By Wayne Weiner, D.Ed.
I was walking on the beach, a breeze rolling off the palm trees, when Jimmy Buffett’s “He Went to Paris” played on my Buffett List. I’d heard it before, but that night, it hit me differently.
That’s me, I thought.
Not all the details, sure—I haven’t lost an eye or worked the cannons in a war—but the spirit? The journey of it? That ache of hope and heartbreak mixed in with belly laughs and busted plans? That’s me. And maybe, just maybe, it’s you too.
What’s Jimmy Singing About Anyway?
“He went to Paris, looking for answers to questions that bothered him so…”
That’s how it starts. A young man, full of fire, chasing meaning. That’s how most of us start out. We carry our dreams like luggage—too heavy and packed with things we don’t need. We live, we stumble, we love. People leave. Some break your heart. Others hand you pieces of your soul you didn’t know you lost.
Jimmy’s man keeps moving. Keeps living. Learns to make peace with what he’s seen and what he hasn’t. He doesn’t become bitter. He becomes wise.
That’s what caught me.
I’ve been a teacher, a consultant, a father, a friend, a traveler, a fool, a champion, and a guy who missed a shot he should’ve made. And every part of that belongs in my song.
I Wrote My Own Verse
After hearing that song, I sat down and wrote a few lyrics myself. Here’s how mine starts:
He went to Israel, young and on fire,
Thought he’d change the world, or at least light a wire.
Worked in the heat with his hands and his pride,
Found out the world’s big, and he still had to ride.
It goes on from there—some wins, some losses, and a few middle-of-the-night musings. But unlike Jimmy’s man, my song isn’t done yet. I still have people to meet, jokes to tell, mistakes to make, and a few sunsets to catch.
What About Your Song?
The beautiful thing is: you’ve got a song too.
And it doesn’t have to rhyme. It doesn’t need a perfect melody.
It just needs truth.
Your heartbreaks and victories. Your weird detours and your proudest days. That time you danced in the kitchen at 11 p.m., or stood up for someone when no one else did.
You don’t need to be famous to be worth singing about.
You just have to live.
So go ahead—write your verses. Hum your tune. Add a new chorus every time life surprises you.
Because the truth is, as long as you’re breathing, the song isn’t over.
And when someone asks, “What kind of music do you like?”—you can say:
“Mine. I’m still writing it.”
Wayne Weiner, D.Ed. is a former Senior Consultant to the National Institutes of Health and the founder of Dr. Weiner Insights. He’s a philosopher, author of over 20 novels, and a firm believer that everyone deserves their own soundtrack. Visit https://drweinerinsights.com to read more.
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