Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
You've seen it all, you've seen it all

Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam
And in your belly, you hold the treasures few have ever seen
Most of 'em dream, most of 'em dream

Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late
The cannons don't thunder, there's nothin' to plunder
I'm an over-forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late

I've done a bit of smugglin', and I've run my share of grass
I made enough money to buy Miami, but I pissed it away so fast
Never meant to last, never meant to last

And I have been drunk now for over two weeks
I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks
But I got stop wishin', got to go fishin'
Down to rock bottom again
Just a few friends, just a few friends

And I go for younger women, lived with several awhile
Though I ran 'em away, they'd come back one day
Still could manage to smile
Just takes a while, just takes a while

Mother, mother ocean, after all the years I've found
My occupational hazard being my occupation's just not around
And I feel like I've drowned, gonna head uptown
I feel like I've drowned, gonna head uptown


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings

A Pirate Looks at Forty Lyrics as written by Jimmy Buffett

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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A Pirate Looks at Forty song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    This is without a doubt one of my favorite Buffett songs. The lyrics are soothing yet make you smile with the wit Buffett puts into the words. This song is NOT about Buffett. It's about Captain Tony Terricino, Key West's mayor.

    FinsJimmyBuffett26on June 24, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think you're wrong.... this song IS about buffett. Something like 90% of his songs are autobiographical. At one point in his life he smuggled weed into the keys on a boat. I think it was after he left Texas.

    Gimpy Jimon March 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    He longs to be something he can't be. He's a pirate at heart but since he was born in the present he can't be what his heart's calling him to be. It's kinda sad.. but it's an AWESOME song.

    MRIQAon June 05, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song comes to mind whenever im leaving the coastline to return to ohio. now if thats not a reason to get drunk for two weeks i dont know what is.

    sleepingbagon January 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Last Mango in Paris is about Captain Tony. It even says so in the song.

    jbmarxon January 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The song isn't about Captain Tony, but rather a guy named Phil Clarke, a bartender at the infamous "Chart Room" bar in Key West who was also mentioned in "Nautical Wheelers."

    UnpopularPoeton January 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I don't carr who this ongs about it fuckin rocks.

    hotpocketon January 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song.

    I feel the same he does... (The entire song)

    "Yes, I am a pirate two hundred years too late. The cannons don't thunder there's nothin' to plunder I'm an over forty victim of fate Arriving too late, arriving too late."

    TehGreatMutatoon March 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is about phil clarke, who worked in the chart room bar, he disappeared one day...and washed up in california. they flew his body back to the keys.

    TLM1975on September 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this is about getting older and reminiscing.

    cubbyblueson September 10, 2009   Link

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