"Grapefruit—Juicy Fruit" is a song written and performed by American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 popular music singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...

 Jimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffett

James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...

. It was first released on his 1973

1973 in music

-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...

 album A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean

A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean

A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean is the third album by American popular music singer–songwriter Jimmy Buffett and the first major-label album in Buffett's Don Gant-produced "Key West phase"...

and was his third single from that album. The single reached #23 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart in September 1973.

The song appears on Songs You Know By Heart

Songs You Know by Heart

Songs You Know by Heart: Jimmy Buffett's Greatest Hit is the 18th album and the first greatest hits compilation by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released in January 1985 as MCA 5633...

, a greatest hits compilation

Greatest hits

A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...

 that includes Buffett's concert favorites ranging from 1973 to 1979. It's played very frequently in concert, but is not a concert staple.

History

Buffett wrote the song in Key West, Florida

Key West, Florida

Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...

 at a time when he would play in a bar called Howie's Lounge in the afternoon and work on a fishing boat at night. He would meet young tourist girls riding the Conch Tour Train and take them to the drive-in theater

Drive-in theater

A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.The screen can be as simple as a...

. They would have some purple passion mixed up in a jug, and if mixed correctly the dates would claim they couldn't taste any alcohol, to which Buffett would reply, "That's the point."

On the live album You Had to Be There

You Had to Be There

You Had to Be There: Recorded Live is a live double album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was initially released in October 1978 as ABC AK-1008/2 and later re-released on ABC's successor label MCA...

, Buffett mentions that one of the movies he took a date to see was Pay Day

Pay Day (1972 film)

Payday is a film released in 1972 written by Don Carpenter and directed by Daryl Duke. It stars Rip Torn as a country music singer. Other members of the cast include Ahna Capri, Elayne Heilveil and Michael C. Gwynne. It was filmed in and around Selma, Alabama....

.

Chart performance

Chart (1973)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	23
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks	47