Best Song Lyrics (Part IX)

Today there was a mad scramble in this area for tickets to the April 17, 2012 Jimmy Buffett concert in Des Moines.  He hasn't played here for 27 years, so anyone who wasn't a willing, traveling Parrothead over that time, like me, hasn't had a chance to see him.  (One exeption - I saw him sing a song live at the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha years ago, when his cousin Warren Buffett flew him in and he performed 'Berkshire Hathawayaville' by changing the words to 'Margaritaville' melody.)

Buffett has long had a cult following (Jimmy and Warren both), but let's face it, a lot of his songs are campy.  That obscures the smart lyrics of some of his songs.  Take his famous song 'Fins' about men - land sharks - hitting on women:

She came down from Cincinnati
It took her three days on the train
Lookin' for some peace and quiet
Hoped to see the sun again
But now she lives down by the ocean
She's takin' care to look for sharks
They hang out in the local bars
And they feed right after dark

Can't you feel 'em circlin', honey
Can't you feel 'em swimmin' around
You got fins to the left, fins to the right
And you're the only bait in town
Oh oh
Oh oh
You got fins to the left, fins to the right
And you're the only girl in town

She's saving up all of her money
Wants to head it south in May
Maybe roll in the sand with a rock 'n' roll man
Somewhere down Montserrat way
But the money's good in the season
Helps to lighten up her load
Boys keep her high as the months go by
She's getting postcards from the road

Can't you feel 'em closin' in, honey
Can't you feel 'em schoolin' around
You got fins to the left, fins to the right
And you're the only girl in town

Sailed off to Antigua
It took her three days on a boat
Lookin' for some peace and quiet
Maybe keep her dreams afloat
But now she feels like a remora
'Cause the school's still close at hand
Just behind the reef are the big white teeth
Of the sharks that can swim on the land

Can't you feel 'em circlin', honey
Can't you feel 'em schoolin' around
You got fins to the left, fins to the right
And you're the only bait in town
You got fins to the left, fins to the right
And you're the only girl in town