The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I went down to Captain Tony's to get out of the heat
Then I heard a voice call out to me, "Son, come have a seat"
I had to search my memory as I looked into those eyes
Our lives change like the weather, but a legend never dies
He said, "I ate the last mango in Paris
Took the last plane out of Saigon
Took the first fast boat to China
And Jimmy, there's still so much to be done"
"I had a third-world girl in Búzios with a pistol in each hand
She always kept me covered as we moved from land to land
I had a damn good run on Wall Street with my high fashion model wife
I woke up dry beneath the African sky, just me and my Swiss Army knife
"I ate the last mango in Paris
Took the last plane out of Saigon
Took the first fast boat to China
And Jimmy, there's still so much to be done"
We shot the breeze for hours as the sun fell from the skies
And like the sun, he disappeared before my very eyes
It was somewhere past dark-thirty and I went back to the head
I read upon the dingy wall, the words the old man said
"I ate the last mango in Paris
Took the last plane out of Saigon
Took the first fast boat to China
And Jimmy, there's still so much to be done"
"I ate the last mango in Paris
Took the last plane out of Saigon
Took the first fast boat to China
And Jimmy, there's still so much to be done"
That's why we wander and follow la vie dansante
Then I heard a voice call out to me, "Son, come have a seat"
I had to search my memory as I looked into those eyes
Our lives change like the weather, but a legend never dies
He said, "I ate the last mango in Paris
Took the last plane out of Saigon
Took the first fast boat to China
And Jimmy, there's still so much to be done"
"I had a third-world girl in Búzios with a pistol in each hand
She always kept me covered as we moved from land to land
I had a damn good run on Wall Street with my high fashion model wife
I woke up dry beneath the African sky, just me and my Swiss Army knife
"I ate the last mango in Paris
Took the last plane out of Saigon
Took the first fast boat to China
And Jimmy, there's still so much to be done"
We shot the breeze for hours as the sun fell from the skies
And like the sun, he disappeared before my very eyes
It was somewhere past dark-thirty and I went back to the head
I read upon the dingy wall, the words the old man said
"I ate the last mango in Paris
Took the last plane out of Saigon
Took the first fast boat to China
And Jimmy, there's still so much to be done"
"I ate the last mango in Paris
Took the last plane out of Saigon
Took the first fast boat to China
And Jimmy, there's still so much to be done"
That's why we wander and follow la vie dansante
Lyrics submitted by EnjOy IncUbus
Last Mango In Paris Lyrics as written by Will Jennings Marshall Chapman
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i have been a little parrot head since i was first able to walk and i used to go to Jimmy Buffett concerts on my daddys shoulders with mi grass skirt and i bet you anything i new the words to more songs at age 5 then most of the adults at the concert, and i was not shy about singing along:] at 15 now, i am happy to say that i still have every song by Jimmy on my iPod and im going to my 12th concert next month. this song has always been one of my faves, its sad that it has kinda slid under the deck, cuz its a greaaat song. its a true buffet anthem just chillin and goin where the wind takes you. xox