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.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
The song "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is a classic Christmas tune that has stood the test of time through decades of covers and renditions. The song is a heartfelt reminder for everyone to enjoy the holiday spirit and forget their troubles, even if it's just for a little while. The lyrics call for a merry and bright celebration of the season, with hopes for a stress-free and joyful holiday. The first verse sets the tone with a call to let go of worry and embrace the joy of being with the ones we love.
The second verse takes us back to a simpler time and reminds us of the importance of old friends and happy memories. The lyrics encourage us to cherish the time that we have with loved ones, and to hold onto the hope that future holidays will be just as bright. The final verse serves as a reminder to hang a star on the highest bough, a symbol of hope and faith for the future.
Overall, the song is a timeless classic that continues to inspire people to appreciate the little things in life and celebrate the holiday season with loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Wish yourself a happy and joyful Christmas
Let your heart be light
Allow yourself to feel happy and carefree
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Let's forget our worries and enjoy the holiday season
Make the Yuletide gay
Make the Christmas season festive and joyful
From now on, our troubles will be miles away
Our problems will be far from our minds during this happy time
Here we are as in olden days
We are celebrating Christmas just like we did in the past
Happy golden days of yore
We remember the happy times we spent together in the past
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Our close and loyal friends who are important to us
Gather near to us once more
Come together with us again like we used to do
Through the years we all will be together
We will stay close and spend future Christmases together
If the fates allow
If events allow us to stay together
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough
Decorate with a bright star on the top of the Christmas tree
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Enjoy the present moment and have a happy Christmas
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind