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.
Isn't It Nice To Be Home Again
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I dreamed my-self a dream
Well I dreamed I as so all alone
Isn't it nice to be home again?
I said welcome home
Didn't we miss your smiling face
Well the sun was nice in L.A.
Sun-shine
Well I said isn't it nice to be home a-gain?
The lyrics to James Taylor's song "Isn't It Nice to Be Home Again" are a nostalgic reflection on the comforts of home after being far away for some time. The first verse describes a dream the singer had while away, where they felt lonely and isolated. The dream serves as a reminder of the importance of home, where one can feel connected and secure. The second verse reflects on the joy of returning home, with friends and family welcoming the singer back with open arms. The sunshine of L.A. is contrasted with the warmth and familiarity of home, highlighting the unique value of a place with personal history and shared memories.
Overall, the message of the song is one of appreciation for the intangible qualities of home: the sense of belonging, the comfort of familiar surroundings, and the joy of being reunited with loved ones. It speaks to the universal human desire for a place to call home, and the emotional power of returning to that place after a prolonged absence.
Line by Line Meaning
Late last night so far away
In the past, I was in a distant and separated place.
I dreamed my-self a dream
I had a dream in my mind.
Well I dreamed I as so all alone
In my dream, I was in solitude.
Isn't it nice to be home again?
It's a great feeling to be back home.
I said welcome home
I greeted myself for returning home.
Didn't we miss your smiling face
People missed seeing my happy expression.
Well the sun was nice in L.A.
Los Angeles had pleasant weather.
Sun-shine
The sun gave a bright and warm feeling.
Isn't it nice to be home again?
It's a delightful experience to be back home.
Well I said isn't it nice to be home a-gain?
I reiterated the joy of returning home.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR, JAMES V TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind