Woman Goin' Crazy on Caroline Street

In ongoing attempt to "turn the people on" to my favorite writer of musical prose (outside of Athens, anyway), I've considered giving you all a taste of some lyrics from Jimmy Buffett songs that I feel are particularly well written. There's probably even a way that I can link to a sound file of the same song, but I feel that these works may garner some notice in the lyrics alone. From there, you can decide to find the recording if you want. I believe JB is a true original; an assertion underscored by the myriad of taggers-along (think K. Chesney) and cover-ers (Alan Jackson and Jack Johnson, to name drop) that have come to be influenced by this great writer.

"Woman Goin' Crazy on Caroline Street" (1975, co-written with Steve Goodman, on "Havana Daydreamin'" album)
This a tale of a fellow that happens to meet this pathetic figure of a barfly down in Key West. He's talking to one of the only women around, and the fleet is in. What ensues is despirately amusing. A study in beer goggles. Enjoy!

Chorus:
There's a woman going crazy on Caroline Street
Stoppin' every man that she does meet
Sayin' if you'll be gentle, if you'll be sweet
I'll show you my place on Caroline Street

Verse:
She claims in a loud voice to be a dancer
But I don't think she's "cut a rug" in years
She listens to the jukebox for her answers
And slowly guzzles twenty-five cent beers

She talks about the men she's known and then some
She's seen them in her dreams and on the street
She slides her dapper leg from beneath the table
As if to reveal some kind of treat

(Chorus)

Her lover left her stranded in Jamaica
But just right now she can't recall his name
Perceiving she's the center of attention
And all those lurking eyes, they look the same

The weather's got the shrimpers in a frenzy
They're horny and they don't need a good excuse
Someone yells and things just start eruptin'
And in a flash all hell has broken loose

(Chorus)

(Steel guitar solo)

When I woke up and looked around the barroom
She was gone and I was black and blue
So be careful when you go to swing your partner,
'Cause someone just might take a swing at you

(Chorus twice, fade)