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.
Like Everone She Knows
James Taylor Lyrics
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Waiting on an answer, ready for a change.
And everywhere she goes, she's just a little bit on the lookout.
A day might mean tomorrow, questions still remain.
It's not that she's so sad, she always was a happy soul.
But lately she gets to wonder to herself, what's the good of going on anymore?
I see her in her room, sitting at the window,
She thinks of going home, giving up on the city,
Maybe moving back down to Mobile, it's not that far to fall.
I know she won't see me but I might just say anyhow,
If I could be right there right now as I myself was told.
Hold tight to your heart's desire, never ever let it go.
Let nobody fool you into giving it up too soon.
Tend your own fire, lay low and be strong, wait awhile, wait it out,
Wait it on out, wait it out, it'll come along.
I know she won't see me but I might just say anyhow,
If I could be right there right now as I myself was told.
Hold tight to your heart's desire, never ever let it go.
Let nobody fool you into giving it up too soon.
Tend your own fire, lay low and be strong,
Wait it out, wait it out, wait it on out.
Wait it out, let it come along, oh, wait awhile, wait awhile.
The song "Like Everyone She Knows" by James Taylor is a powerful reflection of the struggles and uncertainties that many people face when searching for true love and happiness. The first two stanzas describe a woman who is longing for a change in her life - someone who's ready to find true love but is still waiting for answers. She is a little bit on the lookout, but questioning if tomorrow is the day she will find what she seeks.
Despite her struggles, the woman is not necessarily sad - she has always been a happy soul. However, recently she has been wondering about the purpose of her life, questioning what the good is of going on anymore. The second half of the song shows the singer witnessing the woman in her room - feeling small and wondering if she is pretty enough to find love. She is considering giving up on the city and moving back to her hometown, still questioning if it's worth it all.
The chorus of the song acts as a reassuring message - to hold tight to your heart's desires and not to let anyone fool you into giving up on them too soon. The song encourages listeners to be strong and wait it out, to tend to their own fire and be patient. The song's message of hope and encouragement makes it a powerful and relatable piece.
Line by Line Meaning
Like everyone she knows, she's holding out for true love,
She, like the people around her, is waiting for real love to come her way and is hoping for a change in her life.
Waiting on an answer, ready for a change.
She's waiting for something to happen, and is prepared for the opportune time to make a change.
And everywhere she goes, she's just a little bit on the lookout.
She's keeping a lookout, always searching, and tentative wherever she goes.
A day might mean tomorrow, questions still remain.
There's a degree of uncertainty, and she's still doubtful even when tomorrow is only a day away.
It's not that she's so sad, she always was a happy soul.
She's usually a joyful person and doesn't want to seem unhappy or depressed.
But lately she gets to wonder to herself, what's the good of going on anymore?
Despite her normally optimistic outlook on life, recently she's been questioning the purpose of life, and if it is worth going on with.
I see her in her room, sitting at the window,
The singer sees her in her room, gazing out the window.
Wondering if she's pretty, feeling just a little small tonight.
She is feeling self-conscious concerning her appearance, and experiencing a sense of insecurity.
She thinks of going home, giving up on the city,
She's considering leaving the city and going back to her hometown.
Maybe moving back down to Mobile, it's not that far to fall.
She's thinking of relocating to Mobile, which she doesn't think would be such a significant change.
Hold tight to your heart's desire, never ever let it go.
Hang on to the things that you want the most and don't ever give up on them.
Let nobody fool you into giving it up too soon.
Don't let others influence you to quit pursuing the things you want most prematurely.
Tend your own fire, lay low and be strong, wait awhile, wait it out,
Focus on nurturing your own passions, lay low and remain strong, and wait patiently for things to come to fruition.
Wait it on out, wait it out, it'll come along.
Be patient and wait; things will improve with time.
I know she won't see me but I might just say anyhow,
Although the singer is aware their comments won't be noticed, they may speak up anyway.
If I could be right there right now as I myself was told.
The artist is trying to recall some advice they were given previously.
Wait it out, wait it out, wait it on out.
Wait patiently and don't rush things.
Wait it out, let it come along, oh, wait awhile, wait awhile.
Be patient, let things progress at their own pace, and wait for it to work itself out.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind