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 Sweet It Is
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How sweet it is to be loved by you
I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were
With sweet love and devotion
Deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you baby
How sweet it is to be loved by you, feels so fine
How sweet it is to be loved by you
I close my eyes at night
Wondering where would I be without you in my life
Everything I did was just a bore
Everywhere I went it seems I'd been there before
But you brighten up for me all of my days
With a love so sweet in so many ways
I wanna stop and thank you baby
I just wanna stop and thank you baby, oh yes
How sweet it is to be loved by you, it's just like sugar sometimes
How sweet it is to be loved by you, oh yeah
You were better to me than I was to myself
For me, there's you and there ain't nobody else
I wanna stop and thank you baby
I just wanna stop and thank you baby, oh yes
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
Oh now, how sweet it is to be loved by you
It's like jelly baby, oh
How sweet it is to be loved by you
Just like honey to the bee, baby, yeah, now
How sweet it is to be loved by you
The song "How Sweet It Is" by James Taylor is a heartfelt track that expresses gratitude towards a loved one who has made a significant impact on the singer's life. The opening line, "How sweet it is to be loved by you," establishes the central theme of the song - the joy and happiness that the singer experiences due to the loving presence of their partner.
The following lines describe how the singer needed someone to lean on during difficult times and how their partner provided that support with love and devotion, touching their emotions deeply. The chorus repeats the central idea, emphasizing the sweetness of being loved by their partner. The second verse conveys how the singer's life seemed dull and repetitive until their partner came along and brightened up their days. The bridge expresses how the partner has been a better caretaker to the singer than they have been to themselves.
Overall, the song is a testament to the beauty and importance of love in our lives. It reminds us of the sweetness that being loved can bring and inspires us to appreciate those who have made a positive impact on our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
How sweet it is to be loved by you
Expressing gratitude for the love and affection received from a special person
I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were
Feeling safe and comforted in the embrace of a loved one during times of vulnerability
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were
Finding solace in the understanding and empathy provided by a caring partner during life's highs and lows
With sweet love and devotion
Relishing the genuine and committed display of affection from a significant other
Deeply touching my emotion
Acknowledging the significant impact of the love and affection received, leading to profound emotional experiences
I want to stop and thank you baby
Expressing heartfelt gratitude for the love and support received
How sweet it is to be loved by you, feels so fine
Celebrating the amazing feeling of being loved and cherished by a special person
I close my eyes at night
Reflecting on the deep impact that a loved one has on life, even when sleeping
Wondering where would I be without you in my life
Realizing the important role that a significant other plays, and how life would be different without their presence
Everything I did was just a bore
Recognizing how unfulfilling life felt before experiencing the joy and happiness of being in love
Everywhere I went it seems I'd been there before
Feeling like life was repetitive and dull prior to the excitement and fulfillment provided by a loving relationship
But you brighten up for me all of my days
Appreciating the significant and consistent positive impact that a loved one provides to daily life
With a love so sweet in so many ways
Acknowledging the multifaceted and genuine nature of the love and affection received
I wanna stop and thank you baby, oh yes
Reiterating the deep and heartfelt gratitude for the love and support received
How sweet it is to be loved by you, it's just like sugar sometimes
Comparing the joy and happiness of being loved to the sweetness of sugar, highlighting how amazing love can feel
You were better to me than I was to myself
Recognizing how a loved one provides more and better care and support than one would provide themselves
For me, there's you and there ain't nobody else
Emphasizing the uniqueness and importance of a loved one in life
It's like jelly baby, oh
Continuing to compare the joy and sweetness of being loved to that of jelly, highlighting the joyful nature of love
Just like honey to the bee, baby, yeah, now
Comparing the joyful and fulfilling nature of love to the sweetness of honey, emphasizing the amazing feeling of being loved
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Holland, Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Dozier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind