#131 – Dreamsicle
#131 – Dreamsicle
-by Stacy Garwood-
The world feels really complicated, the last several months certainly, but especially the last couple of weeks, and I actually had the thought that, instead of last month, I should have saved Apocalypso for this month, as we are in the midst of an intense eclipse cycle and the world feels like it’s on fire, literally as well as figuratively. The feeling of countering that complicated intense energy felt like the medicine needed and one of Jimmy’s light, carefree and more playful songs immediately came to mind. Dreamsicle! How can we go wrong with a song that is like a creamsicle of dreams. We can’t go wrong with it!
“Dreamsicle, big dill pickle, High school honeys sure were fickle, I’ll be damned country ham, takes me back to Alabam…”
Then today, came the news of Dolly Parton’s passing, and while feeling immediate sorrow, I was also filled with gratitude for people who have a gift of music, or songs and lyrics, and those who decide to share that gift with us. Dolly Parton, like Jimmy Buffett, are very special people. They were the kind of people who bless the world by uplifting us with their music, their kindness, their sense of joy in life.
Much like Jimmy, Dolly was a gifted lyricist. And she could play beautiful music on a guitar (or a banjo, fiddle or dulcimer), which considering her fingernails, almost defies logic. Actually, I think she could play around twenty musical instruments, which is highly impressive. But her voice, and her ability to craft a song that touched our hearts, was a clear gift. Music is beautiful on its own, but it touches us in a different way with lyrics, with the words that build a song, that touch our souls, that ignite a memory, tell a story, or that just carries us away from our lives for three minutes. Dolly could absolutely do that, but so could Jimmy Buffett, although he often doesn’t get the credit as a song writer as I think he should.
Anyway, the song Dreamsicle has been waiting patiently to be featured, and I have debated about it multiple times, and I realize that it was waiting for this perfect time. Because in a world that is freshly mourning the icon that Dolly Parton was and still processing through the loss of the icon that Jimmy Buffett was, we all could use a Dreamsicle.
Dreamsicle was recorded for and released on JB’s 1979 album Volcano. It was solely written by Jimmy himself, although it’s hard to say how soon before it was recorded that Jimmy penned the song. Not long, I would think, since it mentions “bassinettes” a clear nod to the soon-to-arrive-into-the-world Savannah Jane Buffett, little miss magic herself, although that would be the next album. All songs for Volcano were recorded on the Caribbean island of Montserrat in the British West Indies. This was Jimmy’s first album under MCA (Music Corporation America) after it had purchased ABC Dunhill.
Fun facts: Dunhill Records was founded in 1964 by musician Johnny Rivers, along with producer Lou Adler and Bobby Roberts. It was created entirely as a vehicle to release Johnny Rivers’ own music, and it was initially a production company under Imperial Records. The following year, Dunhill became completely independent as its own Record Company, and not only promoted Johnny River’s own music, but it launched the career of artists such as the Mama’s and the Papa’s, Barry Maguire and The Grassroots, to mention a few. I love it when artists take creation into their own hands, and it ends up supporting not just themselves, but others, and opens the path for great music to us all.
The Volcano album was produced by Norbert Putman, who produced six of Jimmy’s albums, including Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes, which had a little single called Margaritaville that shifted the trajectory and success of Jimmy’s early career. Volcano was recorded at AIR Studios, co-owned by Sir George Martin, who famously was the lead producer of The Beatles during their time with EMI. Jimmy had met the charming and talented producer the year before, when he was playing live in the UK, and he said it was easy to be convinced to record his next studio album in the Caribbean.
The tales that come out of this album recording sessions are legendary, both for what happened in the studio, as well as what happened outside of the studio. This includes Jimmy bringing in a political refugee from the jungle to play steel drum in the studio, James Taylor’s brother having to be whisked off island after hitting a cow with his golf cart and spending much free time partying at local pubs and jamming with the local bands before rolling into the studio to lay down tracks with a fairly disapproving studio staff.
Even the creation of the song Volcano was tied integrally to moments in a hot tub, having a few drinks, and gazing up on the Soufriere Hills volcano. The song might have been part premonition, not only for Montserrat’s volcano which exploded and destroyed a good portion of the island in 1997, including the very studio the song was recorded in. But also for Mount St. Helens in Washington, which erupted the year following the release of Volcano, in May of 1980, with the song Volcano becoming almost a theme or rally song for people surviving the smoke and ash fall out in a multistate area. We can’t say that Jimmy caused a volcano to erupt, but it’s safe to say he had pretty good timing.
The time recording the album Volcano in Montserrat is full of many colorful stories, probably more so that we have heard, with songs like Volcano, Fins and Boatdrinks connecting to a festive feeling. But this record also has quiet and gentle moments, such as songs like Sending The Old Man Home, Chanson Pour Les Petits Enfants and Treat Her Like A Lady. The most whimsical and playful song on the album is Dreamsicle.
Not a lot is talked about when it comes to Dreamsicle, the writing or recording of it, but it’s a song that reminds me of how talented that Jimmy Buffett was as a wordsmith. It reminds me of how he must have created Grapefruit-Juicy Fruit, sitting down, playing with words and letting the melody come along with the lyrics, or even The Devil I Know, which came much later in Jimmy’s career, but has the same word-smithing vibe. It’s light, it’s playful, it’s a happy song. It’s not complicated in energy even if the lyrics are a bit of a tongue twister at times. It’s like seventeen snap shots of Jimmy’s life, with salt and pepper through the lyrics for seasoning.
So today, it honor of Jimmy Buffett’s sometimes overshadowed talent as a songwriter, I think diving into the lyrics of Dreamsicle will be the perfect way to showcase, not only this song, but Jimmy’s life up to that point, from inception to 1979ish, which includes the college years, the New Orleans years, the Nashville years, the Key West years, the Colorado years, the sailing years and becoming a father. Here we go…
“Let me tell you now he sips, he quips, Dreams a lot about sailing ships, Wants to throw it all away, Wants to have it back someday…”
Jimmy was, of course, almost obsessed with the sea. He came from sailing people, and he became a sailor, especially in the seventies, after his Key West success. He went from dreaming about sailing ships, to owning them, big and bigger as his career grew, which eventually led to a stopover on the island of St Barts, which lead to a home, a hotel and club, and a lifelong love of the French West Indies island.
“Love’s fool, Sears tool, Wants to win that football pool, Spend it on some real good grass, Disappearing oh so fast…”
Well, Jimmy loved his weed, and honestly never stopped talking about it over all the years he played music and toured. He might have settled down as the years moved by, less hard alcohol and drugs, to red wine in the evenings with a toke or brownie or a sucker, but I always loved that he remained true to himself. And had the money and connections to have “real good grass”, not the “skunk weed” he often joked about.
Jimmy also loved sports, and I imagine that he was involved in several boards and pools over the years, picking scores by skill or at random. Almost everyone likes the idea of having a chance to win something big, and Jimmy was no different than most of us. If anyone has any idea on a specific story involving a Sears tool might be, I haven’t heard it, although my mind travels to having Craftsman tools, with the original distributor being Sears, starting in the 1920’s, and would have been celebrating a fifty-year anniversary around the time Jimmy would have been penning this song.
Here is my confession, and I guess it can be added to miss heard or misunderstood lyrics, but until today, I have always believe that “Disappearing oh so fast” was “Disappearing in old Snowmass”, which would have been a nod to where Jimmy had a home in the Aspen, Colorado area, which was he had been frequenting at the time this song was recorded. Mind blown…
“Tell my story pain and glory, guess my occupation, Free and easy, warm and breezy, Overnight sensation…”
As much as it probably felt like becoming famous overnight when Margaritaville became a hit, Jimmy was no overnight sensation. He had been working hard for years on his career, starting in colleges in Alabama and Mississippi, busking in New Orleans, working at Billboard in Nashville while moonlighting in the clubs, while pursuing his writing and recording career, then completely shifting latitudes and attitudes by moving to Key West and embracing the lifestyle there. But none of it was overnight, nor did Jimmy want to be a one-hit wonder, and he worked his entire life to remain successful. He was smart, he had good instincts and was a good businessman, which I attribute to his double Capricorn placement, Sun and Moon, and his Libra Rising, which is how he kept it all balanced over the years. Some of it did probably feel easy and breezy, some of it probably did feel like a combination of pain and glory.
“I got house pets, Learjets, Tryin’ to learn about bassinettes, Oh Miss Piggy dance with me, Let me take you to the sea…”
Jimmy had several pets over the years, most notably dogs, including a collection of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, who even made an album cover. He mentioned his love of his dogs in Like My Dog and Somethin’ ‘Bout A Boat (although neither was not written by Jimmy, he chose to record it) and the heartfelt tribute to a loyal dog companion in Death Of An Unpopular Poet. I don’t know if he had any cats, never mentioned them if he did, but a feral cat did make the lyrics of The Devil I Know, which is a song similar in style to the rollicking and rhyming fun of Dreamsicle.
Jimmy had many planes over the years, and while I don’t know if he ever piloted a Lear yet, there is no doubt he traveled in speed and style on them many times in his life.
And probably my favorite lyric of this song, the one that tugs my heart strings and makes me sappy, is his nod to learning about bassinettes. Jimmy’s beloved eldest child, Savanna Jane, was born in Aspen Colorado, in June of 1979, so when Jimmy was recording this album in May of the same year, he would have absolutely been preparing. He was a novice in regard to impending fatherhood, but I have no doubt he embraced every aspect of it, and I am always charmed that he included that view in this song.
“Dreamsicle, big dill pickle, High school honeys sure were fickle, I’ll be damned country ham, takes me back to Alabam…”
Ah the chorus…it’s beautiful. I mean, who doesn’t love a big dill pickle and country ham, and yes, I agree that high school loves can be fickle, and of course, his tribute to growing up in Mobile, Alabama. Did I mention that dill pickle love?
“Won’t you tell my story, pain and glory, Guess my occupation, Free and easy, warm and breezy, Overnight sensation…”
I am trying to help tell your story, Jimmy, because it deserves to be told. And remembered. Cherished. Cheers to you, Jimmy Buffett, and all the music you have given to us over the years.
Some people might think you are a singer, a songwriter, a businessman. But I think you are a magician! That’s my guess on your occupation!
“Let me tell you now he sips, he quips, Dreams a lot about sailing ships, I’ll be damned country ham, takes me back to Alabam, I’ll be damned country ham, takes me home to Alabama…”
This song has always tugged at my heart strings. It just feels like the kind, humorous, playful and smart person that Jimmy Buffett was.
And as to the news about Dolly Parton’s passing away today, on the day I had no idea that she would ever get a mention in one of my blog posts about Jimmy Buffett, it happened. You know, I think Dolly would have performed an amazing version of Dreamsicle, and I am sad it never happened. I mean, who but Dolly Parton and Jimmy Buffett could charmingly sing about something like a “big dill pickle”?
Honestly, I hope that Jimmy was part of her welcoming party, holding a Gibson guitar and maybe they are singing a Dreamsicle duet!
“Dreamsicle, big dill pickle, I’ll be damned country ham…”
Stacy
Please enjoy Dreamsicle. I have included the link below. Enjoy!
1979 Studio Version:
2011 Live Version:
The links are from Jimmy’s official YouTube channel, which I have no personal affiliation with.
More links that may be of interest:
Jimmy Buffett on wild times at the Caribbean’s most rock’n’roll studio | The Independent
The Soufrière Hills volcano- 1995, 1996, 1997 eruptions | EKACDM
A Condensed Summary of the Soufriere Hills Eruption for Students | Montserrat Volcano Observatory
The story behind “Music for Montserrat” at Royal Albert Hall – DireStraits
Astro Charts — Jimmy Buffett’s birth chart
BREAKING: Dolly Parton: The Passing Of An Icon – MusicRow.com
