From Parade Magazine: “Jimmy Buffett’s Daughter Delaney Sheds New Light on ‘Margaritaville’ Legend’s Final Days“
Jimmy Buffett’s daughter, Delaney Buffett, remembered her father as “the joy he sang about” in a touching tribute penned on social media, recalling him as cheerful and full of smiles in the days before his passing.
“I knew my dad my whole life, but in his final days, I saw who he was: a man whose spirit could not be broken,” the 31-year-old filmmaker began in a statement shared Wednesday via Instagram.
“Despite the pain, he smiled everyday. He was kind when he had every excuse not to be. He told us not to be sad or scared, but to keep the party going. And as much as I’d like to use that as an excuse to drink myself into oblivion worthy of his literary heroes, I know it’s not what he meant,” Delaney continued. “Yes, he loved his weed and his wine, but the truth is, most of the time, he was just high on life, and that is what he wanted for everyone: to enjoy the fantastic trip that life can be.”
Delaney described her father as “the joy he sang about” and “the hardest working person” she’s ever known.
“He was a great man and an even better dad to my brother, sister and me. He was generous with his friends and strangers alike. He had a deep admiration for the people he worked with, and he never took himself too seriously, which is probably what I loved most about him,” she admitted. “When I showed him the South Park episodes that parody him, he loved chuckling along. I remember teasing him about their Margaritaville blender jokes, and without missing a beat, he zinged me with ‘You live off those f—ing blenders!’ He got me there.”
“Over the past few days, people have thanked me for sharing my dad with them, but I know he would have wanted me to thank his fans for sharing their lives with him,” she wrote. “We are his family but the stage was his home, and you, his band, and everyone on the road gave him the strength to keep going back. I’ll pass something along my mom said to me, ‘Whenever you feel sad or lost, look for the messages in the music. There are plenty.'”
Delaney went on to thank the medical team and other professionals staffed with caring for her father, “I want to thank you for giving us more time together,” she wrote in part. “I am eternally grateful.”
“And finally, to my dad, thank you,” she concluded, “You turned nothing into something and gave me everything. I will never be able to repay you or my mom for my beautiful life. I will love you forever, and I will always keep the party going (responsibly, of course).”
Buffett passed away at the age of 76 on Friday, Sept. 1, at his Sag Harbor home following a battle with Merkel cell carcinoma, an aggressive type of skin cancer.
Along with Delaney, the musician shared two other children with his wife Jane Slagsvol: daughter Savannah and son Cameron.
I’m still crying. Will I ever feel good again?
We can only hope we will be good again 🙁
Whenever I felt down I Listed to his music to cheer me up
What a beautiful letter and thank you for your strength.
For sharing with all of us.
“Keeping the party going, Responsibly “.
Prayers for you and your family! God Bless!
Bless your father for raising such strong loving children. His music lifted me more than I like to admit. Life is a gift from god but love and kindness is a gift from us to god. Keep your heart warm with the love and kindness your parents tought you. Its 5 oclock somewhere…
Is death a gift from God too?
Eternal life…yes ..yes it is.
Truth! We are all “passing thru” this temporary life on a temporary earth in these temporary bodies. Souls were created for eternity – by Design. So we’ll take good care of what carries us (our bodies) until our souls take flight.
RIP Jimmy and thanks to his sweet daughter, Delaney, for sharing the final thoughts of encouragement from her father.
nd. From that day on I have been a huge fan,raising two more generations on his music and his way of life. Jimmy has changed my life as well I am sure many others.Anytime I was headed down dark paths,I would put on Jimmy’s music to lift me back up.My only regret is I never got the chance to get all three generations to a show together.I am sure the party will keep going for many generations to follow. God bless the Buffett family and all of his road crews and especially the staff at Radio Margaritaville for this last week of stories,music and tributes and to the staff at every location for bringing his music and lifestyle to all of us parrot heads.The blenders will keep churning in our family for years to come. As the tears are coming,I am done.Sail on Jimmy Buffett “FINS UP” forever…………
If you really listen to Jimmy’s words, they are not about escaping. He knew that “escape” was impossible but that was no reason to keep trying. For legions of fans, Buffett and “Margaritaville” came to symbolize something undoubtedly joyful. In a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, Buffett was asked why he thinks a song so clearly about melancholy still made so many people happy. Buffett, who had a lifelong love of New Orleans, often compared his tours and music to Mardi Gras, where people could come to blow off steam or let loose before returning to real life. “The theme of Mardi Gras is finally chasing death,” Buffett told the magazine. “You’ve got to have fun to keep the devil away.”
Who didn’t love Jimmy Buffett ! When people ask me where I live I tell them I live in Jimmy Buffett world…the great state of Florida. Thank you for the best feel good music ever! I did get to see him in concert! R.I.P. ❤️❤️
Awh, thank you for sharing, Delaney. Our memories are treasures tickled by a lively humor in all of his music & life. Keep the party going. It’s what he taught us.
Beautiful words about a beautiful person. He uplifted us all. May his memory always bring a smile to our face. Thank you so much for sharing ❤️
Right now i can’t stop crying.
Oh, oh, oh (Jolly Mon)
Jolly Mon sing
Oh, oh, oh (Jolly Mon)
Make the heavens ring
Delaney My Heart Goes out to you Savannah, Cameron and your Dear Mother Jane prayers to you all 🙏🙏✝️✝️✝️and Hugs ❤️❤️❤️Jimmy an I had a common interest it was Flying and airplanes . Back in 1974 when Come Monday played on Am Radio, I was on my way to Aviation School and I became a Fan instantly had to find out who he was. As years went by every Album came out I bought it and still ❤️play those Classic Vinyl records . I got to work on his airplanes today the Caravan and The Falcon 50 he was always a down to earth regular guy who like to talk shop and enjoyed hanging at the airport . You lost a Dear Father and we lost a Music Legend , Friend and fellow Aviator 😎❤️Fly Free Jimmy ✌️❤️😎
The word that keeps coming to mind for me about Jimmy Buffett is “Grateful”. I will be forever grateful to him for the untold hours of Joy he has brought to my beautiful wife and me. So much time sitting on our deck or a river bank enjoying an adult beverage and listening to his happy, crazy, or touching ballads and just reminiscing about a previous trip that one of his songs reminds us of. I am proud to say that, not only are we Parrotheads but our children and grandchildren are as well. God Bless you, Jimmy Buffett, the Tropical Troubadour who not only embodied what being happy is all about but made sure those around him were happy as well. Sail on, sailor with “Fair winds and following seas!”
Such a beautiful tribute. Love reading everyone’s comments while chewing on some “Juicy Fruit”. So much love and admiration. God Bless 🙌 Rest in Peace Jimmy Buffett 🙏
“Through seventy six years
Of perpetual motion,”
If he likes you, he’ll smile and he’ll say
“Jim, some of it’s magic
And some of it’s tragic
But I had a good life all the way”
Delaney, what a lovely tribute to a great man. Your Dad was perhaps the most successful person I can think of. Who else has made so many people really happy? That is no small accomplishment! His influence over how so many people, people whom he never met, see the world and feel is just incredible. I have always loved his way of appreciating the small joys in life. I live by his idea of “happily ever after, now and then.” Life can’t be an endless party. But there are things, almost every day, that we should celebrate.
I’m so very sorry for you and your family. I’m so sad because of your Father’s passing . I can’t imagine how you all must be feeling. But I know that he would not want his legacy to be sadness. Let’s take time to be sad together. Then, like your Mom said, we can find the happy, hopeful messages in his wonderful music, which lives on and on…
I saw in concert once, I couldn’t stop smiling.
A great loss to everyone.
He will be watching over you all.
Keep the memories alive live well laugh often and party on.
Thank you for sharing him with all of us.
RIP Jimmy it’s 5o’clock somewhere
Thank you Delaney, and the rest of your family for sharing your Dad with all of us who are struggling to imagine a world without your Dad and his spirit. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I thank Delaney for her words. This is not just a story about a music industry legend, but also a sincere story about a man who taught many of us to enjoy life. Jimmy Buffett was a great musician, but more importantly, he was a man who taught us to appreciate every moment. This music has helped me so many times and it definitely can’t leave me indifferent. I want to write a personal narrative essay about this because such people can influence others and change them. I’ve seen a few similar stories on https://edubirdie.com/examples/personal-narrative-essays/ and I’m considering using them as a basis for myself. This is a true story about fortitude and how music and a positive attitude can overcome even the most difficult challenges.