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

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Actors With Hit Songs

Actors With Hit SongsMusic Quiz

Many actors have attempted music, but only a few have managed a hit. Do you know which of these thespians charted?

Movie Stars In Music Videos

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.

Famous Singers' First Films

Famous Singers' First FilmsSong Writing

A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."