He Went to Paris
Waylon Jennings
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He went to Paris looking for answers to questions That bothered him so He was impressive, young and aggressive Saving the world on his own Warm summer breezes, French wine and cheeses Put his ambition at bay The summers and winters scattered like splinters And four or five years slipped away He went to England, played the piano, and married An actress named Kim They had a good life, she was a good wife And bore him a young son named Jim All of the answers and all of the questions He locked in his attic one day Cause he liked the quiet clean country livin' And twenty more years slipped away War took his baby, Bombs killed his lady and left him With only one eye His body was battered, his whole world was shattered All he could do was just cry While the tears were falling he was recalling Answers that he never found So he hopped in a freighter, skidded the ocean And left England without a sound Now he lives in the islands, fishes the piling and drinks His Green label each day Writing his memoirs, losing his hearing But he don't care what most people say After eighty-six years of perpetual motion If he likes you he'll smile and say "Jimmy, some of it's magic, probably tragic, But I had a good life all the way" He went to Paris looking for answers to questions That bothered him so
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Written by: JIMMY BUFFETT
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Creation"He Went to Paris" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter, Jimmy Buffett. It was first released on his 1973 album, "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean".
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Cover ReleaseCountry music icon Waylon Jennings covered the song, adding to its popularity. His version of the song was included in the 1980 album "Music Man".
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Song InspirationThe song was reportedly inspired by the real-life story of Eddie Balchowsky, a Spanish Civil War veteran and artist that Buffett met in Chicago.
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Chart PerformanceDespite its popularity, "He Went to Paris" did not chart upon its initial release. It gained critical acclaim over time and is now considered a classic in the Buffett catalog.
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GenreThe song is usually classified as Country or Gulf and Western, a genre coined by Buffett himself to describe his musical style combining country, pop, and folk.
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Song ThemeThe song's lyrical narrative follows the life of a man who went to Paris, looking for answers, and how his experiences shaped his perspective on life, carrying a core message about treasuring life’s simple pleasures.
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TributeIn live performances, Jimmy Buffett often dedicated the song to his late grandfather, whom he credits with inspiring his storytelling abilities.
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Philanthropic UseIn 2005, the song was used in TV commercials to raise funds to aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina. The music video features images of Buffett and shots of the hurricane-damaged Gulf Coast region.
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Cover VariationsWaylon Jennings' version of the song varies significantly from the original recording by Jimmy Buffett. Jennings' distinctive outlaw country style offers a more emotive and melancholic take on the song.
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Other CoversBesides Waylon Jennings, other artists including Alan Jackson and Mac McAnally have also performed cover versions of "He Went to Paris."
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Citation
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"He Went to Paris Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/271228/Waylon+Jennings/He+Went+to+Paris>.
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