By: Jimmy Buffett 

1970 

See the lady 

Smiles as if to tell 

Her son remembers everyone 

Treats 'em all quite well 

He never asked for promises 

And now his fame is wide 

And everyone who knew him well shares a little pride 



Chorus: 

Ain't he a genius 

The boy's become a star 

And he smiles upon the faces 

Who wish they could go far 



Not long ago they criticized 

The genius only wrote 

And now they listen spellbound 

With lumps caught in their throats 



His virtue was sheer poverty 

His vice was reading plays 

While other children starved and fought 

He learned just what to say 

Through tension and confession 

He beat the monster down 

Then surfaced in society no longer underground 



Chorus: 

Ain't he a genius 

The boy's become a star 

And he smiles upon the faces 

Who wish they could go far 



Now they remember 

Talk only of his good 

While jealousy flows in their veins 

And says I wish I could 



Ain't he a genius