Taylor achieved his breakthrough in 1970 with the No. 3 single "Fire and Rain" and had his first No. 1 hit the following year with "You've Got a Friend", a recording of Carole King's classic song. His 1976 Greatest Hits album was certified Diamond and has sold 12 million US copies. Following his 1977 album, JT, he has retained a large audience over the decades. Every album that he released from 1977 to 2007 sold over 1 million copies. He enjoyed a resurgence in chart performance during the late 1990s and 2000s, when he recorded some of his most-awarded work (including Hourglass, October Road, and Covers). He achieved his first number-one album in the US in 2015 with his recording Before This World.
He is known for his popular covers of other people's songs, such as "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" and the aforementioned "You've Got A Friend", as well as originals such as "Fire and Rain".
Taylor's four siblings (Alex, Livingston, Hugh, and Kate) have also been musicians with recorded albums. Livingston is still an active musician; Kate was active in the 1970s but did not record another album until 2003; Hugh operates a bed-and-breakfast with his wife, The Outermost Inn in Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard; and Alex died in 1993 on James's birthday.
After his divorce from Carly Simon in 1983, Taylor married actress Kathryn Walker on December 14, 1985 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. She had helped him get off heroin, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1996.
On February 18, 2001, at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston, Taylor wed for the third time, marrying Caroline ("Kim") Smedvig, the director of public relations and marketing for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.[81] They had begun dating in 1995, when they met as he appeared with John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Part of their relationship was worked into the album October Road, on the song "On the 4th of July". The couple reside in the town of Washington, Massachusetts, with their twin boys, Rufus and Henry, born in April 2001. Henry shares James' intrest and talents.
Sally and Ben, his children with Carly Simon, have also embarked on musical careers. After they were born, Taylor moved with his family to Lenox, Massachusetts.
Back on the Street Again
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't care if I got a dime.
All I want to do is to dance with you honey, please tell me that you have the time.
Cause I gotta get back on my feet again,
Gotta get back on the street again.
La, la, la, la la la la la la la la la.
All I want to do is to hold your hand.
Don't care if nobody knows my name
Cause I just want to try the best I can, yes I do.
Gotta get back on my feet again,
Gotta get back on the street again.
La, la, la, la la la la la la la la la. La, la, la, la la la la la la la la la.
Well, I don't know just what the world is coming to.
And I don't know just what is going on, and momma do you?
Well, all I really know is I gotta get back on my feet again.
Help me up now.
I don't care if I got no money,
I don't care if I got a dime.
All I want to do is to dance with you honey, please tell me that you have the time.
Cause I gotta get back on my feet again,
Gotta get back on the street again.
La, la, la, la la la la la la la la la. La, la, la, la la la la la la la la la.
Stand it up for me now.
The song "Back on the Street Again" by James Taylor is about a person who has hit rock bottom and lost everything - money, fame, and their sense of self-worth. Despite this, the person still has a desire to keep going and to try again. The lyrics express the idea that the only thing that really matters is love and human connection.
The singer of the song doesn't care about money or fame - all they want to do is dance with someone they care about. The repetition of the line "Gotta get back on my feet again" emphasizes the themes of perseverance and resilience. The phrase "Help me up now" speaks to the idea that everyone needs a helping hand sometimes, and that it's okay to ask for support when you need it.
The chorus features the simple, uplifting melody of "la, la, la" - a testament to the power of music and dance to bring people together and lift their spirits. The final line, "Stand it up for me now," is a call to action, suggesting that despite all the setbacks and challenges, the singer is ready to get back on their feet and face the world again.
Overall, the song is a hopeful and optimistic expression of the power of love and connection to help people overcome adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't care if I got no money,
The amount of money I have doesn't matter to me.
I don't care if I got a dime.
Even if I had only ten cents, it wouldn't make a difference.
All I want to do is to dance with you honey, please tell me that you have the time.
My biggest desire right now is to dance with you. Can you spare some time for me?
Cause I gotta get back on my feet again,
I need to regain my confidence and start afresh.
Gotta get back on the street again.
I have to be back in action and get my life moving again.
La, la, la, la la la la la la la la la.
The repetition of the word 'la' signifies my enthusiasm and my readiness to start afresh.
I don't care if I got no fame,
My lack of popularity doesn't bother me.
All I want to do is to hold your hand.
All I desire is to be with you and hold your hand.
Don't care if nobody knows my name
I am not concerned about being recognized by others.
Cause I just want to try the best I can, yes I do.
I am willing to give my best shot, no matter what.
Well, I don't know just what the world is coming to.
I am perplexed by the current state of affairs in the world.
And I don't know just what is going on, and momma do you?
I am clueless about what's happening, and I need some advice and guidance from a motherly figure.
Well, all I really know is I gotta get back on my feet again.
Despite the confusion and uncertainty, I am sure that I need to get back on track.
Help me up now.
I need some help and encouragement to get back on my feet.
Stand it up for me now.
Please help me to stand up for myself and regain my confidence.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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