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.
Is That the Way You Look
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is that the way you look?
Is that the way you look?
Is that the way you look?
Is that really the way that you look now?
Oh darling, darling, is that the way you look?
Is that really your eyes,
Is that really the way you walk on by,
Are those the clothes you wear?
Oh darling, darling, is that the way you look?
Woah, baby, oh baby.
Woah, baby, baby, baby,
I got the question for you
Woah, baby, oh baby.
Woah, baby, baby, baby, tell me now is it true?
Is that the way you look?
No, no I mean is that the way you really look?
Is that the way you look,
Is that the way you look?
Baby, maybe I'm dreaming,
But I'll be bound
Whoever wakes me up,
I'm going to knock him down.
Oh darling, darling, is that the way you look?
Well I rubbed my eyes and I pinched my leg.
And I asked my friend and I shook my head,
But baby, is that the way you look?
In James Taylor's song "Is That the Way You Look," the singer is questioning whether or not the person he is speaking to has changed their physical appearance. The song begins with him asking if that is really the way they look now and continues with questions about their eyes, hair, clothes, and walk. He is in disbelief and keeps repeating the question, wanting to know if this is truly how they look. The chorus is a plea for confirmation that what he is seeing is real.
The second verse is more aggressive in its questioning, with the singer asking if he is dreaming, but also warning that whoever wakes him up will get knocked down. Despite his disbelief, he is desperate to confirm that this is, indeed, the way this person looks now. The final lines show that he has done all he can to try to figure it out, but is still left wondering if he can trust what he sees.
The lyrics can be interpreted in different ways. On one hand, the singer could be questioning whether or not the person has physically changed, but on the other hand, it could be about realizing that someone you thought you knew has changed in ways that go beyond their physical appearance. The repeated questioning shows a desire for confirmation and understanding, but the lack of answers leaves the singer feeling uncertain and uneasy.
Line by Line Meaning
Excuse me? Excuse me, yes?
Hello, I'm trying to get your attention so I can ask you something.
Is that the way you look?
Is that really the way you appear to me?
Is that really the way that you look now?
Are you really presenting yourself like this right now?
Oh darling, darling, is that the way you look?
I'm addressing you with a term of endearment and asking again if that is truly your appearance.
Is that really your eyes,
Are those truly your eyes that I'm seeing?
Is that really your hair?
Is that truly your hair that I'm seeing?
Are those the clothes you wear?
Are those the garments you frequently put on?
Woah, baby, oh baby.
I'm expressing shock or surprise, and possibly attraction.
Woah, baby, baby, baby,
I'm repeating my exclamation for emphasis.
I got the question for you
I have an inquiry to ask you.
tell me now is it true?
Can you confirm whether or not my observations are accurate?
No, no I mean is that the way you really look?
I'm clarifying and repeating my inquiry to emphasize its importance.
Baby, maybe I'm dreaming,
I'm expressing doubt, as if what I'm seeing may not be real.
But I'll be bound
However, I'm confident and certain.
Whoever wakes me up,
If someone tries to convince me that my perceptions are false,
I'm going to knock him down.
I'll react with aggression and confrontation.
Well I rubbed my eyes and I pinched my leg.
I'm describing physical actions I took to verify my senses.
And I asked my friend and I shook my head,
I sought out a second opinion and was still confused.
But baby, is that the way you look?
I'm asking once again if your appearance is really as I see it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind