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.
Mon Beau Sapin
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que j′aime ta verdure
Mon beau sapin, roi des forêts
Tu gardes ta parure
Quand, par l'hiver, bois et guérêts
Sont dépouillés de leurs attraits
Que j′aime ta verdure
Joli sapin, tes verts sommets
Et leur fidèle ombrage
Joli sapin, tes verts sommets
M'offrent la douce image
De la foi qui ne ment jamais
De la constance et de la paix
Joli sapin, tes verts sommets
M'offrent la douce image
Toi, que Noël planta chez nous
Au saint anniversaire
Toi, que Noël planta chez nous
Tu répands la lumière
Comme ils sont beaux, comme ils sont doux
Tes bonbons et tes joujoux
Toi, que Noël planta chez nous
Au saint anniversaire
Et quand la neige blanchit tes traits
Que ta verdure disparaît
Mon beau sapin, roi des forêts
Tu brilles dans l′azur
"Mon Beau Sapin" is a French Christmas carol that celebrates the beauty and symbolism of the Christmas tree, specifically highlighting its ability to bring joy and warmth during the winter season. The song begins by praising the tree as the king of the forests and expressing love for its greenery and regal appearance.
The first verse acknowledges the natural cycle of the seasons by mentioning how other trees and shrubs lose their allure in the winter, but the Christmas tree remains adorned and vibrant. This conveys the idea that the Christmas tree represents resilience and beauty in the face of harsh conditions.
The second verse describes the majestic sight of the tree's green tops and their faithful shade, creating a peaceful and comforting image. These traits are associated with qualities such as unwavering faith, constancy, and tranquility that the Christmas tree embodies.
The third verse introduces the idea of the Christmas tree being planted in celebration of the holy anniversary of Christmas. It is portrayed as a source of light that illuminates and brings joy to the home. The mention of candies and toys represents the festive decorations that adorn the Christmas tree, enhancing the joyful atmosphere.
The final verse acknowledges the fleeting nature of the tree's beauty as it becomes covered with snow and loses its green color. However, it highlights how the tree continues to shine brightly in the clear sky, symbolizing the enduring spirit of Christmas and the hope it brings.
Overall, "Mon Beau Sapin" celebrates the Christmas tree as a symbol of resilience, joy, and the enduring spirit of the holiday season. It conveys a message of appreciation for the beauty it brings and the hope it represents during the winter months.
Line by Line Meaning
Mon beau sapin, roi des forêts
Oh beautiful fir tree, king of the forests
Que j′aime ta verdure
How I love your greenery
Tu gardes ta parure
You keep your adornment
Quand, par l'hiver, bois et guérêts
When, in winter, woods and groves
Sont dépouillés de leurs attraits
Are stripped of their charms
Joli sapin, tes verts sommets
Lovely fir tree, your green summits
Et leur fidèle ombrage
And their faithful shade
M'offrent la douce image
Offer me the sweet image
De la foi qui ne ment jamais
Of the faith that never lies
De la constance et de la paix
Of constancy and peace
Toi, que Noël planta chez nous
You, that Christmas planted in our midst
Au saint anniversaire
At the holy anniversary
Tu répands la lumière
You spread the light
Comme ils sont beaux, comme ils sont doux
How beautiful, how sweet they are
Tes bonbons et tes joujoux
Your candies and your toys
Et quand la neige blanchit tes traits
And when the snow whitens your features
Que ta verdure disparaît
And your greenery disappears
Tu brilles dans l′azur
You shine in the azure
Writer(s): Traditional (writer Unknown), Serge Mazeres
Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.