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.
Believe It or Not
James Taylor Lyrics
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Believe it or not, I've been waiting for you to come through, love of my life.
And though the hour grew later and later, I would hold on for one more heartbeat.
While my friends around me were calling, "today, today, today, today."
As strange as it seems, I remember your face from before, believe it or not.
Before you and I were washed up on this alien shore, as strange as that seems
Though the hour grew later and later, still I'd hold on for one more heartbeat.
Today the world seems brighter. Light and bright and right somehow.
I could not have held on tighter, waiting for the past to come to pass, no.
Once in a dream I've seen myself through your eyes, this you should know.
Wading the stream that flows in between you and I, once in a dream.
And though the hour grew later and later, I would hold on for one more heartbeat.
While my friends around me were calling, "today, today, today, today."
In these lyrics, James Taylor expresses his patient and unwavering love for someone he believes is the love of his life. He admits to waiting for this person to come to him, while everyone around him urges him to move on and find love elsewhere. He reminisces about meeting this person before they were both stranded in a strange place, and he vividly remembers their face from that time. Despite the passing of time, James continues to wait patiently for this person, and he even had a dream in which he saw himself through their eyes. The song's chorus echoes his determination to hold on for one more heartbeat, despite the odds against them.
This song is an example of James Taylor's signature style, which is characterized by introspective lyrics and tender melodies. His soft voice and fingerpicking guitar style create a sense of vulnerability and sincerity that make his songs particularly moving. "Believe It or Not" was released as part of his 1985 album, "That's Why I'm Here." The album was well-received by critics and fans, and it's regarded as one of his best works. The song's exploration of unrequited love and patience resonated with many listeners, and it remains a beloved part of James Taylor's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
Believe it or not, I've been waiting for you to come through, love of my life.
Incredibly enough, I have been eagerly anticipating and looking forward to your arrival, my soulmate.
Believe it or not, I've been waiting for you to come through, love of my life.
It may come as a surprise, but I have been patiently waiting for your appearance, the person I was destined to be with.
And though the hour grew later and later, I would hold on for one more heartbeat.
Despite the passing of time, I would wait as long as it took for you to arrive, clinging onto hope with every fiber of my being.
While my friends around me were calling, "today, today, today, today."
As those around me were urging me to give up, impatiently insisting on immediate results and satisfaction.
As strange as it seems, I remember your face from before, believe it or not.
As peculiar as it may sound, I vividly recall the appearance of your countenance from a time past, whether in a dream or reality.
Before you and I were washed up on this alien shore, as strange as that seems
Prior to our arrival on this foreign, unfamiliar territory, however bizarre that may sound.
Today the world seems brighter. Light and bright and right somehow.
As of now, the world appears more illuminated and optimistic, everything seemingly falling into place and aligning properly.
I could not have held on tighter, waiting for the past to come to pass, no.
I couldn't have maintained a more steadfast grip, patiently awaiting the reconciliation and closure of my past experiences.
Once in a dream I've seen myself through your eyes, this you should know.
At one point in a dream, I perceived myself from your perspective, I want you to be aware of this significant occurrence.
Wading the stream that flows in between you and I, once in a dream.
In this dream, I was traversing the body of water that acted as a barrier between us, hoping to bridge the gap between us.
And though the hour grew later and later, I would hold on for one more heartbeat.
In spite of time slipping away, I would grasp onto the sliver of possibility for one heartbeat longer, believing firmly in our eventual meeting.
While my friends around me were calling, "today, today, today, today."
As those in my proximity were urging me to give up, insisting on immediate fulfillment and discouragement.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind