Gypsies in the Palace
"Gypsies in the Palace" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Cover of the American 7 " single[1] | ||||
Single by Jimmy Buffett | ||||
from the album Last Mango in Paris | ||||
A-side | "Gypsies in the Palace" | |||
B-side | "Jolly Mon Sing" | |||
Released | 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Genre | Country, Gulf and Western | |||
Length | 5:07 | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jimmy Buffett, Glenn Frey, Will Jennings | |||
Producer(s) | Tony Brown, Jimmy Buffett | |||
Jimmy Buffett singles chronology | ||||
|
"Gypsies in the Palace" is a song written and performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was first released on his 1985 album Last Mango in Paris and was his first of three charting singles off that album. This song charted No. 56 on US Country.[2]
Plot
The song concerns an apparently professional entertainer who leaves his home in the care of the unnamed narrator and another man nicknamed "Snake" while he goes to perform elsewhere.
Once the homeowner leaves, the two men are enticed by the food and alcohol he has in store and shoot the lock off his liquor cabinet, rationalizing this action by claiming the inventory will go to waste if not consumed. They then invite numerous people to the house to throw a wild party, where they have naked conga lines, throw people into his swimming pool, and partake in his commodities.
The homeowner calls the house and reports that he will return early, so the two rush out their guests and clean up the mess left during the party. When the homeowner returns, the two men point out all the work they've done around his house in his absence, then offer to watch the house again if the opportunity arises.
Live Performances and Radio Edits
When performing the song in concert, Buffett calls it "The scariest song you'll hear tonight." Its performance is often preceded by a pre-recorded voice intoning: Narrated by James Mason.
- "In days of old, when knights were bold,
- And journeyed from their castles,
- Trusty men were left behind;
- Knights needed not the hassles.
- They helped themselves to pig and peach,
- And drank from King's own chalice;
- Oh, it was a stirring sight,
- These gypsies in the palace."
To which Buffett adds "And some things never change. Hit it, boys!"
Jimmy Buffett stated when he appeared on Jerry Jeff Walker's television show, that the song was based on true-life experience.
When released as a single, the song was trimmed for radio, excluding the dialogue introduction and other corners of the song for pacing purposes.
Chart performance
Chart (1985) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles[3] | 56 |
Notes
- ^ "45 RPM Records - 1979 to 1993". Archived from the original on April 23, 2002. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
- ^ "Charting Information" Archived December 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine at Buffettworld.com.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.
- v
- t
- e
- Michael Utley
- Greg "Fingers" Taylor
- Mac McAnally
- Robert Greenidge
- Deborah McColl
- Jim Mayer
- Peter Mayer
- Roger Guth
- Ralph MacDonald
- Down to Earth
- High Cumberland Jubilee
- A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean
- Living and Dying in 3/4 Time
- A1A
- Havana Daydreamin'
- Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
- Son of a Son of a Sailor
- Volcano
- Coconut Telegraph
- Somewhere over China
- One Particular Harbour
- Riddles in the Sand
- Last Mango in Paris
- Floridays
- Hot Water
- Off to See the Lizard
- Fruitcakes
- Barometer Soup
- Banana Wind
- Beach House on the Moon
- Far Side of the World
- License to Chill
- Take the Weather with You
- Buffet Hotel
- Songs from St. Somewhere
- Life on the Flip Side
- Songs You Don't Know by Heart
- Equal Strain on All Parts
- You Had to Be There
- Feeding Frenzy
- Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
- Live at Texas Stadium
- encores
- Down to Earth/High Cumberland Jubilee compilations
- Greatest hits compilations: Songs You Know by Heart
- Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads (box set)
- A Pirate's Treasure
- All the Great Hits
- The Great Jimmy Buffett
- Biloxi
- Great American Summer Fun with Jimmy Buffett (EP)
- Calaloo (EP)
- Meet Me in Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection
and musical albums
- Rancho Deluxe soundtrack
- Christmas Island
- Don't Stop the Carnival (musical)
- 'Tis the SeaSon
- "Margaritaville"
- "Come Monday"
- "A Pirate Looks at Forty"
- "Volcano"
- "Fins"
- "Cheeseburger in Paradise"
- "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere"
- "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes"
- "One Particular Harbour"
- "Why Don't We Get Drunk"
- "Southern Cross"
- "Brown Eyed Girl"
- "Son of a Son of a Sailor"
- "God's Own Drunk"
- "Pencil Thin Mustache"
- "Grapefruit—Juicy Fruit"
- "Boat Drinks"
- "Gypsies in the Palace"
- "Jamaica Mistaica"
- "He Went to Paris"
- "Knee Deep"
- "The Great Filling Station Holdup"
- "Hey, Good Lookin'"
- "Surfing in a Hurricane"
- "Trip Around the Sun"
- "Math Suks"
- "Same Boat"
- Live by the Bay
- Music for Montserrat
- Live at Wrigley Field
- Live at Fenway Park
- Live in Anguilla
- Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
- Margaritaville merchandising
- Mailboat Records
- Cheeseburger in Paradise Restaurant
- Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant
- Land Shark Lager
- Jimmy Buffett discography
- Radio Margaritaville
- Hemisphere Dancer
- Savannah Buffett
- Save the Manatee Club
- Tonsil Trouble
- "Margaritaville" (South Park)
- Escape to Margaritaville