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.
Circle 'Round The Sun
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, I love my baby, and she's bound to love me some.
Now, she throws her arms around me just like a circle around the sun, yeah yeah.
I lay down last night just to try to take my rest.
I said I lay down last night, Lord, I was trying to take my rest.
But my thoughts they just kept wandering just like them wild geese in the west, babe.
I said I know that sunrise, sunrise, sunrise, it's gonna shine in my back yard someday.
And that wind's just bound to rise up, gonna blow, blow all my blues away, hey, hey, hey,
I love my baby and she's bound to love me some.
Hear me say that I love my baby, and she's bound to love me some.
Now, she throws her arms around me just like a circle around the sun.
The lyrics to James Taylor's song "Circle 'Round The Sun" convey a deep and passionate love between the singer and his partner. The repetition of "I love my baby, and she's bound to love me some" emphasizes the strength and certainty of their love. The comparison of her embrace to a circle around the sun signifies the completeness and warmth it brings to his life. It implies a sense of security and comfort, as if her love envelops him completely.
The second verse takes on a more introspective tone, as the singer reflects on his thoughts and restlessness. Comparing his wandering thoughts to wild geese in the west suggests a lack of focus and a longing for something more. It could be interpreted as a metaphor for his desire for a deeper connection with his partner or a sense of purpose in his life.
In the final verse, the singer expresses optimism and hope for the future. He believes that someday, the sun will shine in his backyard, symbolizing the arrival of happiness and positivity. The mention of the wind rising up to blow away his blues reinforces this sentiment. Overall, the song explores the themes of love, longing, and the eventual triumph over challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, I love my baby, and she's bound to love me some.
My affection for my partner is immense, and it is certain that she reciprocates that love.
Yes, I love my baby, and she's bound to love me some.
Indeed, I hold deep affection for my beloved, and there is no doubt that she reciprocates those feelings.
Now, she throws her arms around me just like a circle around the sun, yeah yeah.
Whenever she embraces me, her arms encircle me tightly, similar to how the sun is surrounded by a circle of light.
I lay down last night just to try to take my rest.
During the previous night, I lay down with the intention of finding some solace and relaxation.
I said I lay down last night, Lord, I was trying to take my rest.
I specifically mentioned that last night I attempted to find inner peace and tranquility, dear Lord.
But my thoughts they just kept wandering just like them wild geese in the west, babe.
However, my mind consistently drifted and wandered as freely as the wild geese flying towards the western horizon.
Now I know that sunrise, sunrise, it's gonna shine in my back yard someday.
I firmly believe that one day, the brilliance of the sunrise will illuminate the entirety of my own personal space.
I said I know that sunrise, sunrise, sunrise, it's gonna shine in my back yard someday.
I reiterate my certainty that the awe-inspiring sunrise will inevitably grace the surroundings of my own dwelling.
And that wind's just bound to rise up, gonna blow, blow all my blues away, hey, hey, hey,
Furthermore, the gusts of wind are undoubtedly going to intensify and blow away all my feelings of sorrow and melancholy.
I love my baby and she's bound to love me some.
There is no denying that I am deeply in love with my partner, and it is certain that she reciprocates those profound emotions.
Hear me say that I love my baby, and she's bound to love me some.
Please pay attention to my declaration of love for my beloved, as it is undeniable that she returns that love wholeheartedly.
Now, she throws her arms around me just like a circle around the sun.
Once again, when she lovingly embraces me, it feels as if a radiant circle of warmth envelops me, resembling the sun.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR, JAMES V TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind