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.
Her Town Too
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's afraid of the knock on her door
There's always a shade of a doubt
She can never be sure
Who comes to call
Maybe the friend of a friend of a friend
Anyone at all
Anything but nothing again
It used to be her town
It used to be her town, too
It used to be her town
It used to be her town, too
Seems like even her old girlfriends
Might be talking her down
She's got her name on the grapevine
Running up and down
The telephone line
Talking 'bout
Someone said, someone said
Something 'bout, something else
Someone might have said about her
She always figured that they were her friends
But maybe they can live without her
It used to be her town
It used to be her town, too
It used to be her town
It used to be her town, too
Well, people got used to seeing them both together
But now he's gone and life goes on
Nothing lasts forever, oh no
She gets the house and the garden
He gets the boys in the band
Some of them his friends
Some of them her friends
Some of them understand
Lord knows that this is just a small town city
Yes, and everyone can see you fall
It's got nothing to do with pity
I just wanted to give you a call
It used to be your town
It used to be my town, too
You never know 'till it all falls down
Somebody loves you
Somebody loves you
Darling, somebody still loves you
I can still remember
When it used to be her town, too
It used to be your town
It used to be my town, too
The song "Her Town Too" by James Taylor captures the feelings of a woman who has lost her place in her own town. She's afraid to go out, not knowing who might knock on her door or what they might want. The constant rumors and whispers about her have eroded her trust in her old friends, leaving her feeling alone and unsure of where she belongs.
The chorus is a reminder that this was once her town. She had a place here, people who cared about her, and a sense of belonging. But now things have changed. Her ex-partner, with whom she used to share the town, is now gone. He's moved on to the next chapter of his life while she's been left behind. The song suggests that perhaps her worth was tied up in her relationship with him, and now that it's over, she's lost her sense of identity.
Overall, "Her Town Too" is a poignant commentary on the power dynamics of small-town life and the fragility of our sense of self-worth. It's a beautiful ode to those who feel lost and a reminder that even when everything seems to be falling apart, somebody still loves you.
Line by Line Meaning
She's been afraid to go out
She has been scared to leave her house due to fear of negative encounters.
She's afraid of the knock on her door
She is frightened of any unexpected visit or interaction.
There's always a shade of a doubt
There is always an uncertain feeling within her.
She can never be sure
She is never certain or confident about anything.
Who comes to call
She is unsure about the identities of those who come to visit her.
Maybe the friend of a friend of a friend
Perhaps the visitors come through an indirect connection.
Anyone at all
It could be anyone who comes to see her, even strangers.
Anything but nothing again
She wants anything to break the dullness in her life.
It used to be her town
She used to feel at home in her town.
Seems like even her old girlfriends
Even her female friends seem distant and disloyal.
Might be talking her down
They could be gossiping and criticizing her behind her back.
She's got her name on the grapevine
People are talking about her in a negative manner.
Running up and down
The gossip is spreading fast and far.
The telephone line
The means by which the rumors are spreading.
Talking 'bout
The topic of the gossip is...
Someone said, someone said
The origin of the rumor is unknown, but it has spread like wildfire.
Something 'bout, something else
The content of the rumor is vague and unclear.
Someone might have said about her
There may be rumors circulating that are untrue.
She always figured that they were her friends
She thought that her friends were trustworthy and supportive.
But maybe they can live without her
It is possible that they are not true friends and can do without her.
Well, people got used to seeing them both together
Everyone was accustomed to seeing her and her ex together in public.
But now he's gone and life goes on
Her ex-partner is no longer with her and life continues regardless.
Nothing lasts forever, oh no
No situation or relationship is eternal.
She gets the house and the garden
She has been granted possession of the house and garden.
He gets the boys in the band
Her ex-partner still has custody over the music group they shared.
Some of them his friends
Some of the music group members were his friends.
Some of them her friends
Some of the music group members were her friends.
Some of them understand
Some group members are aware of the recent break-up and sympathize with her.
Lord knows that this is just a small town city
Everyone knows everyone else in this close-knit community.
Yes, and everyone can see you fall
Any public failure or downfall can be observed and magnified by others here.
It's got nothing to do with pity
The sympathy of others is not enough to fix the situation.
I just wanted to give you a call
I phoned to check up on you and show my support.
You never know 'till it all falls down
You can never say how your life will turn out until everything crumbles.
Somebody loves you
Despite any struggles, there is always someone who cares for you.
Somebody loves you
You are not alone, and love will always exist in some form.
Darling, somebody still loves you
There are undoubtedly people out there who have strong feelings of affection for you.
I can still remember
The memory of the past will always remain.
When it used to be her town, too
She fondly recollects the period when she felt at home in her town.
It used to be your town
The town began to feel less and less like home for both her and her ex-partner.
It used to be my town, too
The song's narrator is reminiscing about when they were comfortable and familiar with the town.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John David Souther, James Vernon Taylor, Waddy Wachtell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eskieman3948
Anyone listening in 2024? This is one of JT's best - gets in your head and stays. Mellow 'n melancholy.
@mandyblue7708
Listening in 2024. Those harmonies can make you fall in love.
@dianntoney139
Yes!. The harmony is insane!.
@adrianaquintero7828
Yes! It came up in my YT feed today, and I am in love with this song all over again.
@steely_Bob
2-6-24, Still listening & will listen as long I live.
@BrianThurow-lj6pi
Me 1982 born 42 now
@netw52
I’m 71. I will NEVER tire of this. Souther is genius at harmony. ♥️♥️♥️
@doughuie7578
Will be 60 in June and listening to James Taylor never gets old!
@gabbyhayes1568
Souther made a living as a prolific songwriter, always in the background. Still an an amazing talent.
@kellennaderrex5861
I'm 34, and he's still a genius