The « Margaritaville » singer, who canceled his annual summer tour, is making lemonade out of lemons, performing online concerts for first responders and longing for the day he’ll once again put on « one hell of a show »
For any of the past 40 summers, you could find Jimmy Buffett standing on a stage somewhere playing with his Coral Reefer Band.
Of course this year, he’s stuck at home, as high and dry as the rest of us.
Correspondent Tracy Smith asked, « You’ve been talking about taking a summer off for, what, 40 years now? »
« Yeah. This isn’t quite what I had in mind, Tracy! » he laughed « But you know, what’s that – ‘Make lemonade outta lemons’? The interesting thing is, with all of the tragedy and the serious things that are goin’ on, I’m having to deal with it and I talked to a lot of the people, you find some silver linings in all this. And that’s what we’re doing, like, for family and for band. »
He’s been using some of his time in quarantine doing online concerts, often for first responders.
« You know, historically you think about it, in times like this you still have to have a little fun, » Buffett said. « You still have to have a rest from what’s going on. And I knew that was the case, because a lot of healthcare workers and doctors I’ve known for a long time have used my music in operating rooms and emergency rooms to calm down. »
And lately he’s been able to share new music: His just-released album, « Life on the Flip Side, » is already getting rave reviews, for its good-time anthems, and songs like this:
Well, we could use some quiet We could use a little calm Find the good in everybody Share that « one love » balm Watch the predators and prey Swim along side by side ‘Neath the blue sky and mangroves Down at slack tide– « Slack Tide » by Jimmy Buffett
A slack tide is that moment just before the tide turns, when the water is calm and the world seems to take a beat, » Buffett said.
