#56 – Presents To Send You
Day #56 – Presents To Send You
I have learned a lot of interesting things about the inspiration for many of Jimmy’s songs during this song tribute, and this one is no different. This song has proved to be quite interesting, much more than I had realized at first, and I have a feeling that details will continue to pop up. One thing I didn’t realize when I first posted about the incident that inspired at least some of this song, was that on that day in Nashville, when Jimmy Buffett and Sammy Creason stepped into the ring (or parking lot) with Buford Pusser, earlier on that very day, they had ironically recorded God’s Own Drunk in a studio for Living And Dying In ¾ Time, which led to celebrating with too much tequila, getting themselves “God’s Own Drunk”, which led to a few questionable choices.
I also learned that Buford Pusser was a big, big man, standing 6 foot 6 inches, and weighing in at 250 pounds. Before becoming a sheriff, Pusser had earned a living as a professional wrestler. In the line of duty over the course of ten years, it is said that Pusser was shot eight times, stabbed as many times and sent people not only to jail, but several to the hospital and a few to the mortuary. He was not a man to be messed with.
Lesson learned here- don’t climb on the hood of someone’s car for a better view, whether you are wearing golf shoes or are barefootin’ it. But if you do, and shit goes sideways, then you better write a damn good song about it.
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Original post from 10/27/2023
Day #56 – Presents To Send You
Presents To Send You was released on JB’s 1974 album A1A.
I feel like every song on this album feels like an old friend to me, and this song is no exception. It has a soft, easy flow to it, almost gentle, music that feels like a warm breeze on a partly cloudy day. It’s that combination of easy listening beach and country that Jimmy’s early music is known for.
This song has been an ear worm for me, the day before, certainly yesterday, and I woke up with the chorus on repeat; so that means I’m going to share it with you.
I can’t tell you what every line in this song is about, although mentions are made of sailing to Bridgetown, which is in Barbados, and a special someone who is always on our troubadour’s mind, but there is certainly one verse that ties to a very interesting story.
“There sits a fifth of tequila, God, I swore I’d never drink it again, But my last little bout, I had my hair pulled out by a man who really wasn’t my friend, And I know I’ll never see him again…”
In 1974, Jimmy was in Nashville. He was working on recording some songs and was also playing some live shows. He was both staying and playing at the King of the Road hotel, which also happened to be hosting the Tennessee Prosecutors convention.
After what Jimmy himself describes as an obnoxious performance fueled by way too much tequila, he and his drummer, Sammy Creason, decided they wanted BBQ at Charlie Nickens, but they couldn’t find their rental car because the lot was so full.
Jimmy, who had been wearing golf shoes at the time, climbed onto the hood of a Cadillac to see if he could find his rental, which was an AMC Gremlin. He didn’t spot his car, but someone spotted him.
That someone was Buford Pusser, an ex-wrestler turned Tennessee lawman, who had a reputation for taking no shit from anyone and had made a reputation for himself by trying to take down the Tennessee mafia with his bare hands. He had already killed multiple people in the line of duty. He was both adored and feared, depending on where you were standing.
I have read multiple stories about the incident, and details vary slightly, but Jimmy was apparently knocked off the hood of the car by Pusser swinging a garbage can. Words ensued; fists were flying. Sammy Creason found the Gremlin and he and Jimmy retreated quickly. Pusser followed as well. It seems like he was a man with a great temper…
Jimmy and Sammy made it into the car but couldn’t get it started. Apparently, you needed to buckle the seat belt before the engine would start, and with a 6ft 6in tall “maniac” chasing you down, seat belts weren’t a priority.
Pusser apparently broke out the passenger window, took turns swinging at both men and attempted to pull Jimmy, who was in the driver’s seat, out the passenger seat window by his hair. The men defended themselves with a pen, managed to get a seat belt buckled, and car started, and left an enraged Buford Pusser in the parking lot.
Later, after some BBQ (because why not go eat after nearly dying), Jimmy and Creason returned to the hotel, armed with a tire iron just in case Pusser was still around. He was but they managed to skirt his attention. They made into the lobby and to their room. But JB had lost his key in that struggle, so had to go back down to the lobby for a spare key, where he was spotted by Pusser and two other detectives, who actually removed Jimmy from Pusser’s wrath, and told him they ought to arrest him, but decided since he was lucky enough to be alive, they would let him go without charges.
Jimmy would later say he thought he was going to die that day, and when he realized who Pusser was, he knew he had made a lucky escape. Both men were bruised and bloody; Sammy Creason had a broken nose, and Jimmy had a large hunk of hair ripped right out of his scalp. The rental car was beaten, bruised and bloody too!
Buford Pusser has an interesting story. The movie Walking Tall was very loosely based on his life and had been released the year before. For good or bad, he was not a man to be messed with. In August of 1974, Pusser died in a single car accident, rumors persist it might have been a hit from the mafia (no joke), so by the time Jimmy recorded this later in the year, he knew he would have no further contact with Pusser.
This incident makes another appearance in JB song called Semi-True Story written by Mac McAnally, another of my favorites. But Presents To Send You is all early Jimmy, with his ease and lyrical charm, who was lucky enough to survive his own poor choices.
Today I present my ear worm song, Presents To Send You. The link is in the comments below.
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Jimmy’s experience with the Walking Tall sheriff has become known as “The Buford Pusser Incident”, and it seems that is a gift that keeps on giving, at least in the sense of storytelling and song writing.
The Buford Pusser story just keeps giving and giving. I wrote my original post before Equal Strain On All Parts was released. While I had heard a couple of the songs on the album early, I had not heard them all, and one I had not heard was Close Calls, which is another story linked to “The Buford Pusser Incident”.
Part of my wonders what Buford Pusser would have said about how he recalled the incident, and if he had lived, what he would have thought of the multiple songs that have sprung from a scuffle in a Nashville parking lot. All of me is glad that we have Jimmy’s versions to be entertained by.
I also wonder what the rest of this song is about but doubt we will ever know.
Stacy
Please enjoy Presents To Send You. I have included the link below. Enjoy!
The link is from Jimmy’s official YouTube channel, which I have no personal affiliation with.
