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.
Jingle Bells
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Dashing through the snow darling
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride darling
In a one horse open sleigh
I see the town shining in white
And baby while we're are young
Take a ride at night
Sing this same song
Get yourself a bobtail ring
That's about all you need
Just to hitch onto an open sleigh
You're bound to take the lead
You're bound to take the lead
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride baby
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle-bat-a-cha-ee-too-oh-ba-ha-ha
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one, one horse, one horse open sleigh yeah
See the town tonight
Christmas lights are everywhere
The whole place is shine and bright
Santa Claus is on his way, got load of goodies in his sleigh
The lyrics to James Taylor’s version of “Jingle Bells” are a cheerful tribute to winter’s favorite mode of transportation, the one horse open sleigh. The sing-along melody of the song is perfect for spreading holiday joy, as the choruses encourage us to keep singing and jingling all the way. The “bob tails” referred to in the second verse are the tassels or decorations that hang from the tails of horses, and are synonymous with the jingling bells that make up the central theme of the song.
The third verse paints a picture of traditional Christmas festivities, where the town is decked out in shining white, and children ride in open sleighs singing this same song. The lyrics encourage us to join in the fun and grab our own “bobtail ring” – the visual of which adds to the playful, nostalgic feeling that comes along with this holiday classic. Overall, the lyrics describe the joy and merriment of a winter sleigh ride, and remind us to keep the Christmas spirit alive by sharing in the universal joy that comes with the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
jingle bells, jingle bells
The sound of the bells is repetitive and joyful
Jingle all the way
The bells are ringing all the way through the song
Oh, what fun it is to ride
Riding in a one horse open sleigh is enjoyable
In a one horse open sleigh
A mode of transportation that involves a horse-pulled carriage in which the passengers can enjoy the winter scenery
Dashing through the snow darling
Quickly travelling through the snow with someone loved
O'er the fields we go
Across the fields we travel
Laughing all the way
The journey is filled with laughter and joy
Bells on bob tails ring
The bells on the horse's harness ring
Making spirits bright
The sound of the bells creates a cheerful and festive mood
What fun it is to laugh and sing
Laughter, singing, and merriment are enjoyable
A sleighing song tonight
The song is intended to be enjoyed while sledding
I see the town shining in white
The town is covered in beautiful white snow
And baby while we're are young
While we are young, we should enjoy life to the fullest
Take a ride at night
Travel at night to see the Christmas lights
Sing this same song
Sing 'Jingle Bells' while riding in the sleigh
Get yourself a bobtail ring
Acquire a decoration for the horse's tail
That's about all you need
The horse, sleigh, and bells are all that is necessary for a good time
Just to hitch onto an open sleigh
Hitch the horse to an open sleigh for a fun ride
You're bound to take the lead
Being the first sleigh on the road is exciting
Jingle-bat-a-cha-ee-too-oh-ba-ha-ha
An enthusiastic vocalization of the sound the bells create
See the town tonight
Take advantage of the opportunity to see the festive town at night
Christmas lights are everywhere
The town is brightly lit with Christmas lights
The whole place is shine and bright
The entire town is illuminated and brilliant
Santa Claus is on his way, got load of goodies in his sleigh
Santa Claus is on his annual gift-giving mission, delivering presents to children in his sleigh
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind