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.
In The Midnight Hour
James Taylor Lyrics
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That's when my love comes tumblin' down
I'm gonna wait util the midnight hour
When there ain't no one else around
I'm gonna take you girl and hold you
And do all the things I told you
In the midnight hour, oh yeah
I'm gonna wait 'till the stars come out
To see that twinkle in your eyes
I'm gonna wait 'till the midnight hour
That's when my love begins to shine
'Cause you're the only girl I know
The only one, that really, really loves me so
In the midnight hour, 'round about midnight baby
Oh I'm gonna wait 'till the midnight hour
That's when my love comes tumblin' down
I'm gonna wait until the midnight hour
Thare ain't no one else around
Just you and me baby
Yeah, in the midnight hour
(midnight hour)
I plan to wait, oh with ya baby
In the midnight hour, in the midnight hour
Come on wait with me baby
Oh, come on now, come on wait
'Till the midnight hour
Come on wait, come on now, oh with me baby
Come on wait 'till the midnight hour
Oh say that you will
Come on wait 'till the midnight hour
Come on wait 'till the midnight hour
Oh, yeah, yeah,
I said, the midnight hour
The lyrics to James Taylor's "In The Midnight Hour" is about waiting until midnight to be with his lover. Taylor talks about how he's going to wait for the stars to come out to see the twinkle in his lover's eyes. He plans to hold her and do all the things he's been telling her. He emphasizes that the only girl who loves him truly is her, and no one else. Taylor's love is going to come tumbling down in the midnight hour when there is no one else around. He emphasizes how he only wants to be with her and no one else.
These lyrics evoke the feeling of romance and excitement in the anticipation of being with someone you love. The thought of waiting until midnight to be together with your lover gives an added thrill of secrecy and mystery to the relationship. The symbolism of the stars and midnight hour further adds to the poetic imagery of the lyrics. Taylor's hopeful and enthusiastic tone makes it seem like he truly believes that the midnight hour is the perfect time to express his love.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna wait 'till the midnight hour
I will wait until it's very late at night
That's when my love comes tumblin' down
That's when I feel overwhelmed with love for you
When there ain't no one else around
When we are alone with each other
I'm gonna take you girl and hold you
I will embrace you
And do all the things I told you
I will fulfill promises and commitments made to you
In the midnight hour, oh yeah
This will happen during a very late time of night
I'm gonna wait 'till the stars come out
I will wait until the nighttime sky is visible
To see that twinkle in your eyes
To observe the brightness and joy in your gaze
That's when my love begins to shine
That's when my love for you becomes evident
'Cause you're the only girl I know
You are the only female I am familiar with
The only one, that really, really loves me so
You are the only one who truly loves and cares for me
In the midnight hour, 'round about midnight baby
During the late hours, around the time of midnight
Just you and me baby
It will only be us
Yeah, in the midnight hour
During the late hours
(midnight hour)
Referring to the late hour of the night
I plan to wait, oh with ya baby
I intend to wait for you during this late hour
Come on wait with me baby
Join me in waiting for this late hour
Oh say that you will
Please indicate that you will wait with me
Oh, yeah, yeah,
An expression of eagerness and joy
I said, the midnight hour
Referring to the late hours of the night
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Wilson Pickett, Steve Cropper
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind