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.
Carolina in My Mind
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't you see the sunshine?
Can't you just feel the moonshine?
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind?
Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind
Karin, she's a silver sun
Watch her watch the morning come
A silver tear appearing now
I'm cryin', ain't I?
Gone to Carolina in my mind
There ain't no doubt in no ones mind
That love's the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
And hey babe, the sky's on fire
I'm dying, ain't I?
Gone to Carolina in my mind
In my mind I'm gone to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine?
Can't you just feel the moonshine?
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind?
Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind
Dark and silent, late last night
I think I might have heard the highway call
And geese in flight and dogs that bite
The signs that might be omens say
I'm goin', I'm goin'
I'm gone to Carolina in my mind
With a holy host of others standin' around me
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon
And it seems like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me, if I'm up and gone to
Carolina in my mind
In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine?
Can't you just feel the moonshine?
Ain't is just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind
Gone to Carolina in my mind
And I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind
Gone to Carolina in my mind
Gone, I'm gone, I'm gone
Say nice things about me 'cause I'm gone South now
Carry on without me, I'm gone
The song "Carolina in My Mind" by James Taylor is a heartfelt reflection on homesickness and the yearning for connection. It opens with the lines "In my mind I'm gone to Carolina, can't you see the sunshine? Can't you just feel the moonshine?" These lines express the desire to escape from the present and return home to a place where things are simpler and easier. Taylor is describing the experience of feeling isolated and disconnected, and he uses the imagery of the sun and the moon to evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia.
Throughout the song, Taylor uses powerful and evocative language to capture the essence of his emotional state. He talks about a woman named Karin, who is like a "silver sun" and whose tears make him cry. He also mentions the power of love and the importance of kindness and softness. Ultimately, however, he acknowledges that he is still lost and disconnected, living on the "dark side of the moon."
The final lines of the song are particularly poignant, as Taylor acknowledges that he must say goodbye to the people and places he loves. He asks his friends to "say nice things about me," and he urges them to "carry on without me." This image of leaving one's home and community behind is a powerful one, and Taylor captures it with grace and sensitivity. Overall, "Carolina in My Mind" is a stirring and poetic reflection on the challenges of living far from the people and places that we love.
Line by Line Meaning
In my mind I'm gone to Carolina
I am daydreaming about going to North Carolina.
Can't you see the sunshine?
Can't you see the bright and joyous things in life?
Can't you just feel the moonshine?
Can't you feel the peaceful and calming energy of the night?
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
Isn't it just like someone I know?
To hit me from behind?
To surprise and shock me?
Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind
Yes, I am still daydreaming about going to North Carolina.
Karin, she's a silver sun
Karin is a bright and shining person in my life.
You best walk her way and watch it shine
You should approach her with care and admire her beauty.
Watch her watch the morning come
Observe how she is excited for a new day to begin.
A silver tear appearing now
A tear of emotion is now showing in her eyes.
I'm cryin', ain't I?
I am also feeling overwhelming emotions.
Gone to Carolina in my mind
I am still daydreaming about North Carolina.
There ain't no doubt in no ones mind
Everybody knows that love is the best feeling.
That love's the finest thing around
Love is the most beautiful and priceless thing.
Whisper something soft and kind
Speak gently and compassionately.
And hey babe, the sky's on fire
The sky is supremely beautiful right now.
I'm dying, ain't I?
I am feeling my heart burst with love and emotions.
Gone to Carolina in my mind
I am still daydreaming about North Carolina.
Dark and silent, late last night
Last night was dark and silent.
I think I might have heard the highway call
I think I heard the sound of a faraway highway.
And geese in flight and dogs that bite
I saw geese flying and heard dogs barking.
The signs that might be omens say
The events around me might be indicative of something important.
I'm goin', I'm goin'
I know I am leaving, soon.
I'm gone to Carolina in my mind
I am still daydreaming about North Carolina.
With a holy host of others standin' around me
I am surrounded by a holy and reverent group of people.
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon
However, I am still feeling distant from them and a little lost.
And it seems like it goes on like this forever
It feels like it will never end.
You must forgive me, if I'm up and gone to
I am sorry if I have left or if I suddenly leave.
Carolina in my mind
I am still daydreaming about North Carolina.
Gone to Carolina in my mind
I am still daydreaming about North Carolina.
And I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind
I am still daydreaming about North Carolina.
Gone to Carolina in my mind
I am still daydreaming about North Carolina.
Gone, I'm gone, I'm gone
I know I am leaving or have left completely.
Say nice things about me 'cause I'm gone South now
Please speak well of me now that I am leaving.
Carry on without me, I'm gone
You must continue without me because I am gone.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@theloniouscoltrane3778
No screaming; no shouting; no hitting high notes; no guitar shredding...just singing with his conversation voice; filled with soul...JT Living Legend
@zuzannawisniewska4464
James's voice has never really changend over the years, he sounds as young now as he has always been. One of the best musicians on earth...
@angelaallen340
Yes he's a unique singer/. Somehow he escaped the drug scene .
@JulianGem
@angelaallen340 and I am thankful for that
@anelladambrosio2513
@@JulianGemciao Julian!🙋😊😍😘💘🌅
@DH-xm3hc
Seeing James Taylor with Carole King in Chapel Hill, NC in '70 is still in my top 5 best concerts ever. ✌️❤️🌼
@angelaallen340
@@DH-xm3hc I'm sure it was fantastic
@northover
I had the best seats I could buy to see James in Baton Rouge so that my wife could see him which was something she always wanted more than anything. She was recovering from major brain surgery and was doing well. The very day he was scheduled to perform, she
had a very sudden relapse and instead of going to the concert, we spent the night in the ER. Three months later she was dead from a previously undiagnosed glioblastoma tumor.
Nothing he will ever sing will do nothing but bring me to tears. “Going to Carolina” is the hardest since it was one I played late one evening as we drove to...Florida (!), on our first road trip together in my first new car. That song came up on her favorite cassette and i looked over at her in the passenger seat and she was sound asleep. That song and that moment will never leave me.
She was so young and beautiful. We were married for 27 years and she was twelve years younger than me. She died four years ago and I still miss her so much.
@newhavenchristianministrie6721
Wow! Sorry for your loss
@randomkiliinterviews9453
Beautiful and sad story </3