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Jolly Mon Sing

by Jimmy Buffett, Will Jennings, and Michael Utley

from the album Last Mango in Paris

Lyrics

There is a tale that the island people tell
Don’t care if it is true ’cause I love it so well
Jolly Mon sang for his supper every night
The people fed him well ’cause he treated them so right

Oh Jolly Mon sing
Oh make Orion ring

And they wanted him to sing on the islands near and far
He always found his way by Orion lucky star
He’d tell them of their joys
He’d tell them of their woes
They’d love to see him come
And they’d hate to see him go

Oh Jolly Mon sing
Oh make the music ring

He was making his way home on a dark and stormy night
When he heard a cry for help
He saw a flashing light
When he reached the other boat
And offered him a hand
They said, “Give us all your cargo”
As they took a pirate stand

Oh Jolly Mon sing
Oh give them everything

“Jolly Mon it’s over – sing your last song very well”
They tossed him in the ocean
Cause their hearts were made in hell
Came along a dolphin
He said, “Jolly Mon hello”
“I’ve always loved your singing
Climb on board and don’t let go”

Oh Jolly Mon sing
Oh make the oceans ring

The night was filled with magic as they bid the sea goodbye
They swam into the heavens
And they stayed up in the sky
And all the island people
When they wish upon a star
See the dolphin and the Jolly Mon
Who tell them where they are

Oh Jolly Mon sing
Oh make the heavens ring
Oh Jolly Mon sing
Oh make the magic ring

Jimmy’s Note:

Dolphins gliding along beneath the bow of the ship, effortlessly crossing the wake and doing flips, set off a big wave of jealousy. If we are supposed to be such smart people, why can’t we do that? It just goes to show that talking isn’t everything. I wrote the picture book version with my daughter, and we wanted to make it clear that humans can learn from animals, and the natural world has room for all of our needs-not just man’s. There are times in this crazy world when I truly hope that somewhere somebody is living this made up life.