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.
Deck the Halls
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fa la la, la la
Tis the season
(We wish you a merry Christmas)
Tis the season
(We wish you a merry Christmas)
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la, la la la
Down we now our gay apparel
Fa la la
(Fa la la)
Fa la la
(Fa la la)
Troll the ancient yule tide carol
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Everybody sing, the yule tide carol
Fa la la, la la la
Fa la la, la la la la yeah
A very merry Christmas
A very merry Christmas
See the blazing yule before us
Fa la la, la la la
Strike the harp and join the chorus, yeah
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Follow us in merry measure
While I tell of yule tide treasure
Fa la la, la la la la
(La la la la la la la la)
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
(We wish you a merry Christmas)
Tis the season to be jolly
(We wish you a merry Christmas)
Merry, merry Christmas, yeah, yeah
Merry, merry Christmas
(Fa la la la la la)
Merry, merry Christmas
(Fa la la la la la)
Fa la la la, fa la la la
(Fa la la la la la)
Yeah, la la la
(Fa la la, a very merry Christmas)
James Taylor's rendition of "Deck the Halls" stays true to the classic tune while adding subtle variations to make it his own. The song begins with "Deck the Halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la la la la la" - a phrase that has become synonymous with the holiday season. The repetition of "fa la la" throughout the song adds to its whimsical nature and creates a sense of unity among those singing along. The line "Tis the season to be jolly" emphasizes the joy and cheer that accompanies the holiday season.
The second verse starts with the phrase "See the blazing yule before us" - a reference to the tradition of lighting fires during the winter solstice, which eventually became a symbol for Christmas. The next line "Strike the harp and join the chorus" encourages listeners to join in and celebrate together. The final verse of the song encourages us to "Follow us in merry measure" while we appreciate the treasures of the yuletide season.
Line by Line Meaning
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Decorate the halls with branches of holly
Fa la la, la la
Sing a joyous melody
Tis the season
This is the time of year
(We wish you a merry Christmas)
We hope you have a happy Christmas
Tis the season
This is the time of year
(We wish you a merry Christmas)
We hope you have a happy Christmas
Tis the season to be jolly
This is the time of year to be happy
Fa la la, la la la
Sing a joyous melody
Down we now our gay apparel
Let's put on our festive clothing
Troll the ancient yule tide carol
Sing the traditional yule song
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Sing the melody with joy
Everybody sing, the yule tide carol
Let's all sing the yule tide carol
Fa la la, la la la
Sing a joyous melody
Fa la la, la la la la yeah
Sing a joyous melody
A very merry Christmas
A very happy Christmas
A very merry Christmas
A very happy Christmas
See the blazing yule before us
Look at the brightly burning yule log in front of us
Strike the harp and join the chorus, yeah
Play the harp and join in singing the song with joy
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Sing the melody with joy
Follow us in merry measure
Join us in our happy celebration
While I tell of yule tide treasure
While I share stories of yule tide riches
Fa la la, la la la la
Sing a joyous melody
(La la la la la la la la)
(Sing a joyous melody)
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Decorate the halls with branches of holly
(We wish you a merry Christmas)
We hope you have a happy Christmas
Tis the season to be jolly
This is the time of year to be happy
(We wish you a merry Christmas)
We hope you have a happy Christmas
Merry, merry Christmas, yeah, yeah
A very happy Christmas
Merry, merry Christmas
A very happy Christmas
(Fa la la la la la)
(Sing a joyous melody)
Merry, merry Christmas
A very happy Christmas
(Fa la la la la la)
(Sing a joyous melody)
Fa la la la, fa la la la
Sing the melody with joy
(Fa la la la la la)
(Sing a joyous melody)
Yeah, la la la
Yes, sing a joyous melody
(Fa la la, a very merry Christmas)
(Sing a joyous melody, wishing for a very happy Christmas)
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
raoul diblasi
Wonderful version of a favorite carol!
Lugene Cotoia
Perfect version of an amazing classic
Barbara Satterfield Studio LLC
Nice arrangements--Thanks, Randy!
stpaulimdog
It's like JT is singing Steamroller. Beautiful!
QGXY Reverse 98
not a huge fan of James Taylor but i like his Christmas song Deck The Halls i use to listen the other version of Deck The Halls but now i enjoy this one and the Deck The Hall With Instrumental version , it's my first Christmas song that i listen from 2016 and now my favorite is Deck The Halls and Jingle Bells .
g p
This is total bard-core β€β€β€
Kristy K. James
I love James Taylor!
john Lambert
Its moving towards the second week of March 2021, Wanted to hear this one, one more time, Till next Christmas PEACE , love joy hope and wonder
QGXY Reverse 98
James Taylor - Deck the halls ππππππππππππππππππππ
bobby bissell
Merry Christmasπ π