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.
One More Go Round
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Funny little thing I know,
Sure got to like it.
Only thing I got to show you,
Running around the room
In my Fruit O' The Loom,
A cup of coffee from King Tut's tomb.
Save me, Lumalammalu
And so out of focus
To miss the first half of the show.
Oh, It gets to the end,
We get to run it again
Just like before,
One more go round.
Drank myself some wine back in '69,
I was fooling around with my friends
In my spare time.
Life along the river,
Knobby little knees in the Summer breeze,
Hammock and a couple of trees,
Swing low, if you please.
Oh, I must have been mokus
And so out of focus,
I missed the whole half of the show.
Come to the end
And they run it again,
Same as before,
One more go round.
After all this time of fooling around
It and never having nothing to show,
Yeah, I'm happy to say
That I finally found it
Right underneath my own nose.
Oh, I must have been mokus
And so out of focus,
I missed the first half of the show.
Please don't let it end,
I want it again
Just like before,
One more go round.
The lyrics of "One More Go Round" describe one's thoughts while working on a creative project, reflecting on past experiences, and the longing to relive and reclaim lost time. Through phrases like "workin' on a thing" and "funny little thing I know," the singer hints at the uncertain nature of creativity and acknowledges that the creation may not be something of great importance, but they still love it. The imagery of running around the room in Fruit O' The Loom and coffee from King Tut's tomb suggests a sense of playfulness and whimsy while working on this project.
The second verse recounts a memory from the singer's past, when they were young and foolish, drinking wine and enjoying life by the river with their friends. The phrase "I missed the whole half of the show" is repeated from the first verse, suggesting that the singer has lost time and missed out on experiences due to their distractions and lack of focus. However, they seem to have realized something important in their present situation, that what they were looking for was already within their grasp.
The final verse reflects on the sense of satisfaction that comes with realizing that one's passion and purpose are right in front of them. Despite having nothing to show for their past endeavors, the singer's newfound focus and drive make them eager to relive their creative process, hoping for "One more go round."
Line by Line Meaning
Workin' on a thing, workin' on a thing,
I am putting in real effort, doing my best to create and build something special.
Funny little thing I know,
It might seem silly or strange to others, but I find joy and meaning in what I'm working on.
Sure got to like it.
I am invested in this project and passionate about seeing it through.
Only thing I got to show you,
This project is my pride and joy and the only thing I can truly show off to others.
Running around the room
I'm so excited about the progress I'm making that I can't even sit still.
In my Fruit O' The Loom,
I'm comfortable enough to work on my passion project in my everyday attire.
A cup of coffee from King Tut's tomb.
I'm fueled by the power of caffeine and immersed in my passion project for hours on end.
Save me, Lumalammalu
I'm calling out for help and support as I navigate the ups and downs of creating something special.
Sure enough I must have been mokus
I was being silly or foolish and not paying close enough attention to what was going on around me.
And so out of focus
I was not fully present and engaged in the moment or situation at hand.
To miss the first half of the show.
I was so caught up in myself and my work that I missed key moments or opportunities.
Oh, It gets to the end,
Things are winding down and coming to a close.
We get to run it again
Despite the ending, there's still a chance to start anew and try again.
Just like before,
I can learn from my past mistakes and keep building on my progress.
One more go round.
I'm not giving up, and I'm going to keep pushing forward and striving for my goals.
Drank myself some wine back in '69,
Reflecting on my past experiences and how they've shaped me.
I was fooling around with my friends
I was spending time with the people I care about, enjoying life without (yet) fully understanding its gravity.
In my spare time.
I wasn't yet fully invested in my passions and was still figuring out what I wanted to do with my life.
Life along the river,
Reflecting on a simpler time and a more carefree lifestyle.
Knobby little knees in the Summer breeze,
Recalling the lighthearted moments of youth and the sensory experiences that stick with us over time.
Hammock and a couple of trees,
Thinking about a peaceful, idyllic setting in the past where I could relax and enjoy nature.
Swing low, if you please.
Desiring the comfort and ease of that simple and serene memory.
After all this time of fooling around
Reflecting on how much time has passed and how my priorities and pursuits have evolved over time.
It and never having nothing to show,
Despite the ups and downs, and the potential for setbacks and failures, I'm still pursuing my passion and committed to seeing it through.
Yeah, I'm happy to say
Despite everything, I'm content and fulfilled by my work.
That I finally found it
I've discovered what I'm truly passionate about and what drives me.
Right underneath my own nose.
It was there all along, and finally, I am in the right place, pursuing exactly what I was meant to do.
Please don't let it end,
I'm not ready to give up on my work and my passion.
I want it again
I want to recreate the feeling of excitement and progress that comes with working on something special.
Just like before,
I want to channel that same energy and enthusiasm to keep moving forward and making progress.
One more go round.
I'm not stopping now, and I'm determined to keep pushing and striving for my dreams.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind