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.
How I Know You
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hadn't got to my first shave before the body blow
Egyptians in the courtyard, my family in chains
You witnessed our abduction which possibly Explains
How I know you
How I know you
A privileged existence, for my father was employed
As advisor to the king, no less, which surely rings a Bell
For as you are his daughter, you probably can tell
How I know you
How I know you
Enough of reminiscence, and such happy memories
The reason why I know you well is really none of These
It's just you reek of royalty, you ooze uncommon Grace
I'd know you were a princess, in any time and place
Yes I know you
How I know you
Yes I know you
How I know you
The lyrics of James Taylor's "How I Know You" tell the story of the singer's connection to the song's subject - a princess who is likely the daughter of a king. The opening lines suggest that the singer and the subject grew up in the same town, but their experiences were very different. While the subject may have lived a privileged life as the daughter of a king, the singer's family was abducted, possibly by Egyptians, when the singer was just a young boy who had not even had his first shave. However, the singer seems to have some connection to the subject that goes beyond their shared hometown. He believes that he "knows" the subject, although he admits that the reason for this is "none of these" - meaning that it's not because of their shared past or any objective factor.
The chorus is built around the repeated phrase "How I know you." This repetition suggests that the singer is trying to persuade the subject of their connection, perhaps because he knows that it sounds unlikely. In the second verse, the singer offers some explanation of how he might know the subject. He reveals that his father was once an advisor to the king, which could explain how he would have known the princess. However, he acknowledges that this seems unlikely, and instead focuses on the subject's demeanor, suggesting that she "reeks of royalty" and "oozes uncommon grace." These characteristics, he suggests, make it clear to him that she is a princess, regardless of their shared history.
Overall, "How I Know You" is a song that explores the idea of connection between two people who seem to be very different from one another. The singer is trying to make the case that he knows the subject, even though their pasts were very different and there is no clear reason why he should have any special insight into her. The song leaves open the possibility that the singer is mistaken, or that his connection to the subject is purely imaginary, but it also suggests that there is something compelling about the idea of connection between two people who might seem unlikely to share any common ground.
Line by Line Meaning
I grew up in your hometown, at least began to grow
I spent some of my childhood in the same place where you were raised
I hadn't got to my first shave before the body blow
I was very young when my family suffered a major tragedy
Egyptians in the courtyard, my family in chains
Foreign conquerors came and took control of our land and enslaved my family
You witnessed our abduction which possibly explains
You may have been present when my family was kidnapped, and you could provide some insight into what happened
How I know you
This is how I recognize you and why I believe we have a connection
Before that fateful morning my family enjoyed
My family had a good life prior to the traumatic event that changed everything
A privileged existence, for my father was employed
My father had an important job, which provided us with a comfortable lifestyle
As advisor to the king, no less, which surely rings a bell
My father served as an advisor to the ruler of our country, which is a noteworthy position
For as you are his daughter, you probably can tell
Since you are the daughter of the king, you likely know about my father's role in his administration
Enough of reminiscence, and such happy memories
Let's stop dwelling on the past and focus on the present
The reason why I know you well is really none of these
The specific details of my past and yours are not as important as the strong connection that I feel towards you
It's just you reek of royalty, you ooze uncommon grace
You have an unmistakable aura of nobility and elegance that sets you apart from others
I'd know you were a princess, in any time and place
Even if we had met in a different era or location, I would recognize you as someone of royal blood and refinement
Yes I know you
I am certain that I have some sort of special connection with you
How I know you
This is the reason why I feel that way and what draws me towards you
Yes I know you
I am completely sure that I have a deep connection with you
How I know you
This is why I believe we should explore this connection further
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ELTON JOHN, TIM RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind