Day #33 – He Went To Paris
Day #33 – He Went To Paris
Today is a big day in Jimmy Buffett’s world, even though he might not be with us on the physical plane of this big round ball we call Earth, he is certainly with us in spirit. Today is the release day of Equal Strain On All Parts. We have been able to hear several of the songs from the record already, and we already know that there is one song that already has captured the hearts of his fans, which is Bubbles Up. It already ties to us in an emotional way that maybe equals the emotional attachment we have to He Went To Paris, which for me, has always been deeply sentimental.
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Original post from 10/4/2023
Day #33 – He Went To Paris
“He went to Paris looking for answers to questions that bothered him so…”
Jimmy’s music could be upbeat, funny and a little (sometimes a lot) irreverent, but he had a deeply series and emotional side, and he could strum your heartstrings with certain lyrics and melodies.
This song is one of those songs! He Went To Paris was released on Jimmy’s album A White Sport Coat And A Pink Crustacean in 1973. He Went To Paris was the fourth single from the album but it never made it on any charts. Hard to say why, but it is a beautiful song. Incredibly poignant. Years later, Bob Dylan mentioned Jimmy as one of his favorite songwriters and named He Went To Paris specifically as a song he liked, along with Death Of An Unpopular Poet.
JB spent quite a bit of time in his early years playing in Chicago. He played in one place, called The Quiet Knight, and there he met an old gentleman, a one-armed janitor, Bob Balchowsky who worked there, but who was also a pianist and painter. According to The Parrothead Handbook, Jimmy and Bob spent time visiting and Jimmy found out Bob was a veteran of the Spanish Civil War, during which Bob was wounded and had lost his arm. He had been sent to Paris to recuperate, and the story unfolded.
I’m not sure how much is actual, and how much is imagination, but it combines into a gorgeous song. It’s about life, the good, the not so good, and making the best of it, even in tragedy. Jimmy described writing this song as putting it all together and mixing it up like gumbo!
Famous Chicago musicians Steve Goodman, who wrote many, many songs, including Go Cubs Go, plays guitar on this studio recording. Not only were Jimmy and Steve friends, they were both diehard Cubs fans, so of course I love that! Jimmy played at Wrigley Field in later years and has a great live album from those shows.
One of the lines in this song is about drinking “green label” and I have seen interesting internet debates over the years on just what that green label beverage is. I always thought it was Scotch, some people claim it’s Tequila, some people think it’s a green label Rum from the Caribbean, and others claim it’s Heineken. I think that “green label” can be whatever you want it to be.
“Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but I had a good life all the way.”
Please enjoy He Went To Paris. It’s a beautiful song, both sad and uplifting. The link is in the comments below.
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As for Equal Strain On All Parts, I ordered it back in September and while mine hasn’t arrived in the mail, I am okay with that, because it allows me to hold onto that anticipation just a little bit longer. I really don’t mind waiting at all because I know it will get to me at just the right time.
Stacy
Please enjoy He Went To Paris. I have included the link below. Enjoy!
The link is from Jimmy’s official YouTube channel, which I have no personal affiliation with.
