The Captain and the Kid

Album: Down To Earth (1970)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Buffett wrote this poignant folk song in honor of his grandfather, who took him sailing when he was a kid and instilled his love of the sea. Captain James Delaney Buffett, a former sailor who could never quite adjust to life on land, died on January 2, 1970 at age 82. When Buffett came home to Nashville after the wake, he poured his grief into song.
  • A Nashville record producer showed interest in the song but thought it was too sad. He wanted Buffett to change the ending and let the old man live, but Buffett refused. After all, his grandfather had died and that's what inspired the song. The experience soured the singer's opinion of Nashville and the following year he moved to Key West, where he cultivated his image as an easy-going purveyor of island tunes.
  • This first appeared on Buffett's debut album, Down To Earth. He re-recorded it for Havana Daydreamin' in 1976 and Meet Me In Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection in 2002.

Comments: 5

  • Rev. K. from DallasThis is one of my all-time favorite Buffett songs although, admittedly, it's one that only die-hard Buffett fans usually know about. What a touching tribute to the man who first set Buffett on the sea, and which created his world-wide tour/career "of life-upon-the-sea."
  • Hugh Mcphee from Wick, United KingdomGreat song. Perhaps a wee bit more obscure than the favourites like Margaritaville, et all.
  • Cage from Boston, MaJust want to reiterate that this is a beautiful song about his "grandfather"
  • Patrick from Philadelphia, PaBuffett often tells the story that when he first was shopping this song around that a record executive told him that it was too sad and that he would have to change the ending so that "The Captain" didn't die at the end. Buffett refused, when asked why he said, "because in the real world he did."
  • Richard from Jefferson, NcActually, it was about his grandfather. See the liner notes in 'Boats Beaches Bars & Ballads'
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.