I sort of missed the prime Jimmy Buffett years, but still grew up with his tunes blasting through the yard on weekends. He managed to sell a lifestyle along with his music that really speaks to people (and sells hamburgers at his Margaritaville chain of restaurants!). As far as marketing goes, he’s a genius.
His number one hit in all of its simple glory is, at its heart, a three chord song. Play A instead of A7 and even a beginner can strum along.
To play the picking intro, just use the thumb and index of your right hand together to pinch the strings. The thumb plays the C-string, index plays the E-string. These double-stops add harmony to a simple melody and emulate the steel drum/keyboard line at the beginning of Margaritaville.
Intro: D G D A |-------------------------2-2-2-------| E |-5-5-5-3--5--5-5-5-3--5--3-3-3-5-3-2-| C |-6-6-6-4--6--6-6-6-4--6--------6-4-2-| G |-------------------------------------| D Nibblin' on sponge cake, watchin' the sun bake; A7 All of those tourists covered with oil. Strummin' my six string on my front porch swing. Smell those shrimp D (D7) They're beginnin' to boil. Chorus: G A D (D7) Wasted away again in Margaritaville, G A D (D7) Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt. G A D A G Some people claim that there's a woman to blame, A7 D But I know it's nobody's fault. D Don't know the reason, Stayed here all season A7 With nothing to show but this brand new tattoo. But it's a real beauty, A Mexican cutie, how it got here D (D7) I haven't a clue. Chorus> D I blew out my flip flop, Stepped on a pop top, A7 Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home. But there's booze in the blender, And soon it will render D (D7) That frozen concoction that helps me hang on. Chorus>