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.
Night Owl
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's just where he's bound to be
And a monkey kinds of flashes on fruits and bananas
So he lives in the top of a tree
But my eyes are made for darkness
And so the nighttime is right for me
Said I'm a night owl, honey
Now most folks they like the good day time
They like to see the shining sun
They're up in the morning
Off and running
'Till they're too tired for having fun
But when the sun goes down
And them bright light shine
My daytime has just begun
I'm a night owl, honey
Sleep all day long
Said turn off that bright light, baby
You're just about to drive me blind
Draw them curtains for me, mama
You watch and you'll see
How my love light shines
Now, there's two sides to this
Great big world
And one of them is always night
Hey, if you can take care of
Business in the sunshine, baby
I guess you're gonna be alright
But don't come looking for string bean
To lend you a hand
Because my eyes they can't stand the light
No, I'm a night owl, honey
Sleep all, sleep all day long
I said sleep all day long
I'm a night owl, honey
The song Night Owl by James Taylor is an ode to the beauty of the night, and an acknowledgement of Taylor's own preference for the darkness. The lyrics of the song describe different animals and their natural habitats, comparing them to Taylor's own tendencies. He notes how a catfish loves to be in the water, and a monkey thrives on bananas and fruits in the trees. Similarly, Taylor flourishes in the nighttime, when his eyes are made for darkness.
Most people prefer the daytime, and the shining sun. They wake up early and run around, but Taylor's daytime is just beginning when the sun goes down. He loves the night and the peace it brings him. In the chorus, he declares himself a night owl, one who sleeps all day long. He sings about the brightness of the day being a challenge for him, but at night, his love light shines.
The song celebrates the beauty of the night and it's unique charms, and highlights Taylor's preference for the darkness that comes with the moon. It's an ode to those who find solace and comfort under the stars and a reminder that there's more than one way to live life.
Line by Line Meaning
A catfish he tends to groove on the water
The catfish is naturally suited for living and thriving in the water
It's just where he's bound to be
The catfish feels most at home in the water
And a monkey kinds of flashes on fruits and bananas
Monkeys are naturally attracted to and enjoy eating fruits and bananas
So he lives in the top of a tree
Monkeys climb and reside in trees, where they can access their favorite fruits
But my eyes are made for darkness
The artist's eyes are more suited for seeing in the dark than in the light
And so the nighttime is right for me
Nighttime is the ideal time for the singer to be awake and active
Said I'm a night owl, honey
The singer identifies as a night owl, someone who is active during the night
Sleep all day long
The artist sleeps during the day and is awake during the night
Now most folks they like the good day time
Most people prefer being awake and active during the daytime
They like to see the shining sun
People enjoy the warmth and light of the sun, especially during the day
They're up in the morning
Many people start their day early in the morning
Off and running
People are often busy and active during the day
'Till they're too tired for having fun
People may tire themselves out from their activities during the day, reducing their ability to have fun later on
But when the sun goes down
Once the sun sets and the sky gets dark
And them bright light shine
When the bright lights of daytime are turned off
My daytime has just begun
The artist's most active and productive time is during the night
Said turn off that bright light, baby
The artist requests that the bright light be turned off, likely because it is bothersome for them
You're just about to drive me blind
The singer feels like the bright light may be causing them to lose their vision
Draw them curtains for me, mama
The singer requests that the curtains be drawn to block out the bright light
You watch and you'll see
The artist is confident that the change will have a positive effect
How my love light shines
The artist will be more lively and energized once the bright light is turned off
Now, there's two sides to this
There are different perspectives and experiences to be had in life
Great big world
The world is vast and diverse
And one of them is always night
There is always a portion of the world experiencing nighttime
Hey, if you can take care of
If you are able to handle
Business in the sunshine, baby
If you can handle your affairs during the daytime
I guess you're gonna be alright
You will probably be okay
But don't come looking for string bean
Do not come to the artist for help
To lend you a hand
To offer assistance
Because my eyes they can't stand the light
The singer has difficulty with bright light and may not be able to help during the daytime
No, I'm a night owl, honey
The singer reiterates that they are a night owl
I said sleep all day long
The artist emphasizes that they sleep during the day
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLAUDIA FIGUROA, FORBES ALASDAIR HENDERSON, TONY HINNIGAN, MIKE TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind