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.
Gorilla
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's got a nose like a doughnut, got a tendency to overeat.
He don't use tools or weapons, he don't eat meat.
He likes to stick to the bushes, tends to avoid the street.
But he rides my El Dorado when he comes to town.
You know he's out there somewhere trying to track you down.
Look up in the sky, mama that's the one, yeah.
He comes from the heart of darkness a thousand miles from here,
that's the land where they understand what a woman might like to hear.
You know that he loves you baby for what you really are,
his love is a burning hot as a big old ten cent cigar.
Now most of y'all gave seen a gorilla in a cage at the local zoo.
He mostly sits around contemplating all the things that he'd prefer to do.
He dreams about the world outside from behind those bars of steel,
and no one seems to understand about the heartache the man can feel.
The people stop and stare but nobody seems to care.
It don't seem right somehow, it just don't seem fair. He's still a gorilla.
James Taylor's song "Gorilla" is a tribute to the titular animal, but it doubles as a metaphor for personal liberation. The singer acknowledges that gorillas are often seen as nothing more than beasts in zoos, but in reality, they are complex creatures with emotions and desires, much like humans. Describing the gorilla's physical features, Taylor notes that it has "arms like legs," implying a certain level of strength and agility that is often overlooked due to its confinement. The line "He don't use tools or weapons, he don't eat meat" could be interpreted as a commentary on the human tendency to rely too much on technology and consume too much animal products, while the gorilla simply exists, content to live off the land. The singer recognizes the gorilla's individuality and even sings about giving it a ride in his El Dorado, suggesting a certain level of friendship and admiration.
The second verse of the song takes a more romantic turn, describing the gorilla as a symbol of passion and desire. The singer imagines the creature as a seductive figure, "riding" toward his love interest with a burning desire. The gorilla's native land, "the heart of darkness," is portrayed as exotic and alluring, full of mysteries that only he can unlock for the singer's muse. The lyrics "You know that he loves you baby for what you really are, his love is a burning hot as a big old ten cent cigar" further reinforce the metaphor of the gorilla as a fiery, unconventional lover.
Line by Line Meaning
He's got arms like legs, he's got hands on his feet.
He is a gorilla with unusual proportions and features.
He's got a nose like a doughnut, got a tendency to overeat.
He has a distinctive nose and a habit of eating too much.
He don't use tools or weapons, he don't eat meat.
He is a peaceful creature who doesn't need tools or weapons, and is content with a vegetarian diet.
He likes to stick to the bushes, tends to avoid the street.
He prefers to stay in his natural habitat and avoids human activity.
But he rides my El Dorado when he comes to town.
When he visits town, he rides in James Taylor's Cadillac car.
You know he's out there somewhere trying to track you down.
The gorilla is searching for someone, possibly the listener of the song.
Look up in the sky, mama that's the one, yeah.
The gorilla is an impressive creature, as if dominating the sky.
See the mighty profile block the noonday sun.
The gorilla's silhouette is powerful enough to obscure the sun.
He comes from the heart of darkness a thousand miles from here,
The gorilla originates from a remote and mysterious place.
that's the land where they understand what a woman might like to hear.
In his homeland, they value pleasing women and knowing their preferences.
You know that he loves you baby for what you really are,
The gorilla's love is unconditional and genuine, accepting each person for who they are.
his love is a burning hot as a big old ten cent cigar.
The love that the gorilla has for others burns as strongly as a cheap cigar.
Now most of y'all gave seen a gorilla in a cage at the local zoo.
Many people have seen gorillas in captivity at zoos.
He mostly sits around contemplating all the things that he'd prefer to do.
The gorilla spends most of his time thinking about what he wants to do instead of being confined to a zoo.
He dreams about the world outside from behind those bars of steel,
The gorilla yearns for the world outside of his cage which is made up of steel bars.
and no one seems to understand about the heartache the man can feel.
No one seems to empathize with the gorilla's distress and emotional pain.
The people stop and stare but nobody seems to care.
Despite drawing attention, no one is actually invested in the gorilla's wellbeing.
It don't seem right somehow, it just don't seem fair. He's still a gorilla.
The situation feels unjust and wrong. The gorilla is still an animal and deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind