Death Of An Unpopular Poet
Composer(s): Jimmy Buffett
Performer(s): Jimmy Buffett



I once knew a poet 
Who lived before his time 
He and his dog Spooner 
Would listen while he'd rhyme 
Words to make ya happy 
Words to make you cry 
Then one day the poet suddenly did die 

But he left behind a closet 
Filled with verse and rhyme 
And through some strange transaction 
One was printed in the Times 
And everybody's searchin' 
For the king of undergound 
Well they found him down in Florida 
With a tombstone for a crown 

Everybody knows a line 
From his book that cost four ninety-nine 
I wonder if he knows he's doin' 
Quite this fine 

'Cause his books are all best sellers 
And his poems were turned to song 
Had his brother on a talk show 
Though they never got along 
And now he's called immortal 
Yes he's even taught in school 
They say he used his talents 
A most proficient tool 

But he left all of his royalties 
To Spooner his ol' hound 
Growin' old on steak and bacon 
In a doghouse ten feet 'round 
And everybody wonders 
Did he really lose his mind 
No he was just a poet who lived before his time 
He was just a poet who lived before his time