A Pirate Looks at Forty
Encyclopedia
"A Pirate Looks at Forty" is a song written and performed by American
popular music singer-songwriter
Jimmy Buffett
. It was first released on his 1974
album A1A
and "Presents to Send You" is the B-side of the single
.
Buffett wrote the song about Rusty Janes, at the Chart Room where Buffett first performed after his move to Key West, Florida
. The song contains the bittersweet confession of a modern-day pirate as he looks back on the first 40 years and his life and ponders his future.
For radio play, the song was shortened by deleting the fourth verse for the single release. The song is one of Buffett's more popular, and is part of "The Big 8" that he has played at almost all of his concerts, and always during the second set.
included a cover on his CD single "I'm Game" in 1993 which was taken from his solo album "Truth and Beauty".
Jack Johnson
has been known to cover this song in many of his smaller concerts. It was officially released on the soundtrack to The September Sessions in 2002.
Roger Creager
, a prominent Texas Country
performer, covers this song as well and is featured on his live album
Live Across Texas.
Bob Dylan
and Joan Baez
performed the song during their 1982 reunion performance at the Peace Sunday rally in Pasadena, California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
popular music singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
. It was first released on his 1974
1974 in music
-January–April:*January 3 – Bob Dylan and The Band kick off their 40-date concert tour at Chicago Stadium. It's Dylan's first time on the road since 1966.*January 17...
album A1A
A1A (album)
A1A or A-1-A is the fifth album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and the third major label album in Buffett's Don Gant-produced "Key West phase." It was initially released in December 1974 as Dunhill DS-50183 and later re-released on Dunhill's successor labels ABC and...
and "Presents to Send You" is the B-side of the single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
.
Buffett wrote the song about Rusty Janes, at the Chart Room where Buffett first performed after his move to Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
. The song contains the bittersweet confession of a modern-day pirate as he looks back on the first 40 years and his life and ponders his future.
For radio play, the song was shortened by deleting the fourth verse for the single release. The song is one of Buffett's more popular, and is part of "The Big 8" that he has played at almost all of his concerts, and always during the second set.
Chart performance
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 1 |
Cover versions
Ian McNabbIan McNabb
Robert Ian McNabb is a British singer-songwriter and musician from Liverpool, England. He is known both for his work as leader and songwriter-in-chief of The Icicle Works in the 1980s, and his critically acclaimed solo career throughout from the early 1990s to date...
included a cover on his CD single "I'm Game" in 1993 which was taken from his solo album "Truth and Beauty".
Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson (musician)
Jack Johnson was born May 18, 1975 is an American folk rock singer-songwriter, surfer and musician known for his work in the soft rock and acoustic genres. In 2001, he achieved commercial success after the release of his debut album, Brushfire Fairytales. He has since released four more albums, a...
has been known to cover this song in many of his smaller concerts. It was officially released on the soundtrack to The September Sessions in 2002.
Roger Creager
Roger Creager
Roger Creager is an award-winning Texas Country singer and songwriter.-Biography:Roger aspired to become a country music singer since he was six years old. He started learning how to play piano in the second grade, but didn't learn guitar until he was a student at Tuloso-Midway High School...
, a prominent Texas Country
Texas Country
Texas country music is a rapidly growing sub-genre of American country music. Texas country is known for fusing traditionalist root sounds with the outspoken, care-free views of outlaw country...
performer, covers this song as well and is featured on his live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
Live Across Texas.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
performed the song during their 1982 reunion performance at the Peace Sunday rally in Pasadena, California.