A PIRATE LOOKS AT FORTY

(Jimmy Buffett)

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Covered by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez at Pasadena Peace Sunday, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA, Jun 6, 1982.

ORIGINAL LYRICS © 1974

Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call,
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall --
You've seen it all, you've seen it all.

Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam,
And in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen --
Most of 'em dream, most of 'em dream.

Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late.
The cannons don't thunder, there's nothin' to plunder
I'm an over-forty victim of fate --
Arriving too late, arriving too late.

I've done a bit of smugglin', I've run my share of grass,
I made enough money to buy Miami, but I pissed it away so fast --
Never meant to last, never meant to last.

And I have been drunk now for over two weeks.
I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks,
But I got stop wishin', got to go fishin'
Down to rock bottom again --
Just a few friends, just a few friends.

I go for younger women, lived with several awhile.
Though I ran 'em away, they'd come back one day,
Still could manage to smile --
Just takes a while, just takes a while.

Mother, mother ocean, after all the years I've found
My occupational hazard being my occupation's just not around --
I feel like I've drowned, gonna head uptown,
I feel like I've drowned, gonna head uptown.