Nibblin' on spongecake
Watchin' the sun bake
All of those tourists covered with oil
Strummin' my six-string
On my front porch swing
Smell those shrimp, they're beginning to boil

Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
But I know it's nobody's fault

Don't know the reason
I stayed here all season
With nothing to show but this brand new tattoo
But it's a real beauty
A Mexican cutie
How it got here, I haven't a clue

Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
Now I think, hell it could be my fault

I blew out my flip-flop
Stepped on a pop top
Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home
But there's booze in the blender
And soon it will render
That frozen concoction that helps me hang on

Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt, salt, salt, salt
Yes it's, Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
But I know it's my own damn fault

Yes, and some people claim that there's a woman to blame
And I know it's my own damn fault


Lyrics submitted by Brock256, edited by coaster6, BoulderJ

Margaritaville song meanings
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    General Comment

    The narrator of this song is a man with a toxic relationship and an alcohol habit. There's no clear indication of which is the cart and which is the horse, but they clearly feed into each other in a downward spiral. He and his girlfriend fight constantly, even when they're supposed to be away on vacation. One day in Mexico she catches him drunkenly oggling tourist girls on the beach, says she's leaving, and storms off. He waits for her there all season, but she never returns. He drowns his sorrows and tries to get over her, which is what his un-remembered tattoo is all about. Finally, his money and health run down, he returns home. His girlfriend is not there waiting for him, and is apparently really gone for good. But his alcohol habit is still right there with him wherever he goes.

    I only recently noticed the double meaning of "my lost shaker of salt". He's referring, of course, to his girlfriend and her nagging and snippiness ("salt"). But he still misses her and wants her back, and finally realizes he might have been able to make it work with her if not for his drunken buffoonery.

    FabrikeOnSheenon July 24, 2020   Link

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