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.
Native Son
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
May you find the way back home.
Down and down we go,
Down into bright October,
Brothers in arms no more
Now that the war is over.
Have you waded in
Will you lie upon the sofa,
See to the decoration of your shell
Now that the war is over?
Mount up, move on,
Damn the darkness,
Speed the dawn,
They lost, we won.
Try to find
Your way back home, native son.
Down and down we go,
Down into bright October,
Brothers in arms no more
Now that the war is over.
Have you waded in
And been to hell?
Will you lie upon the sofa,
See to the decoration of your shell
Now that the war is over?
Mount up, move on,
Damn the darkness,
Speed the dawn,
They lost, we won.
Try to find
Your way back home, native son.
In James Taylor's song Native Son, the singer addresses a veteran who has returned home from war. The first lines encourage the veteran to move forward and search for the way back home. The phrase "may you find the way back home" is both a physical and emotional reference, asking the veteran to find his way back to his homeland and also to find a sense of belonging and comfort after experiencing the trauma of war.
The verses that follow describe the experience of returning home after fighting in a war. The singer acknowledges the loss of brotherhood and camaraderie that was shared during war time, but now that it's over, everyone must go their separate ways. The line "Now that the war is over" repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the theme of exhaustion and weariness that results from war.
The chorus "Mount up, move on, damn the darkness, speed the dawn, they lost, we won. Try to find your way back home, native son" is both a call to action and a reminder of victory. The veteran is encouraged to move forward and not dwell on the darkness of war, while also being reminded of the victory that was achieved. The phrase "try to find your way back home" is repeated, stressing the importance of finding a sense of home and belonging, even after experiencing such devastation.
Overall, Native Son is a powerful tribute to those who have fought for their country and returned home, often with deep emotional and physical scars. It's a reminder of the importance of moving forward, finding a sense of peace, and acknowledging the sacrifice and victory that come with war.
Line by Line Meaning
Mount up, move on,
Rise up and move forward, leaving behind the past and heading towards the future.
May you find the way back home.
Wishing you find the path that leads you back to your roots or homeland.
Down and down we go,
Descending into the depths of confusion or uncertainty.
Down into bright October,
Falling into a season symbolizing change and transition.
Brothers in arms no more
The unity or brotherhood experienced during the war has now fallen apart.
Now that the war is over.
The conflict or struggle has reached its end, yet the consequences may still linger.
Have you waded in
Questioning if you have experienced the depths of hardship or pain.
And been to hell?
Asking if you have been through an intense, difficult situation or experience.
Will you lie upon the sofa,
Referring to the idea of being comfortable, but not making any effort towards growth or change.
See to the decoration of your shell
Making superficial changes to one's exterior, without truly evolving or transforming internally.
Mount up, move on,
Encouraging a mentality of perseverance and resilience.
Damn the darkness,
Rejecting the negativity and challenges that arise.
Speed the dawn,
Hastening the arrival of a brighter future or new beginning.
They lost, we won.
The idea of overcoming adversity or emerging victorious over an opponent.
Try to find
An urging to look for something, perhaps an answer or solution.
Your way back home, native son.
Guiding a lost, wandering individual towards their place of belonging or origin.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind