James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter … Read Full Bio ↴James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

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.

Rock 'N' Roll Is Music Now
James Taylor Lyrics

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Mama knows and papa knows
That rock 'n roll is music now.
Baby's been cutting his teeth on Bo Diddley's,
I'm a man, man,
Listen to the Wolfman howl.
See the white man sailing his ship up on the sea,
Watch the white man shackle the black man to a tree.
To the invader go the fruits of war,

He misses home and his boots are sore.
He has not got no roots no more,
He comes for your gold,
Watch out for your soul.

Cause tennis shoes, and rhythm and blues
Are second generation
All across the nation, now,
And mama knows,
Papa too rock 'n roll is music,
Rock 'n roll is music, now.
To the invader go the fruits of war,
He misses home and his boots are sore.
He has not got no roots no more,
He comes for your gold,
Watch out for your soul.
Mama knows and papa knows

That rock 'n roll is music,
Rock 'n roll is music, now.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in James Taylor's song "Rock & Roll Is Music Now" address the cultural shift occurring in the mid-20th century, as rock and roll music emerged as a powerful force that crossed racial boundaries and challenged traditional societal norms. Taylor begins by acknowledging that even parents and elders understand that rock and roll has taken over as the dominant form of contemporary music, and that babies are growing up listening to the likes of Bo Diddley and the Wolfman. The music is no longer viewed as just the domain of rebellious teenagers, but instead has broadened its appeal to a wider audience due to its infectious rhythms and catchy melodies.

Taylor then turns to a darker theme, describing the history of colonialism and slavery that led to the creation of rock and roll. He underscores the fact that contemporary pop music is built on the backs of generations of African Americans who were exploited and subjugated, and he urges his audience to be aware of the insidious ways in which cultural appropriation and exploitation continue to occur. By the end of the song, Taylor circles back to the idea that the power of rock and roll ultimately lies in its ability to bring people together and create a shared sense of joy and celebration, even in the face of deep-seated social injustices.

Overall, "Rock & Roll Is Music Now" is a thoughtful and nuanced reflection on the transformative power of music and its ability to both reflect and shape the cultural landscape around us.

Rock 'N' Roll Is Music NowJames Taylor Lyrics

Rock 'N' Roll Is Music Now
James Taylor Lyrics