#130 – Apocalypso
#130 – Apocalypso
-by Stacy Garwood-
Inspiration struck last night, as I gazed upon a nearly full moon, high in the southern sky, bright and burning a deep, dark orange. There are fires burning in Canada and the haze and smoke has been drifting south for days and days. Not beneficial if you want to see Montana’s famous blue skies, but the haze does lend an intense glow to the night sky beacons. And turns the rising sun into a deep, red ball of fire. Both last night, and again this morning, I was struck by the idea or concept of the apocalypse, and the melody and lyrics for Apocalypso drifted softly through my mind.
“They say this universe is bound to blow, But I say we crank up the calypso control, Apocalyp…apocalyp…apocalypso…
We’ll be dancin’ when we go…”
Apocalypso was released on JB’s 1994 album Fruitcakes. As I have mentioned in earlier blog posts, this album has a very special place in my heart. It was the first record released after I had caught the Parrothead bug, and I cherished it. I had it both on tape and CD, and I listened to it front to back, or side to side, frequently. I now own it on vinyl too, and that’s a whole different listening experience that I heartily recommend.
Apocalypso was one of the songs on Fruitcakes that Jimmy didn’t have a hand in writing. It was the thirteenth and final song on the record, and I imagine that Jimmy found it amusingly tongue-in-cheek to tie a song about the apocalypse to the number thirteen, often viewed as an unlucky number by the superstitious. It was written by Matt Betton, who had previously, and in the future, would write songs with Jimmy, such as Everlasting Moon from the Ballads record of Jimmy’s four-disk complication Boats, Beaches, Bars and Ballads, as well as Take It Back, from the Boats album. If It All Falls Down from Floridays, You’ll Never Work In Dis Business Again from Feeding Frenzy and Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On and fan tribute song Here We Are from Take The Weather With You. That’s just to name a few.
Matt Betton was a member of the Coral Reefer Band for over a decade and is noted for playing drums and saxophone on multiple of Jimmy’s studio albums. Besides Jimmy Buffett, he also played drums for artists such as Crystal Gayle, Glen Campbell, George Strait, Johnny Lee and Sonny and Cher.
Jimmy has often surrounded himself with fabulous musicians and often has cowritten with them over the years, but he was also able to spot a strong song, and more than willing to put it on one of his albums, both because he found the song to be worthy, but also to help support friends and fellow artists. I am sure that was the case with Apocalypso. Matt Betton wrote it the previous year, and Jimmy jumped on the chance to feature it on his album Fruitcakes. As a matter of fact, in May of 1994, while promoting the album Fruitcakes, Jimmy performed Apocalypso on The Late Show with David Letterman, which is a huge sign that Jimmy was able to recognize a strong song and promote it, whether he wrote it or not. Not all songwriters are as willing to promote the music of others, but Jimmy was never like that.
As a matter of fact, Jimmy’s sense of humor was notable, and his ability to use entendre and play on words in his songs one of the things that makes his music witty and fun. For Jimmy, a man who was brought the island style of the Caribbean into his music, career and lifestyle for years, he might have been a bit jealous of Matt Betton for combining the idea of the apocalypse with the Calypso musical style that flavors the music of the islands. It’s a very witty title and song concept. And it plays out as well in 2026 as it did in 1994.
“Planets come and planets go, Apocalypso, Undisturbed the answers flow, Apocalypso…
Old galaxy can be cold, So I’ll hold you close…”
So, what is calypso music exactly? It is a musical style first noted in Trinidad and Tobago and featured steel or pan drum and a unique beat and lyrical style. It’s often noted for being light and uplifting and making it almost impossible not to want to dance or move your body in some way. It ties back to West African slaves who converted the genre Kaiso into an island vibe. In early calypso music, the lyrics were often a way to hide messages from slave owners into cleverly disguised rhymes. The lyrics were usually in French Creole patois and were about their slave masters or had political messaging.
