James McMurtry：Meaning of Ft. Walton Wake-Up Call Songmeaning

The song "Ft. Walton Wake-Up Call" by James McMurtry tells the story of a frustrating and chaotic day for the narrator and his partner while on a trip in Florida. The song begins with the narrator trying to book a flight while his partner is in a bad mood and looking for a fight. The airline is experiencing delays due to bad weather and they are stuck at the airport. The day continues to go wrong with spilled coffee, a flat rental car, and no internet connection. The narrator's partner is holed up in the shower and he is losing his glasses repeatedly. He also mentions a restriction on his Georgia driver's license that requires him to wear glasses while driving. The frustration builds throughout the song with mentions of the lack of TV sports coverage and the narrator's stocks tanking. He also questions the feasibility of building a wall without Mexican labor. The song ends with the couple driving back to Atlanta, taking a scenic route and stopping to buy tupelo honey from a roadside stand. The narration implies that the couple's honeymoon is over and they have not had a good time in Florida.