Tag: Changes in Latitudes Changes in Attitudes

Good times and riches and son-of-a-bitches I’ve seen more than I can recall

When I got Jimmy Buffett’s greatest hits in the 80s this is one song that stood out to me. The greatest hits was called “Songs You Know By Heart.” I didn’t know much about the guy before then but he was intriguing. This song grew on me more through the years because I could start relating to the song more and more. 

Of course, I knew Margaritaville well and I remembered Come Monday but the rest were new to me. He had some serious songs like A Pirate Looks At Forty and then he had Why Don’t We Get Drunk and Screw and Cheeseburger in Paradise.

In my past posts about Buffett I told people if they had a chance to see him…do it. His concerts were the perfect place to take a date to. I’ve never been to a concert that was such a party atmosphere. I saw him twice and remember Beach Balls being up in the air the entire concert…swatted by the audience. 

The song is the title track of Buffett’s 1977 album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes. This album marked a turning point in Buffett’s career, contributing to his growing popularity and being known as “Gulf and Western,” a blend of country, folk, rock, and Caribbean influences.

This was also the name of his seventh studio album which included the song he was forever known for, Margaritaville. The album peaked at #12 on the Billboard Album Charts, #2 on the Billboard Country Charts, and #43 in Canada in 1977. 

The song peaked at #37 on the Billboard 100, #24 on the Billboard Country Charts, #34 in Canada, and #21 on the Canadian Country Charts in 1977.

Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes

I took off for a weekend last month just to try and recall the whole year
All of the faces and all of the places wonderin’ where they all disappeared
I didn’t ponder the question too long, I was hungry and went out for a bite
Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum and we wound up drinkin’ all night

It’s those changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
With all of our running and all of our cunning
If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane

Reading departure signs in some big airport reminds me of the places I’ve been
Visions of good times that brought so much pleasure makes me want to go back again
If it suddenly ended tomorrow I could somehow adjust to the fall
Good times and riches and son-of-a-bitches I’ve seen more than I can recall

These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
Through all of the islands and all of the highlands
If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane

I think about Paris when I’m high on red wine I wish I could jump on a plane
So many nights I just dream of the ocean, god I wish I was sailin’ again
Oh, yesterday’s over my shoulder, so I can’t look back for too long
There’s just too much to see waiting in front of me and I know that I just can’t go wrong

With these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
With all of my running and all of my cunning
If I couldn’t laugh I just would go insane
If we couldn’t laugh we just would go insane
If we weren’t all crazy we would go insane

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