Manana

Album: Son of a Son of a Sailor (1978)
Play Video
  • Jimmy Buffett
    She said I can't go back to America soon
    It's so goddamn cold it's gonna snow until June
    Yeah, they're freezin' up in Buffalo stuck in their cars
    And I'm lyin' here 'neath the sun and the stars.
    Customs man tell her that she's gotta leave
    She's got a plan hidden up her shrewd sleeve
    Wants to find her a captain, a man of strong mind
    And any direction he blows will be fine.

    Chorus:
    Please don't say manana if you don't mean it
    I have heard those words for so very long
    Don't try to describe the ocean if you've never seen it
    Don't ever forget that you just may wind up being wrong.

    Tried and I tried but I don't understand
    Never seems to work out the way I had it planned
    Hanging out at a marina when Steve Martin called
    Singin' anybody there really want to get small.

    But women and water are in short supply
    There's not enough dope for us all to get high
    I hear it gets better, that's what they say
    As soon as we sail on to Cane Garden Bay.

    Chorus:
    Please don't say manana if you don't mean it
    I have heard your lines foe so very long
    Don't try to describe the scenery if you've never seen it
    Don't ever forget that you just may wind up in my song.

    Called all my friends on those cheap nightly rates
    Sure was good to talk to the old United States
    While the lights of St. Thomas lie twenty miles west
    I see General Electric's still doing their best.

    I've got to head this boat south pretty soon
    New album's old and I'm fresh out of tunes
    But I know that I'll get 'em, I know that they'll come
    Through the people and places and Caldwood's Rum

    Chorus:
    So please don't say manana if you don't mean it
    I have done your lines for so very long
    Don't try to describe a Kiss concert if you've never seen it
    Don't ever forget that you just may wind up being gone
    And I hope Anita Bryant never does one of my songs. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Brent Mundt from Metairie“And I hope Anita Bryant never ever does one of my songs” was music to the ear of a scared young Gay boy like me. She was one nasty Bible Bigot - bashing us scared folks. So, knowing we had straight allies like Jimmy made me a parrot head for life!
  • Brian from Boston, MaAwsome song one of Buffetts' best
  • Joel from Bucks County, PaI'm surprised that nobody made mention of the direct drug line (no pun intended) in this tune.
    There may also be a reference to cocain too.
  • Scott from St. Louis, Mo"Hangin' out at a marina when Steve Martin called
    Singin' anybody there really want to get small"
    I like to GET SMALL. It's a wild, wild drug. Very dangerous for kids though because they get REALLY small. I know I shouldn't get small when I'm driving, but I was driving around the other day and a cop pulls me over, and he goes "Hey, are you SMALL?" I said, "no, I'm tall, I'm tall." HE said "I'm gonna have to measure you." They have a test, it's a baloon, if you can get inside of it, they know you're SMALL.
  • Tom from St Thomas, Us Virgin Islands , United StatesBeing from St.Thomas,General Electric has nothing to do with the power plant. It is owned by the government and is called WAPA (Water and Power Authority) This is an inside joke for us locals when Jimmy lived in the islands. When tourists ask us when the lights will come back on, our reply maybe tomorrow mon.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"They're Playing My Song

When a waitress wouldn't take him home, Jack wrote what would become one of the Eagles most enduring hits.

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Butch Vig

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.