I first heard Cheeseburger in Paradise in 1994. I was 16. And #blessmyheart, I was a naive 16-year-old growing up on a farm in small town East Texas.
In the 90's it was cool to be heroin chic, and I did NOT fit that bill. I had a curvy muscular body and then the beginnings of an eating disorder trying to push my body to fit that unrealistic mold. I remember buying my first diet supplements through mail order from an advertisement in the back of Soap Opera Digest. I remember not eating for days for the first time in the 7th grade. In other words, I was no stranger to fad diets early in my life.
So. When I first heard Cheeseburger in Paradise, I heard "Soaking up the breeze, while losing weight without speed-eating sunflower seeds." Heck, at 16 I didn't even know what speed was. I just thought speed-eating sunflower seeds was some kind of popular fad diet I had not heard of. I am simply impressed that I didn't try speed-eating sunflower seeds as a diet.
I have belted out this song with that phrase ever since. At concerts. In the car with my kids. In the audience on Broadway at the Escape to Margaritaville play. I even encouraged my 7-year-old to sing this song at summer camp for talent show night. #camphuawni. FYI, I have never been so proud in my life when he chose that song to sing.
Now, fast forward to this week. In one of the concerts RadioMargaritaville played last week, Jimmy paused between speed and eating to make a joke. My mind was blown. I ran to google to check the lyrics. Is it a hyphen or a comma? (BTW That could be a Jimmy Buffett song.) It was a comma. Not a hyphen. Grammar is important, folks. In this case it's the difference between an illegal drug or a crazy fad diet. And again, #blessmyheart.
On a light-hearted closing note: I just went to ChatGPT and typed,
"Write a Jimmy Buffett song using this question: Is it a hyphen or a comma?
Thank you ChatGPT for my first laugh of the day.
Answer from ChatGPT
(Verse 1)
Well, I was sittin' at my keyboard, scratchin' my head,
Wonderin' 'bout grammar, what the wise folks said.
Is it a hyphen or a comma, that's the question in my mind,
Gonna write a little song 'bout it, see what we can find.
(Chorus)
Is it a hyphen or a comma, oh, the punctuation's tough,
Gotta get it right, my friend, or your writing's gonna bluff.
Is it a hyphen or a comma, well, let's all take a look,
In the world of grammar, we'll find the right hook.
(Verse 2)
Now, some folks say it's easy, don't fuss about the line,
Just throw in a hyphen, and everything's fine.
But others claim a comma's the way to go,
To separate those words, and let your writing flow.
(Chorus)
Is it a hyphen or a comma, oh, the punctuation's tough,
Gotta get it right, my friend, or your writing's gonna bluff.
Is it a hyphen or a comma, well, let's all take a look,
In the world of grammar, we'll find the right hook.
(Bridge)
Well, in this world of language, there's room for debate,
The grammar police might even show up late.
But I'll keep on writing, in my own style,
With a hyphen or a comma, I'll go that extra mile.
(Verse 3) So, if you're ever wonderin', don't let it bring you strife,
In the world of writing, you can choose your life.
Is it a hyphen or a comma, it's your own special touch,
Just keep on writin', and you'll find it means so much.
(Chorus) Is it a hyphen or a comma, oh, the punctuation's tough,
Gotta get it right, my friend, or your writing's gonna bluff.
Is it a hyphen or a comma, well, let's all take a look,
In the world of grammar, we'll find the right hook.
(Outro) Is it a hyphen or a comma, well, that's the end of the song,
But in the world of writing, you'll keep rollin' along.
So, don't sweat the small stuff, just let your words flow free,
Whether it's a hyphen or a comma, you'll be the best you can be.
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