Jimmy Buffett – African Friend Lyrics

Album on Son of a Son of a Sailor

[Verse 1]
Disembarking at Duvalier Airport
Seeking transportation to town
As the purple ink dried on his passport
He could still feel the eyes look around

[Verse 2]
“Messieur ou y est casino?”
Spoke to the cabbie and smiled
Driver replied, “Vieux ou noveaux?”
As he motioned the dark man inside

[Chorus 1]
Business in Aruba concluded
He now had a little money to spend
That’s how I came to meet my African friend

[Verse 3]
We were rolling the bones several hours
Conversing as most gamblers do
We were calling on all of our powers
Hopin’ to see the night through

[Verse 4]
But not approving at all of our winnings
Pit boss, he tugged at his sleeve
Through the whole thing, my new friend was grinning
When he motioned, “it’s time we should leave”

[Chorus 2]
With our night at the tables behind us
We were ready just to do it again
That’s when I came to know my African friend

[Verse 5]
But I woke up on the steps of a whorehouse
Soldier told me I’d better leave
As I stumbled to find me a taxi
I saw a note pinned to my sleeve

[Verse 6]
“It was a pleasure and a hell of an evening
Truly was our night to win
But the authorities insist on my leaving
Take care, my American friend”

[Chorus 3]
With my weekend at Haiti concluded
I now had a little money to spend
That’s when I came to meet my African friend
That’s how I came to know another good friend