Some more famous Calypso songs are Rum and Coca-Cola, The Banana Boat Song, Jamaica Farewell and Jump In The Line, the last three made popular by Harry Belafonte, the King of Calypso. The first was written in Venezuela and became a worldwide hit in 1945 the for the Andrews Sisters. I think Calypso music entices you to dance, but also to sing along with joy and happiness. It’s very uplifting.
When it comes to Apocalypso, it ties uplifting melodies with lyrics that tie to the potential darkness of the end of the world ( the lyrics say “planets come and planets go”), which is a delightful dichotomy.
The musical style also became tied to dancing, and as the song lyrics mention, if the end of the world seemed to be coming, then people should meet it with dancing. It’s actually a pretty beautiful message. Even if you dance like a headless chicken (that’s me), it’s good to let our bodies move and express, to uplift and energize ourselves and our environment, even if you are facing the end times. Which, I stand on record here and say we are NOT facing the end times. Unless it’s the end of a cycle, because our world history is a series of cycles, one ends and another begins. Might as well dance through the shift.
“When this earthly light is burning low, This dance will take you to the next plateau, Apocalyp…apocalyp…apocalypso…
We’ll be dancin’ when we go, We’ll be dancin’ when we go…”
Back to the inspiration for the song this month. The brilliant gifts we get, accidental or unrealized, when there are challenges in the world. Fires are currently burning across middle and western Canada, heavily touching the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia as well as in the Northwest Territories. It’s hot and has been dry in many places in the west, which is like a powder keg for dry timber and vegetation. While the smokey sky can lend an intense filter to the sunrise and sunsets, I am always aware there is a cost. Prayers for all the people, animals, birds as well as the flora and fauna that are affected by these intense fires. Most reports say that there is not a high percentage of containment in any of these fires. Canada is big, and it’s a huge effort to combat such huge wildfire situation.
And it’s not just the wildfires that make the world feel like apocalypse is just around the corner. The world feels hard right now, challenging in so many ways, and it does bring to mind the concept of the apocalypse. Of course, that brings to mind the dire warnings and predictions, some related to the Book of Revelations. But in general I am just referring more to the breakdown or collapse of the entire system that governs our world. We really are just along for the ride on this beautiful blue and green ball of a planet, and while I do think she’s giving us a crow hop or two, I don’t think she’s trying to buck us off completely… yet!
Dance in the moonlight, sing to the sun, laughter is the best medicine and enjoy every moment of the time we are given. I think this song takes a nice view on how to face times that can feel difficult.
“Now I’m no dancer as dancer’s go, But this is one step that you need to know, Apocalyp…apocalyp…apocalypso…
We’ll be dancin’ when we go…”
Dance, sing, laugh, enjoy yourself. Life is meant to be fun, to be free, to be energized and exciting. Jimmy had been telling us that for years in his music. We just need to make sure that we are listening to and understanding the message.
“We’ll be dancin’ when we go, We’ll be dancin’ when we go…
Ooh…apocalypso…”
Stacy
Please enjoy Apocalypso. I have included the links below. Enjoy!
1994 Studio Version:
2004 Live Album Version:
The links are from Jimmy’s official YouTube channel, which I have no personal affiliation with.
More links that may be of interest:
Fruitcakes » Jimmy Buffett World
Jimmy Buffett: Fruitcakes Tracks & Reviews | AllMusic
Apocalypso by Jimmy Buffett Song Statistics | setlist.fm
Jimmy Buffett Television Appearances » Jimmy Buffett World
Apocalypso – Stone Circle Press (the author errors while reporting Apocalypso was written by Jimmy Buffett, but the rest of the information is accurate)
What Is Calypso Music? With 7 Top Examples & History – Music Industry How To
Best Calypso Songs of All Time — Top 10 Tracks
Kaiso Dial – Calypso Music, Culture, History and Carnival Commentary
https://everything.explained.today/Kaiso
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/harry-belafonte-actor-and-activist
The Andrews Sisters | Andrews Sisters Act
