distantly In Love Coconut Telegraph Who’s the Blonde Stranger The Weather Is Here, I Wish You Were Beautiful Cuban Crime of Passion Desperation Samba Domino College There’s enough variety of “type” in that list that you can pick a couple of party pleasers, a couple “swayers” and a couple funny pieces to mix and match. Let us know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/7 "2003-01-23T01:05:37Z")
Southern Cross and Brown Eyed Girl are always crowd favs too, though not Jimmy’s own songs. I heard JB interviewed once on Chicago radio before a summer tour show and he said there are seven songs that must be played at every show, or the fans get pissed. see \*\*Politzania’s \*\* list, I think those are the seven. ---
**Author:** ![thirdshiftgrottoslack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@thirdshiftgrottoslack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdshiftgrottoslack)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/8 "2003-01-23T01:43:46Z")
does he have 10 songs? i thought he played the same two over and over and over and… ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/9 "2003-01-23T03:03:09Z")
I’ll just comment that “The Weather Is Here, I Wish You Were Beautiful” is my favorite Buffett song that you never hear on the radio. I’m delighted to see that it’s on his set list. Definitely one of his ten or twelve best, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/10 "2003-01-23T03:55:18Z")
What ever you do, do NOT try to do ‘God’s Own Drunk’. I think Fruitcakes (the album) has several great songs. Of course you could do versions of Beach Boys songs. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/11 "2003-01-23T04:15:51Z")
Zebra: I thought about that one, too: God’s own Drunk. Don’t do it unless it’s REALLY late and everyone is REALLY drunk. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/12 "2003-01-23T05:13:51Z")
Everyone always leaves out My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, and I Don’t Love Jesus. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/13 "2003-01-23T06:40:19Z")
also good is _Another Saturday Night_ ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/14 "2003-01-23T14:00:35Z")
I’d definitely go with _Margaritaville_ and _Fins_; the crowd will be expecting those. For a change of pace, do _Volcano_ and _Pencil-Thin Moustache_. ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/15 "2003-01-23T16:34:10Z")
**chique** , I sing that everytime someone says they have a headache! And I’m glad someone included “Pencil Thin Mustache” - one of my favorites. My hang out bar in college had a Buffett cover band that was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/16 "2003-01-23T17:21:57Z")
I like the song Math Sucks but I don’t know which album it is on. hee hee hee I know some Doper will give the information to me instead of me getting off my lazy butt and finding out for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/17 "2003-01-23T18:29:09Z")
**Zebra** : Beach House on the Moon ---
**Author:** ![stofsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@stofsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stofsky)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/18 "2003-01-23T19:45:08Z")
If they’re maudlin-drunk, any fathers of daughters will burst into tears if you play “Little Miss Magic.” ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@Whiskey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-buffett-repertoire-question/150269/19 "2003-01-23T21:46:18Z")
I vote for “Gypsies in the Palace”, in addition to the above suggestions. Great fun!