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.
Go Tell It On The Mountain
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angels chorus
That hailed the Savior's birth
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
The song "Go Tell It on the Mountain" is a spirited and joyful gospel song that encourages the spreading of the good news that Jesus Christ was born. James Taylor's version of the song is simple, yet powerful, using acoustic guitar, a tambourine, and group harmonies to convey the excitement of the message. The song starts with the singer urging everyone to "go tell it on the mountain," repeating the phrase twice for emphasis. The chorus "That Jesus Christ is born" reinforces the urgency to share the good news.
The first verse describes the setting of the birth of Jesus, with shepherds keeping watch over their flocks. Suddenly, a star appears in the sky, and a holy light shines down from the heavens. The imagery implies that something extraordinary is happening, and the shepherds are witnesses to this miraculous event. The second verse continues the story, with angels appearing and singing a chorus that announces the birth of the Savior. The shepherds are afraid and humbled by what they see and hear, as they realize the significance of the occasion.
The final verse highlights the humble beginnings of Jesus, born in a manger, and the importance of the event, which led to salvation for all. The message of this verse is that the birth of Jesus was a gift from God, and that we should celebrate it by sharing the news with everybody.
Line by Line Meaning
Go, tell it on the mountain
Spread the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ far and wide
Over the hills and everywhere
Proclaim it loudly and clearly, without regard for location or distance
Go, tell it on the mountain
Reiterate the importance of sharing the message of the Savior's birth
That Jesus Christ is born
That the Messiah has been born and is here to bring salvation
While shepherds kept their watching
Shepherds were tending their flocks at night
Over silent flocks by night
The sheep were resting while the shepherds remained alert
Behold throughout the heavens
The sky was filled with a divine light
There shone a holy light
A sacred glow illuminated the sky
The shepherds feared and trembled
The shepherds were scared and nervous
When lo! above the earth
Suddenly, the sky above them
Rang out the angels chorus
The angels sang a beautiful hymn
That hailed the Savior's birth
Which celebrated the birth of Christ
Down in a lowly manger
Jesus was born in a simple feeding trough
The humble Christ was born
Even though He was a king, He was born in meek circumstances
And God sent us salvation
God provided us with a way to be saved
That blessed Christmas morn
On that joyful morning when Jesus was born
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Aaron Joseph Neville, John W. Work
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind