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.
Bartender's Blues
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't like my work
But I don't mind the money at all
I see lots of sad faces
And lots of bad cases
Of folks with their backs to the wall
But I need four walls around me
To hold my life, to keep me from going astray
To keep me from slipping away
I can light up your smokes
I can laugh at your jokes
I can watch you fall down on your knees
I can close down this bar
I can gas up my car
And I can pack up and mail in my key
But I need four walls around me
To hold my life, to keep me from going astray
And a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight
To keep me from slipping away
Now, the smoke fills the air
In this honky-tonk bar
And I'm thinking 'bout where I'd rather be
But I burned all my bridges
And I sank all my ships, now I'm stranded at the edge of the sea
I still need four walls around me
To hold my life, to keep me from going astray
I need some honky-tonk angel to hold me tight
To keep me from slipping away
In James Taylor's "Bartender's Blues," the singer is a bartender who is not particularly fond of his job but does not mind the money it brings. He is constantly surrounded by sad faces and people who are down on their luck. Despite this, he values the four walls of the bar that hold his life together and keep him from straying. However, beyond the physical walls, the singer also needs a honky-tonk angel to hold him tightly and prevent him from slipping away.
The honky-tonk angel represents the singer's hope for salvation, someone who can guide him through troubled waters and help him stay on track. This person could be a lover, a friend, or even a spiritual guide. Throughout the song, the singer conveys a sense of uncertainty and a yearning for something more. He has burned all his bridges and is stranded at the edge of the sea, with nowhere to go. He needs the security and comfort of the four walls of the bar and the love and support of the honky-tonk angel to keep him grounded and help him navigate life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I'm just a bartender
I'm currently working as a bartender.
And I don't like my work
I don't enjoy my job.
But I don't mind the money at all
However, I'm content with the pay I receive.
I see lots of sad faces
I frequently encounter individuals who are down and out.
And lots of bad cases
I come across many people who are struggling.
Of folks with their backs to the wall
These individuals are going through tough times and have limited options.
But I need four walls around me
I require a stable, secure environment.
To hold my life, to keep me from going astray
This stability is essential to keep me on the right path and prevent me from making mistakes.
And a honky-tonk angel to hold me tight
I also crave companionship from someone who understands the bar culture.
To keep me from slipping away
This person will help me stay grounded and avoid losing sight of what's important.
I can light up your smokes
As a bartender, I can provide various services for my customers.
I can laugh at your jokes
I can also be personable and engaging.
I can watch you fall down on your knees
However, I'm also witness to the lows that come with drinking.
I can close down this bar
I have the power to end the night.
I can gas up my car
I have the freedom to leave.
And I can pack up and mail in my key
I can walk away from this job anytime.
Now, the smoke fills the air
As the evening wears on, the environment in the bar changes.
In this honky-tonk bar
This particular bar is low-key and unpretentious.
And I'm thinking 'bout where I'd rather be
I'm reflecting on my life and the direction it's headed.
But I burned all my bridges
I've made a lot of mistakes and cut myself off from certain opportunities.
And I sank all my ships, now I'm stranded at the edge of the sea
Now, I find myself in a position where it's difficult to move forward.
I still need four walls around me
Despite everything, I still require that sense of stability.
To hold my life, to keep me from going astray
This foundation is crucial to keeping me grounded.
I need some honky-tonk angel to hold me tight
And I still crave the companionship of someone who understands my lifestyle.
To keep me from slipping away
This person will help me stay on the right path and avoid straying too far from where I belong.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind