Buffett wrote the song to his future wife while he was on tour. At a live performance in 1974, Buffett mentioned that he had written the song heading out to California the previous year, meaning that it would have been written as he was "heading up to San Francisco for the Labor Day Weekend show" in 1973.
Buffett created the song for his future partner during a tour. At a live show in 1974, Buffett mentioned that he had composed the tune while departing to California the previous year, suggesting it was written as he "was heading up to San Francisco for Labor Day Weekend" in 1973.