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We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us About Lyrics
I was supposed to have been a Jesuit priest or a Naval Academy grad
That was the way that my parents perceived me
Those were the plans that they had
Though I couldn't fit the part too dumb or too smart
Ain't it funny how we all turned out
I guess we are the people our parents warned us about
You know I could have worked the rigs when the money was big Or hopped a freighter south to Trinidad
And when they tried to draft me I earned a college degree
Buyin' time till things were not so bad
But when I got a guitar found a job in a bar, playin' acid rock til I was numb
Tell me where are the flashbacks they all warned us would come.
Chorus:
We are the people they couldn't figure out
We are the people our parents warned us about
Hey hey, Gardner McKay, take us on the leaky Tiki with you
Clear skies bound for Shanghai, sailin' on the ocean blue
Now I got quarters in my loafers tryin' to fight inflation
When it only used to take a cent
Sometimes I wish I was back in my crashpad days before I knew what cash flow meant
Seems everybody's joggin' or heavy into health shit
Don't tell me that I ought to get rolffed
'Cause I love cajun martinis and playin' afternoon golf
Chorus:
We are the people there isn't any doubt
We are the people they still can't figure out
We are the people who love to sing "Twist and Shout"
(Shake it up, Baby now)
We are the people our parents warned us about.
That was the way that my parents perceived me
Those were the plans that they had
Though I couldn't fit the part too dumb or too smart
Ain't it funny how we all turned out
I guess we are the people our parents warned us about
And when they tried to draft me I earned a college degree
Buyin' time till things were not so bad
But when I got a guitar found a job in a bar, playin' acid rock til I was numb
Tell me where are the flashbacks they all warned us would come.
We are the people they couldn't figure out
We are the people our parents warned us about
Clear skies bound for Shanghai, sailin' on the ocean blue
When it only used to take a cent
Sometimes I wish I was back in my crashpad days before I knew what cash flow meant
Don't tell me that I ought to get rolffed
We are the people there isn't any doubt
We are the people they still can't figure out
We are the people who love to sing "Twist and Shout"
(Shake it up, Baby now)
We are the people our parents warned us about.
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I love this song because I have been raised on this music, and my parents have been following it for decades. While the song is true for my parents, It is true for me too.
One of my first entries into Jimmy Buffett music as a kid (I was probably in 6th or 7th grade when I first listened to a Jimmy Buffett CD). I think I relate to Jimmy Buffett for many reasons but a big one is being raised in a strict catholic household being forced into Alter Servitude by my Irish Catholic mother. Anyways; I sure know that what I grew up to become after hearing this at a prescient young age is what my parents warned me not to be. a good lesson in psychology in a fun Buffett song methinks.