Day #49 – Migration
Day #49 – Migration
Migration is defined as “movement from one part of something to another” or “seasonal movement of animals from one region to another”. While Jimmy never specifically mentions the word migration in his song lyrics, he used it for the title of his song. In the song, Jimmy does mention people who retire to Florida, and he also mentions himself in a backyard (in Key West) wondering how he ever got here. Both are certainly examples of migrations, and another lyric mentions sailing down to Martinique and establishing a new life with a parakeet, a Bogart suit and a bottle of wine. At the time of this song, this is a future migration, but one I believe hinted at Jimmy’s love of adventure and his willingness to keep migrating if it suited his soul.
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Original post from 10/20/2023
Day #49 – Migration
Migration was released on 1975’s A1A, the album that keeps on giving us great song after great song.
“That’s why it’s still a mystery to me, Why some people live like they do …”
This song has an energy and enthusiasm that is hard to deny, especially when played live, and I always sensed that Jimmy meant this one from the very soles of his feet as well as his deepest soul.
“I got a Caribbean soul I can barely control, And some Texas hidden here in my heart …”
Jerry Jeff Walker was a great friend to Jimmy and encouraged him to make the move to Florida and even took him to Key West and basically dropped him off at a bar (I believe it was the Chart Room) where he could play while he wasn’t busking music on the street and watching the sunset at Mallory Square. Jimmy’s gulf coast roots tied him to both county and rock music. Especially the outlaw county of the seventies.
“Yeah, listen to Murphy, Walker, and Willie, Sing me those Texas rhymes …”
The song specifically mentions outlaw county and his love for the music of Michael Martin Murphy, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Willis Alan Ramsey (I really thought this was a nod to Willie Nelson and I’m not convinced it doesn’t have double meaning). It also mentions his dislike of mobile homes that are smothering the Keys and would have been better as beer cans.
This song also touches on freedom versus responsibility, and the lifelong search for where you belong. Jimmy was twenty-eight and questioning the odds of him living to be an old man. A little existential search for meaning wrapped up in a driving rhythm and some witty lyrics.
“Lookin’ back at my background tryin’ to figure out how I ever got here, Some things are such a mystery to me, While others are oh so clear …”
Another interesting thing about Migration is that the word “migration” is never mentioned in the lyrics, but you realize the whole song tells the story of Jimmy’s migration to a life in the keys and the music style that prevailed there.
Please enjoy Migration. I have included the link in the comments below.
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After my initial post, a friend who is a long time Parrothead told me that she had always been confused by the title of this song, and that I helped her make some sense of it all. But it made me think, what the heck do I know. That is just my personal interpretation of what this song means.
What does this song mean to you? Or how do you interpret the title of the song? I would love to hear. Please drop a note in the comments if you have some ideas on what “Migration” means in this song.
Stacy
Please enjoy Migration. I have included the link below. Enjoy!
The link is from Jimmy’s official YouTube channel, which I have no personal affiliation with.
