Story Behind The Song
I am, a Jimmy Buffet fan, amongst many artists, and in the 90's I was introduced to his music. I loved straight away his different use of lyrics to tell his stories and linking them to pretty good melodies. As I was working on the ocean myself, I felt an affinity with his world, especially in the Caribbean where I spent a bit of time looking after the rich and sometimes famous. Jimmy wrote a beautiful song called 'He went to Paris' and it was this song many years later that lyrically came to me when I wrote this one about a long ago relationship with someone wonderful. Its one of several songs I've written about her and although it was a long time ago, how great it was to love and be loved in return. She was French, younger than I was at the time, it really was in Paris and if she ever saw this, she would know immediately it was about her. Incidentally, my personal favourite JB song is 'A Pirate looks at 40'.
Song Description
Meeting and loving someone in a short but intense relationship.
| Song Length |
4:15 |
Genre |
Country - General |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Serene |
Subject |
Unrequited Love, Heartbreak |
| Similar Artists |
Jimmy Buffett |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
From a line in a record, he went looking for answers with the vigour of youth.
And sometimes he found that they led to more questions, perhaps different truths.
Far from the ocean the Place Madeleines evening sun,
Left his 20's and 30's and somehow 40's begun.
Then he met a lady, the power of a woman to soften hard edges.
And one time in Paris, the shine in her eyes, lit the whole city.
But just when he knew that somehow he'd found The One.
His life was not her life, and just as soon she was gone.
The world in a week-end, he can look back reflecting at somewhere near 60.
And the devils and demons and what ifs and maybe's, lets go looking for laughter.
His heart was burned in some foreign field at Verdun.
Through stumbling turmoil, he knew he'd loved the One.
Now north of 80, drinking red wine and whisky and all of those moments.
And through answers to questions, he found out how little we know.
One certain certainty, pressing through life as its done.
Hold on to those feelings you felt when you loved the One.