Jimmy Buffett Quotes & Song Lines to Brighten Your Day
Jimmy Buffett quotes are fun and inspiring at the same time. He brings smiles to thousands of Parrot Heads every summer during his annual concert tour, singing his songs about escapism and summer fun.
Among these Jimmy Buffett quotes, you’re sure to find one that speaks to your laid back, beach loving soul.
Jimmy Buffett Quotes About Life
1. “Wrinkles only go where the smiles have been” – Jimmy Buffett
One of my absolute favorite song lines by Jimmy Buffett. This song lyric is from his song “Barefoot Children in the Rain” which celebrates those carefree moments in life.
You don’t really know how special they are right then, but looking back on the memories of just letting go and relishing in the moment is special, even when you’d prefer sunshine over rain.
As Jimmy Buffett sings about the barefoot children in the rain
“Show me yours and I’ll show you mine
Take me back to days full of monkeyshines
Bouncin’ on a bubble full of trouble in the summer sun
Keep your raft from the riverboat
Fiction over fact always has my vote
And wrinkles only go where the smiles have been”
Famous Jimmy Buffett Quote
2. “It takes no more time to see the good side of life than the bad” – Jimmy Buffett
3. “Life is just a tire swing” – Jimmy Buffett
Right? Life is up, down, backwards and then it’s up again. This Jimmy Buffett quotes come from his song “Life is Just a Tire Swing” which is autobiographical, about growing up in the south and life is grand as a child, because you don’t know any different.
Jimmy makes a mistake, wrecking his car into a telephone pole and learns about the pain (not just physical) that goes along with life. As a songwriter about the real side of life, this Jimmy Buffett quote applies to everyone because life is really a lot like swinging on a tire swing.
4. Some people never find it, some only pretend. But I just want to live, Happily ever after, now and then” – Jimmy Buffett
5. “I’d rather die while I’m living than live while I’m dead” – Jimmy Buffett
One of Jimmy Buffett’s quotes from a song that is deeply powerful and inspiring: “Growing Older but Not Up.” He truly lives his life with this motto and we should all take note.
With only a few numbered days on this earth, live it to the fullest. We only get one chance.
6. “We’ve gotta roll with the punches, Learn to play all of our hunches, Make the best of whatever comes your way”- Jimmy Buffett
From one of Jimmy Buffett’s more obscure songs “Cowboy in the Jungle.” This song tells a story of a man who ended up in his own paradise, but it was not his destination. He found happiness by making the best of where he ended up. It’s truly one of Jimmy’s best songs.
7. “If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane” – Jimmy Buffett
For Jimmy Buffett quotes, this is one of the most popular and it’s just as applicable today as it was in 1977, when he released the song “Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude.” The world needs to lighten up a little and stop doubling down on every little minuscule thing. Sometimes, we just need to laugh at the craziness and move on. Otherwise, we for sure, would all go insane.
Note that the “internet” has attributed this quote to Robert Frost, yet with significant research I can only find people talking about “if” this quote is really from Robert Frost. No one can pin point (from what I can find) this quote to anyone other than Jimmy Buffett.
But… Jimmy Buffett readily admits in interviews of his love of reading poetry, so it isn’t impossible. But if anyone can find where Robert Frost wrote this in a poem, please let me know!
8. “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.” – Jimmy Buffett
We all face difficult times in life that we can not change. Just “breathe in, breathe out and move on” is something Parrot Heads readily repeat when discussing difficult times. It’s a great reminder of how to deal with those less than desirable moments in life.
This song is actually in reference to Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it caused in New Orleans. It isn’t flippant, as one might initially think.
This Jimmy Buffett quote is from his heart and is meant to encourage anyone affected by tragedy to take that deep breath, let it out and get busy finding a way to move forward.
Don’t try to explain it, just bow your head
Breathe in, breathe out, move on
9. “Life is much more manageable when thought of as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a surprise party” – Jimmy Buffett
Oh so true! One of Jimmy Buffett’s best quotes. You can tell he lives what he says. He’s had his share of crazy experiences, like when his sea plane was shot at when landing in Jamaica. He took it totally in stride and didn’t get upset about it.
Instead, he captured the incident in his song “Jamaica Mistaka”. That’s just the way Jimmy Buffett rolls.
10. “Laugh till you cry, cry till you smile” – Jimmy Buffett
From Jimmy Buffett’s song “Boomerang Love” which is about figuring out how to make a relationship right again.
Jimmy Buffett Quotes About the Beach and Ocean
11. “If there is a heaven for me, I’m sure there is a beach attached” – Jimmy Buffett
As the man known for living the quintessential beach lifestyle, heaven for him is certainly a gorgeous tropical beach.
12. Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude – Jimmy Buffett
Beyond “Margaritaville” this might be Jimmy Buffett’s most quoted song lyric.
It never ceases to amaze me how easily my attitude is uplifted by just a changing my latitude to somewhere warm.
13. “I’ve got to be where the wind and the water are free” – Jimmy Buffett
Another insightful quote from his song “Cowboy in the Jungle.” The entire lyric goes like this:
I don’t want to live on that kind of island
No, I don’t want to swim in a roped off sea
Too much for me, too much for me
I’ve got to be where the wind and the water are free
14. “I’ve got to fly to St. Somewhere” – Jimmy Buffett
How many times have we all thought “if I could just escape for a few days?”
This is one of the most famous Jimmy Buffett quotes and exactly what I repeat to myself when I need to get away from reality. It doesn’t really matter exactly where, just not here. A few days away from reality can do us all some good to replenish our souls.
Jimmy Buffett Quotes About Love
15. “With a little love and luck we will get by” – Jimmy Buffett
Another of these Jimmy Buffett quotes coming from his songs, this one is “Love and Luck” and ranks at the top of my Jimmy Buffett playlist.
It’s all we really need in life; Love and ever so often a little luck.
Favorite Jimmy Buffett Quote
16. “We are the people our parents warned us about” – Jimmy Buffett
As an “official” Parrot Head since 2000, I can say most of us just love this Jimmy Buffett quote.
If you didn’t know that there are “official” Parrot Heads…. then have I got stories to tell you!!
Yes, there are “official” Parrot Head clubs all around the world. We are over 30,000 strong and we raise MILLIONS of dollars for charity while we “party with a purpose.” And I mean we PARTY with a purpose!
Some of us dress in crazy costumes for every Jimmy Buffett concert, while some of us simply sport our fav t-shirt and shorts (that’s me). From all walks of life — we have doctors and lawyers to retirees and beach bums — but we are truly a force in the charity world and I seriously can not imagine any other “social” group having as much fun as we do from music festivals to local happy hours while making the world a better place.
I never meant for this blog post to be a recruiting effort, but as I’m typing this and thinking about all the magnificent people I call my friends, 99.8% come from spending the last 20 years traveling the world with amazing Parrot Heads.
If you love the beach lifestyle and you love Jimmy Buffett music and you love having a ton of fun while raising money for charity, check out Parrot Heads in Paradise and see if there is a club near you.
We might look like the people your parents warned you about, but I promise we are a collective group of amazingness.
