Sanibel in Song: Lyrics to Live By

It is difficult to listen to almost any Jimmy Buffet song about Islands, harbors, boating and the laid back life of a beach devotee without thinking about Sanibel. Most of JB's music carry Sanibel in its harmony.

And, of course, there are the songs of Danny Morgan, who is a local entertainer, often compared to Jimmy Buffet. But where there may only be a couple of songs directly related to Sanibel and Captiva out of the JB song book, Morgan has created dozens of titles that directly relate to the Island. Songs like "Sanibel Samba", "Sanibel Sunset" and "Captiva Moon" are unmistakeably planted in the sands of our two beautiful barrier islands.

But despite the world wide appeal to folks of Jimmy Buffet persuasion (most often called parrotheads) and the tremendous popularity of Danny Morgan on and around the Islands of Sanibel and Captiva, there may not be a song composed that resonates more clearly and touchingly with the topicality and peace of Sanibel than that which was sung by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

The title of the song, simply stated, is Sanibel.

And the simplicity of the title may well be deliberate. There is no other Sanibel, no need to add Island, or Florida or any other qualifying term. Sanibel is Sanibel period.

But the sweet sound of the song and the key words used in its composition, take the listener directly to the Island.

Terms like

Angels of the water, sirens of the sea
Whispering their sweet love songs
Calling out to me

bring the romance of the island to life.

And the clarification of this line

Going to leave this town forever
And go where I'll never
Need an overcoat no more

certainly reminds the listener of one of the many reasons to love and come to the island.

But it's the familiar refrain that wraps up the song most profoundly and touchingly

Ooh lalalala, every night and every day
Sitting by the gulf coast just a thousand miles away,
Where they cry...
Ooh lalalala, on an island I will dwell
Starlit nights in paradise on the isle of Sanibel

Yes, starlit nights in paradise are certainly Sanibel!