The Cayo Hueso Blues

 Lyrics Explained

When people speak about Key West Conchs, they could be referring to a large sea snail that lives in the Gulf of Mexico surrounding the Florida Keys. But, most often the term refers to Key West natives and the long-time residents of Key West.

Americans loyal to the British Crown after the Revolutionary War were not very popular, so they fled the southern states to the closest British colony, the town of Spanish Wells in the Bahamas. Unfortunately, the British Parliament started taxing the Bahamians on their food just like they taxed Bostonians on their tea. The Bahamians said they'd rather eat Conch than pay taxes and that is just what they did.  They came up with 27 different ways to eat that sea snail.  In the 1800s, some of these Bahamian Conchs fled the Bahamas and established new homes in the Florida Keys and Key West.

Throughout the years, many came to know and use the term Conch to describe local residents.  Those who made the island their home were proud to be nicknamed Key West Conchs.  To this day, if you are born in Key West you are a “Conch”.  If you were born elsewhere, but made Key West your home, you are considered a “Fresh Water Conch”.  Any Conch title is highly revered and worn with pride!

Many famous authors, writers and musicians made Key West their home, or at least a “second home”. Especially, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams and Jimmy Buffet who are also mentioned in Mike’s song: “The Cayo Hueso Blues”.   Cayo Hueso is translated from Spanish as “Bone Key”.

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