About The Song
“Calypso” is a song written by John Denver in 1975 as a tribute to Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his research ship, the Calypso. It was featured on Denver’s 1975 album Windsong. “Calypso” received significant airplay in 1975, helping it land at the second spot of Billboard Hot 100. When “I’m Sorry” fell out of the No. 1 position, “Calypso” started gaining even more airplay – as a result, Billboard listed it as the new A-side.
“Calypso” is one of John Denver’s songs he wrote by himself. It was inspired by his friend – French naval officer-explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau – as well as his research ship, which name is Calypso. Wanting to understand “the silent world” better to keep it well-protected, Cousteau sailed with Calypso worldwide for ocean conservation. Cousteau was a great believer that we must learn from the sea in order to live on the land. He was actually the first person to have researched pollution and its effects on the sea – in which he has received several honors.
As we all know, Denver cared so much about nature too, and this song is his tribute to Calypso and her captain for their valuable accomplishments. Interestingly, Denver penned the song’s chorus while he was aboard the Calypso.
However, he admitted that he spent months struggling to complete the song. In fact, he even once thought of totally abandoning it. Fortunately, ideas came crashing when he was skiing that he hurriedly got off the slopes, jumped in his car, and drove home to get the ideas out of his mind and finish the song.
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Barbara Desetto