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Big Top

by Jimmy Buffett and Roger Guth

from the album Buffet Hotel

Lyrics

Just like Santa, I come around once a year
Time to break out all of your party gear
There’ll be a jump up out on the lawn
Just look for those fins
Singing along with your favorites once again

Walkin’ this tumultuous tight rope ain’t no sweat
Nowhere else I’d rather be you can bet
Workin’ without a net might seem severe
But if I fall I know it will appear

And it’s a big time under the big top
There’s nothing wrong with that
Rhumba-ing in my flip-fops
I’m an accessory in front of the pack
Come on baby let’s rock
The circus has come to town
It’s a big time under the big top
Don’t you just love the sound

Fortune teller’s full of gossip and news
The tattooed man is wearing his points of view
Under the big top’s where we all belong
Just a good vibe tribe happy to sing along

And it’s a big time under the big top
Ain’t nothing wrong with that
Dancing the part in my flip-flops
Watching this three ring act
Come on baby let’s rock
The circus has come to town
It’s a big time under the big top
Don’t ya love to move around

Just like Santa I come around once a year (Ho! Ho! Ho!)
Time to break out all of your party gear
There’ll be a jump up out on the lawn
Just look for those fins (to the left, right, left)
Singing along with your favorites once again

And it’s a big time under the big top
Ain’t nothing wrong with that
Rhumba-ing in my flip-flops
Watching this three ring act
Come on baby let’s rock
The circus has come to town
It’s a big time under the big top
Don’t you just love the sound

Love the sound
Move around

Jimmy’s Note:

It’s great to have a Roger Guth song again in this collection. Besides being our great drummer for over twenty years, Roger has a unique point of view as a writer, and can paint pretty good pictures of Parrothead life.

The original idea for this record was based on the fact that I have been lucky enough, thanks in large part to the ticket-buying fans, to do what I want as far as music is concerned. While record companies are sifting through the wreckage of what used to be, and pop music today is based mostly on theme park performers and TV talent contests, I still get to play and sing for a crowd of loyal followers.

So I decided we would include some things on this record as a tribute to the people who have paid our rent for over 40 years. I have always though of our touring entourage as a being as close to the circus as one can get without having to buy and feed lions and elephants, though I have heard about sighting of a few wild animals out on the lawn on occasion. If we are indeed a circus, then we need a big top, so here is yours, Parrotheads.