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.
Oh What a Beautiful Morning
James Taylor Lyrics
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There's a bright golden haze on the meadow
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye
And it looks like it's climbin' clean up to the sky
Oh, what a beautiful mornin'
Oh, what a beautiful day
I've got a wonderful feelin'
All the cattle are standin' like statues
All the cattle are standin' like statues
They don't turn their heads as they see me ride by
But a little brown maverick is winkin' his eye
Oh, what a beautiful mornin'
Oh, what a beautiful day
I've got a wonderful feelin'
Everything's goin' my way
All the sounds of the earth are like music
All the sounds of the earth are like music
The bees are so busy it don't miss a tree
And a ol' weepin' willow is laughin' at me
Oh, what a beautiful mornin'
Oh, what a beautiful day
I've got a wonderful feelin'
Everything's goin' my way
Oh, what a beautiful day
The song "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" by James Taylor celebrates the beauty of nature and the joy it brings to the singer's life. The song begins with the image of a bright golden haze on the meadow with corn as high as an elephant's eye, painting a picturesque scene in the listener's mind. The singer then expresses his feelings of a wonderful, perfect day where everything is going his way, which is reflected in the positive upbeat music of the song. As he rides by the cattle, they stand still like statues, and he notices a little brown maverick winking its eye, adding a playful, lighthearted touch to the lyrics.
The song continues with the singer describing the sounds of the earth as music, with the busy bees and a weeping willow that seems to be laughing at him. All these natural elements come together to make the singer feel happy, content, and grateful for the day. He repeats the chorus, emphasizing the beauty of the morning and the day, mirroring his appreciation of the simple, natural things in life.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the beauty of nature and its positive effect on the human spirit. It is a reminder to enjoy the present moment and appreciate the small things in life that can bring joy and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a bright golden haze on the meadow
The sun shines so brightly and the golden color painted on the meadow looks stunning
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye
The corn is grown to such a size that can be compared to that of the elephant’s eyes, and it seems to be climbing up to the sky
And it looks like it's climbin' clean up to the sky
The corn looks as if it's growing all the way to the sky
All the cattle are standin' like statues
All of the cattle are standing still like they are statues
They don't turn their heads as they see me ride by
They don't seem to notice me as I pass them by
But a little brown maverick is winkin' his eye
Except for a little brown calf, looks at me, and gives me a little wink
All the sounds of the earth are like music
The sounds of nature, like buzzing bees and rustling trees, bring such soothing pleasure like listening to music
The bees are so busy it don't miss a tree
The bees are always busy and never quite, always collecting nectar from flowers and buzzing around the trees
And a ol' weepin' willow is laughin' at me
Looking at the old willow tree, though its branches hang, swaying in the wind and with a twisted trunk, it seems to be content and even happy
I've got a wonderful feelin' everything's goin' my way
I feel great and everything is perfect for me
Oh, what a beautiful mornin'
The morning is gorgeous
Oh, what a beautiful day
The day is so lovely and perfect
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Oscar Ii Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind