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.
Copperline
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why they call it like they do
I was wondering since the age of two
Down on Copperline
Copper head, copper beech
Copper kettles sitting side by each
Copper coil, cup o'Georgia peach
Down on Copperline
Leaning heavy on the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline
We were down on Copperline
One Summer night on the Copperline
Slip away past supper time
Wood smoke and moonshine
Down on Copperline
One time I saw my daddy dance
Watched him moving like a man in a trance
He brought it back from the war in France
Down onto Copperline
Branch water and tomato wine
Creosote and turpentine
Sour mash and new moon shine
Down on Copperline
Down on Copperline
First kiss ever I took
Like a page from a romance book
The sky opened and the earth shook
Down on Copperline
Down on Copperline
Took a fall from a windy height
I only knew how to hold on tight
And pray for love enough to last all night
Down on Copperline
Day breaks and the boys wakes up
And the dog barks and the birds sings
And the sap rises and the angels sigh, yeah
I tried to go back, as if I could
All spec house and plywood
Tore up and tore up good
Down on Copperline
It doesn't come as a surprise to me
It doesn't touch my memory
Man I'm lifting up and rising free
Down on over Copperline
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
I'm only living for the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline, yeah
Take me down on Copperline
Oh, down on Copperline
Take me down on Copperline
The lyrics of "Copperline" by James Taylor are a nostalgic reflection on the singer's childhood experiences in North Carolina. The song paints a vivid picture of the small-town life and culture that Taylor remembers. He muses on the origins of the name "Copperline" and imagines its history through the generations.
As he remembers his youth, he reminisces about how he saw his father dance and how he experienced his first kiss. He recalls the smell of creosote, turpentine and sour mash, and how the sap would rise and the birds would sing at daybreak. All of these memories are captured in an idyllic snapshot of a simpler time.
The song's chorus reflects Taylor's longing to return to the simpler times he describes. Despite his attempts to revisit the place where he grew up, it has changed irreversibly. The lyrics imply that these changes leave Taylor without a choice but to cherish the memories he has in his mind and to remain uplifted by them.
Line by Line Meaning
Even the old folks never knew
No one really knows the true origin of Copperline's name
Why they call it like they do
It's a mystery why Copperline has its name
I was wondering since the age of two
From a young age, the singer has been curious about Copperline's name
Down on Copperline
Referring to the location of the events being described, which take place in Copperline
Copper head, copper beech
Listing some of the imagery associated with Copperline, such as copper objects and copper-colored trees
Copper kettles sitting side by each
More imagery of copper objects in Copperline
Copper coil, cup o'Georgia peach
Even more copper objects and a reference to a local Georgia fruit
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
Describing the distance to a nearby creek from Copperline
Leaning heavy on the end of the week
The end of the week is approaching, and the people of Copperline are feeling its weight
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Listing some of the wildlife in the area of Copperline
One Summer night on the Copperline
Describing a specific event that took place in Copperline on a summer night
Slip away past supper time
The artist snuck away from dinner to go to Copperline
Wood smoke and moonshine
Describing the atmosphere in Copperline, with the smells of burning wood and homemade alcohol
One time I saw my daddy dance
Recalling a memory of the singer's father dancing in Copperline
Watched him moving like a man in a trance
Describing the way the singer's father was dancing
He brought it back from the war in France
Implying that the style of dance that the artist's father was doing had roots in France
Branch water and tomato wine
More descriptions of the drinks associated with Copperline
Creosote and turpentine
More smells associated with Copperline
Sour mash and new moon shine
More alcoholic beverages associated with Copperline
Took a fall from a windy height
A reference to a dangerous event that happened in Copperline
I only knew how to hold on tight
The artist held on tightly during the fall, implying a difficult or scary experience
And pray for love enough to last all night
Describing a hope that the love between the people in Copperline will last through the night
Day breaks and the boys wakes up
Describing a new day beginning in Copperline
And the dog barks and the birds sings
Describing the sounds of a new day beginning in Copperline
And the sap rises and the angels sigh, yeah
Using poetic language to describe the beauty and wonder of a new day in Copperline
I tried to go back, as if I could
The singer attempted to return to Copperline, despite it being impossible
All spec house and plywood
Describing the changes that have happened in the area, with new homes made out of cheap materials
Tore up and tore up good
Further describing the destruction of the area around Copperline
It doesn't come as a surprise to me
The artist is not surprised by the changes in the area around Copperline
It doesn't touch my memory
Despite the changes in the area, Copperline holds a special place in the singer's memory
Man I'm lifting up and rising free
Despite feeling tied to Copperline, the singer also feels free to move on
Down on over Copperline
Repeating the earlier phrase, with a slightly modified version
Take me down on Copperline
An expression of the artist's desire to return to Copperline
Oh, down on Copperline
Further expressing the artist's desire to return to Copperline
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@duncoyaomean6687
Even the old folks never knew
Why they call it like they do
I was wondering since the age of two
Down on Copperline
Copper head, copper beech
Copper kettles sitting side by each
Copper coil, cup o'Georgia peach
Down on Copperline
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
Leaning heavy on the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline
We were down on Copperline
One Summer night on the Copperline
Slip away past supper time
Wood smoke and moonshine
Down on Copperline
One time I saw my daddy dance
Watched him moving like a man in a trance
He bought it back from the war in France
Down onto Copperline
Branch water and tomato wine
Creosote and turpentine
Sour mash and new moon shine
Down on Copperline
Down on Copperline
First kiss ever I took
Like a page from a romance book
The sky opened and the earth shook
Down on Copperline
Down on Copperline, yeah
Took a fall from a windy height
I only knew how to hold on tight
And pray for love enough to last all night
Down on Copperline
Day breaks and the boy wakes up
And the dog barks and the birds sings
And the sap rises and the angels sigh, yeah
I tried to go back, as if I could
All spec house and plywood
Tore up and tore up good
Down on Copperline
It doesn't come as a surprise to me
It doesn't touch my memory
Man, I'm lifting up and rising free
Down on Copperline
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
I'm only living for the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline, yeah
Take me down on Copperline
Oh, down on Copperline
Lay me down on Copperline
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Taylor James V / Price R
@lewisanderson9104
So many of my friends used to make fun of me ....a black man in love with JT's music. To me music has no color. Good is Good Talent is Talent
Continue to Shower the People James
@CarlMCole
Yeah, music definitely has no color. As a white kid growing up in the Sixties I was a huge fan of Diana Ross (and still am), and I also got made fun of !
@johns8594
I’m in my 40s, saw Chicago & Earth Wind & Fire, music has no bounds, live your best life
@Theresistance64
I'm a black man who grew up with 70s rock and roll. I listen to ALL music, including country. If I like it, i listen to it. I apologize to NOBODY.
@sebunteensuki
As an asian woman born in the 90s in southeast asia, music knows no color, race nor age. Love him so much.
@polly_sigh
Lewis...love your comment. I totally agree. When it comes to music, good is good! When Duke Ellington was asked what kind of music he liked..he said "I like GOOD Music". Amen, Brother! Music, to me, is the art form that expresses the best of us humans and can reach people in a way that touches our souls and connects all of us to each other.
@colinrichard7318
The world needs more James Taylors. But I'm so glad we have at least one.
@anthonyroberts357
I still play Old country like this,patsycliine, Glen Campbell
@princeekeson12
I'm not ashamed to admit that this song gets me teary-eyed. The reminiscing lyrics, James' voice, and everything else makes me FEEL it.
@peterzang
Perfect song. Great melody, smart lyrics. James always play to his strengths. Never sounds like he’s trying too hard