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.
Daddy's Baby
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's got you sinking so low?
Is there something I should know,
Something new to you?
Daddy's baby fussing and fretting,
Keeping on getting it wrong.
She can only last so long
Baby don't like to cry,
So sing her a lullaby-bye
Swaddle and swing her,
Sing her a lullaby.
She makes her feelings known to me,
Her every side is shown to me
And in our time alone,
Our love has surely grown of its own
Silent as a stepping stone,
Silently as the dawn was breaking,
Soft and clear and my tears were dry,
And my tears had flown
So I called my love my home.
"Daddy's Baby" by James Taylor is a tender and introspective song about the relationship between a father and his daughter. The lyrics suggest that the daughter is going through a difficult time, but the father doesn't know what is causing her distress. He asks her what's on her mind and hints that he's willing to listen to her problems. However, it seems that the daughter is not able to articulate what's bothering her and keeps making mistakes. The father realizes that she needs comfort and reassurance, so he sings her a lullaby to calm her down.
The second part of the song reveals that the father and daughter have a close and trusting relationship. The daughter feels safe enough to share all her feelings and insecurities with her father, who listens to her with warmth and understanding. Their intimacy is compared to a silent stepping stone that helps them navigate through life with grace and dignity. The father cherishes the moments he spends with his daughter, and to him, she is his home.
The song is a poignant meditation on the depth and complexity of family bonds. It portrays a father who is willing to be vulnerable and empathetic towards his child and a daughter who finds solace and strength in her father's love. The lullaby is a soothing and powerful image of paternal care, conveying a message of compassion and protection for those we hold dear.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy's baby, what's got you thinking?
James Taylor is addressing his significant other, who is referred to as Daddy's baby, and is curious to know what she is thinking about.
What's got you sinking so low?
He is asking what has been making her feel so down lately.
Is there something I should know,
He wants to know if there is something new that she hasn't told him about yet.
Something new to you?
He wonders if there is anything she is experiencing for the first time that could be causing her distress.
Daddy's baby fussing and fretting,
James Taylor notes that his significant other has been acting restless and anxious lately.
Keeping on getting it wrong.
He feels that she has been making mistakes and can't seem to get things right.
She can only last so long
This line implies that she is not able to withstand the stress and worry she's been dealing with for an extended period of time.
So sing her a lullaby-bye
James Taylor advises that singing a lullaby may help his partner feel more relaxed and could put her to sleep.
Baby don't like to cry,
He knows that his significant other doesn't like to cry and is trying to find ways to make her feel better.
So sing her a lullaby-bye
He repeats the advice to sing her a lullaby.
Swaddle and swing her,
He suggests swaddling and gently swinging her, as infants are often soothed by this.
Sing her a lullaby.
James Taylor ends the refrain with the statement to sing her a calming song.
She makes her feelings known to me,
James Taylor references how well he knows his partner and how forthcoming she is with her emotions.
Her every side is shown to me
He knows all the characteristics and moods of his partner.
And in our time alone,
This line indicates that they have the opportunity to spend quality time together.
Our love has surely grown of its own
He recognizes that their relationship has grown and matured naturally over time.
Silent as a stepping stone,
He is acknowledging that things can still be solitary between them and there may still be some matters yet to address.
Silently as the dawn was breaking,
This line may indicate that the relationship can be tranquil like a new day dawning
Soft and clear and my tears were dry,
He has says that his emotions are silent and the tears he once shed have disappeared.
And my tears had flown
He repeats that any emotional turmoil appears to be gone.
So I called my love my home.
James Taylor acknowledges that he finds comfort and security in his partner, and calls her his home.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind