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 ↴
And she's bound to love me some
Yes, I love my baby
And she's bound to love me some
Now, she throws her arms around me
Like a circle around the sun
I lay down last night, Lord
I lay down last night, Lord
I was trying to take my rest
But my thoughts they just kept wandering
Like the wild geese in the west
Now I know that sunrise, sunrise
It's gonna shine in my back yard someday
I said I know that sunrise, sunrise, sunrise
It's gonna shine in my back yard someday
And that wind just bound to rise up
Gonna blow, blow all my blues away
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 are a testament to the singer's unconditional love for his partner. The opening lines "Now, I love my baby, And she's bound to love me some" set the tone for a romantic ballad. The repetition of these lines highlights the singer's devotion to his loved one. The next verse describes the physical action of his partner embracing him with her arms, likened to the circle around the sun. This comparison is evocative of the idea that his partner is central to his life, much like how the sun is at the center of our solar system.
The second verse touches on the theme of restlessness. The singer is unable to sleep, his thoughts wandering like the wild geese in the west. This metaphor sets the scene for the next verse, where the singer longs for a brighter future. He believes that the sun will eventually shine in his back yard, and the wind will blow all his blues away. The final verse repeats the first, driving home the message of the singer's unwavering love and devotion for his partner.
Overall, Circle Round the Sun is a heartfelt love song that beautifully captures the essence of true love, devotion, and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, I love my baby
The singer is expressing his love for his partner.
And she's bound to love me some
The singer is confident that his partner loves him too.
Yes, I love my baby
The singer reiterates his love for his partner.
And she's bound to love me some
The artist is emphasizing his belief that his partner loves him.
Now, she throws her arms around me
The artist describes a physical display of affection from his partner.
Like a circle around the sun
The singer compares the embrace of his partner to the orbit of the sun, suggesting a sense of completeness or unity.
I lay down last night, Lord
The singer describes an action he took the previous night.
Just to try to take my rest
The artist was attempting to rest.
I lay down last night, Lord
The artist repeats his previous statement.
I was trying to take my rest
The artist clarifies the reason for his action.
But my thoughts they just kept wandering
The singer was unable to quiet his mind.
Like the wild geese in the west
The artist uses a metaphor to convey the way his thoughts were wandering as aimlessly as geese in the sky.
Now I know that sunrise, sunrise
The singer expresses certainty about an upcoming event.
It's gonna shine in my back yard someday
The singer believes that something positive will happen to him soon.
I said I know that sunrise, sunrise, sunrise
The singer repeats his previous statement and emphasizes his confidence.
It's gonna shine in my back yard someday
The artist reiterates his belief in a coming positive event for him.
And that wind just bound to rise up
The artist is confident that the wind will pick up soon.
Gonna blow, blow all my blues away
The singer believes that the expected wind will dispel his troubles.
Hey, I love my baby
The singer reaffirms his love for his partner.
And she's bound to love me some
The artist is sure that his partner loves him too.
Hear me say that
The artist requests attention from his audience.
I love my baby
The artist repeats his love for his partner.
And she's bound to love me some
The singer emphasizes his belief in his partner's love for him.
Now, she throws her arms around me
The artist describes his partner's physical affection for him.
Just like a circle around the sun
The singer compares his partner's embrace to the path of the sun, suggesting a sense of completeness or unity.
Contributed by Gianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.